Size: 18.5 x 18 inches

This map is one of many ‘Escape and Evasion’ maps produced by the US and British militaries beginning World War II. These maps were most often sewn into the flight jackets or worn around the necks of the U.S. and other Allied pilots in the event they were shot down over Japanese occupied territory.

The map does display a heavily used and ‘salty’ appearance showing signs of usage and where. Maps such as this printed on a silk like material were held by the pilots as well as bomber gunners of American aircraft bombing Japanese held islands in the Pacific theater. Labeling these monthly water currents in the ocean was vital in the case pilots got shot down over water and needed to chart a way back to land by riding the currents.

The data for the charts was complied by the 2nd and 3rd Operations Analysis Section of Headquarters, Far East Air Force from ocean current charts designed by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and wind charts prepared by the US Weather Bureau.  The charts are distinctive because the land masses are depicted by a dull orange color.  MIS-X SWPA records indicate that over 8,000 copies of the former chart were produced and over 21,000 copies of the later were produced.