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WORLD WAR TWO US ARMY AIR
CORPS EMERGENCY FISHING KIT FOR DOWNED FLYERS:
Just when you thought your collection was complete, a
unique item like this World War Two Emergency Fishing
Kit surfaces and kindles your imagination of a downed
flyer in the south seas struggling to survive in a
rubber raft and using this kit to feed himself. Issued
to the US Army Air Corps flight crews and possibly to
the US Navy and Marine Corps flyers as well, this
Emergency Fishing Kit was manufactured by the Horrocks –
Abbotson Company in July of 1942 or 1943 (the last digit
is somewhat indistinct). The light weight canvas case,
in excellent condition complete with all the ties and
with no damage or tears, doubles as a tool roll for the
kit as it was stored in the aircraft and once unrolled
is equipped with long cloth ties so it can be worn as an
apron while fishing to hold the components handy. The
kit includes a 6 ½” long harpoon head, a large feather
and rubber lure, three hooks on wire leaders and
swivels, a red painted wood float, a mackerel jig on a
hand line on a wooden spool, an additional hand line on
a wooden spool and most importantly, the original
detailed, 8 page instruction booklet printed on water
resistant waxed paper. According to the instructions,
there was also a small knife, a whetstone, a container
of pork rind bait, a grapple hook, and a dip net. These
items would be relatively easy to gather together from
fishing equipment collectors to complete this set, but
having the basic apron, instructions and the equipment
that is present is an amazing find in itself. Items
like this seldom survived the post WWII civilian surplus
market as people bought items like this to use, not to
collect and preserve. I doubt these sets are common and
would imagine they are relatively rare. A great set to
add to your WWII Aviation collection. $150
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