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Standard Operating Procedure Clothing, Parachutes, etc.

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B-17 Crew Requirements and Standard Operating Procedures
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CLOTHING, PARACHUTES, FLAK SUITS & LIFE VESTS
HEADQUARTERS
303RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP (H)
APO 557, U.S. ARMY
15 October 1944

1. CLOTHING
   1. Dressing with F-2 Electric Suit
      1. Feet: One pair of medium weight wool socks, electric shoe, fleece lined boots.
      2. Waist: Winter underwear, electric trousers.
      3. Chest: Winter underwear, OD shirt, electric jacket.
      4. Hands: Silk liner, electric gloves.

   2. Dressing with F-3 Suit
      1. Underclothes: Use medium weight long woolen underwear and socks.
      2. Use OD shirt and trousers.
      3. F-3 Electric suit complete.
      4. Outer Clothing: A9 trousers and B10 jacket.

   3. Precautions
      1. Adjust rheostat for minimum energy output.
      2. Do not connect or disconnect shoes or gloves with power on.
      3. Prevent sleeve tabs for shoes and gloves from touching metal on aircraft.
      4. All electric clothing must be hung in the drying room when not in use.

   4. Miscellaneous Clothing
      1. Tail Gunners will wear either hoods or face and neck protectors.
      2. Scarfs may be drawn from the equipment sections.
      3. Four hand muffs are furnished for each aircraft.
      4. A limited number of aircraft are equipped with electrically hated casualty bags.
      5. A parachute bag containing blankets and spare clothing is provided in each aircraft to use in emergencies only.
      6. B-8 goggles (plastic lens) are recommended for use in combat.
      7. Co-pilots will draw one pair of field glasses from the equipment section before each operational flight.

2. PARACHUTES
   1. Handle the parachute pack gently and do not allow it to get wet or greasy.

   2. It is advisable to have one side of the parachute pack snapped to the harness when in immediate danger.

   3. Jumping Suggestions
      1. Make delayed jumps.
      2. Dampen oscillation.
      3. Face downwind.
      4. Keep feet together.
      5. Unhook snaps during descent if over water.

   4. Use static lines to bail out wounded personnel.

   5. Three short rings on alarm signal indicates "Prepare to bail out." One ling ring is the signal for "Bail Out."

3. LIFE VESTS
   1. To be used on all flights.

   2. Inspect vest for full CO2 cylinders, cap screwed down tight over CO2 cylinder, closed mouth valves, and serviceable sea markers.

   3. Do not inflate life vest until in the water and in need of additional buoyancy.

   4. Use sea marker when rescue parties are in area as the sea marker lasts for two hours and is visible for several miles.

4. Be familiar with the location of first aid kits and fire extinguishers on the aircraft.

By order of the Group Commander
GLYNN F. SHUMAKE
Major, Air Corps
Operations Officer