Survival Kits & Bailouts

What You Took With You When Everything Else Was Gone

They told us to memorize what was in the kit, not because it was complicated, but because there wouldn’t be time to look. I remember thinking how small it was. How light. You carried it like a promise you hoped you’d never have to keep.

Survival kits were designed for the moment when an aircraft could no longer be flown. Compact, standardized, and carefully packed, they contained the essentials an airman would need if forced down far from friendly forces.

What went into a kit depended on where crews flew—over ocean, forest, desert, or snow—but the purpose was always the same: to keep a man alive long enough to be found, or to find his way back.

The Bailout Decision

Bailing out was never taken lightly. Crews were trained to fight fires, manage damage, and keep aircraft airborne whenever possible. The decision to abandon an aircraft came only when there were no remaining options.

Once that call was made, everything happened quickly. Aircraft altitude, speed, and orientation mattered. Hesitation could be fatal.

Crews rehearsed bailout procedures repeatedly so that, if the moment came, action would follow without discussion.

What the Kit Contained

While contents varied by theater, survival kits typically included:

basic first-aid supplies
signaling devices
food rations and water purification
maps and navigation aids
tools for shelter or fire

Every item served a specific purpose. There was no excess. Weight mattered.

Crews were expected to know how to use each component before ever leaving the ground.

After Leaving the Aircraft

Once on the ground—or in the water—priorities shifted immediately. Injuries had to be assessed. Equipment secured. Location determined.

Over open ocean, inflatable rafts and signaling devices became lifelines. On land, concealment and movement took precedence. The survival kit was often the only link between an airman and rescue.

Waiting and Watching

Rescue was never guaranteed. Survival often meant waiting—sometimes for hours, sometimes longer—remaining alert while conserving energy. Signals had to be used carefully. Movement had to be considered.

In those moments, the kit became more than equipment. It became reassurance that someone had thought about this possibility ahead of time.

When Rescue Came

When rescue did arrive, it was often sudden. A patrol aircraft overhead. A boat on the horizon. Friendly forces appearing where none had been expected.

For those who survived long enough to be found, the contents of a small kit—and the training to use it—had made all the difference.

Continue Through WWII

Escape & Evasion
Enduring Cold, Fatigue & Fear
The Air War
Reconnaissance
Winning WWII