Image

Album: German Submarines
Image: 472 / 473
File name: _mg_7056s.jpg
Date: 2014-03-11 11:38:32
Tags: Chicago, Illinois, Museum of Science and Industry, Submarines, Type IX, U 505

Boarders Away
(1) Flight Suit
Lieutenant Wolffe Roberts wore this flight suit during the air attack on the U-505. Roberts was one of the two FM-2 Wildcat pilots who attacked the U-505 from the air on the morning of June 4, 1944. Ensign John Cadle, Jr., who led the attack, was the other pilot. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(2) Flight Helmet
This flight helmet is equipped with a pair of headphones for listening to radio communications from ships or other aircraft. The headphones also allowed pilots and radio operators to monitor the sounds generated by sonobouys that were dropped in the water to listen for submerged U-boats. (Museum of Science and Industry Collection)

(3) Goggles
Lieutenant Wolffe Roberts wore these goggles during his attack on the U-505. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(4) U.S. Navy B-4 Life Preserver
The B-4 life preserver functioned as a flotation device and also contained some survival gear. Small air canisters inflated the vest, while rubber tubes could be used to add more air by mouth. The vest had a mirror for sending signals to aircraft, two smoke flares for marking the wearer's location, and shoulder pouches containing a shark repellent and a dye marker packet. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(5) U.S. Navy Survival Float Light
This waterproof light was pinned to the survival life vest. It provided a faint beacon at night to signal rescue aircraft. Its battery could last for several hours if needed. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(6) U.S. Navy Leather Pilot Gloves
Lieutenant Wolffe Roberts wore these gloves during his attack on the U-505. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(7) Kneeboard
Lieutenant Wolffe Roberts wore this kneeboard during the air attack on the U-505. The kneeboard was strapped to the pilot's upper leg and it became a miniature writing desk when he was sitting in the cockpit. It's flip-open top contained small maps, as well as paper for taking notes during the flight. A pilot kept rough notes about his changes of course for later use in compiling his flight report. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)

(8) Parachute Type AN-6510
This is a standard U.S. Navy seat parachute like those worn by the pilots involved in the capture of the U-505. The parachute container served as a seat cushion when the pilot was sitting in the cockpit. Unlike today's parachutes, which are typically made of nylon, most World War II chutes were made of silk; hence the term "hitting the silk," slang for making a parachute jump. (Loan courtesy of Mr. Wolffe W. Roberts)