Silk escape map
Item
Title
Silk escape map
Description
RAF SILK ESCAPE MAP, 44B, BURMA, SIAM,S FRENCH INDO CHINA, CHINA. Double sided printed in colour with heat sealed edges. Sheet A, India(part of), Burma(North West). Sheet B - Burma(north east) Siam(Thailand) French Indo China(part of) China(part of). Sheet B includes small coloured inset maps of 44/A, 44/B, 44/C, 44/D, 44/E, 44/F, 44/J, 44/K, whose margin overlaps west margin of projected sheet 44/M.
Identifier
008.500.164
Format
Provenance
During World War II, the United States and Great Britain produced in excess of 3.5 million silk maps and cloth maps for Allied military personnel to use as escape maps. In 1940, the British military intelligence unit, known as MI 9, started issuing silk maps for use by British aircrews shot down over enemy occupied territory in Europe. The silk maps were intended to assist airman in evading capture. MI 9 also smuggled silk and tissue paper escape maps into POW camps in Germany along with other escape aids to encourage POWs to attempt escape.
Abstract
Excellent
Date Created
1944