Beschreibung:

Three groups of pilot's maps and kerchiefs in silk or other light-weight fabric, one from late in WWII, one from just prior to the Korean conflict/Cold War, the last group from Iraq / Afghanistan, UK. Silk kerchief with American flag and message in 14 languages (including English) that says: "I am an American and do not speak your language. I need food, shelter and assistance. I will not harm you; I bear no malice toward your people. If you will help me, my government will reward you." Dated February 1951, The Aeronautical Chart and Information Service, U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC. Lithographed Sept. 1951, and marked "Restricted." Intended for USSR and Satellites. Message in Arabic, German, French, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Greek, Bulgarian Russian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Turkish, and Rumanian. 9.25 x 15.5 in. A second, nearly identical kerchief printed in April 1951. With same message as above and translated into the same 14 languages. A third American kerchief, also printed in 1951, was intended for the Far East. It has a slightly different message. The first two sentences are the same, then "Misfortune forces me to seek your assistance in obtaining food, shelter and protection from the Communists. Please take me to someone who will provide for my safety and see that I am returned to my people. I will do my best to see that no harm comes to you. My Government will reward you." In Japanese, Korean, Chinese, German French, Russian, Burmese, Hindi, and Urdu. A fourth, also printed in April 1951, intended for pilots flying over Europe, has the extended message (as the Far East). Printed in Persian, Turkish, Italian, Finnish, Serbo-Croatian, German, French, Swedish, Arabic, Greek, Polish, Russian and English. A fifth kerchief was lithographed in 1961 has the same message as the Far East version, but was intended for Latin America. The message is in French, Spanish, Portuguese and English. Escape Map, Iraq & Environs. Marked "For UK Defence Purposes Only." Produced by United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, 2002. Series GSGS-5864. Verso with similar statement: "I am British and I do not speak your language. I will not harm you. I bear no malice towards your people. My firend, please provide me with food, water, shelter, clothing and necessary medical attention. Also, please provide safe passage to the nearest friendly forces of any country supporting the British and their allies. You will be rewarded for assisting me when you present this number and my name to British authorities." In Turkish, Armenian, Aramaic, Kurdish, Persian, Arabic (and, of course, English). 11.75 x 16.5 un, (30 x 42 cm). On a plastic-type fabric, unused. Similar escape map for Afghanistan & Environs, UK Ministry of Defence, 2001. On verso, the message is printed in Dari, Pashwari, Tajikistan, Urdu, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Persian (and English). This has the phone numbers of the embassies of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan (through German), Iran, Pakistan and China. WWII Maps Silk map, 29 in. square, printed in color. Obverse: Sheet C: Holland / Belguim (Except West Coast) / France (Northeast) / Germany (West & Central). Printed 1:1,000,000. Reverse has enlargements (1:250,000): Sheet D: France (South East) / Germany (South West) /Switzerland (Except South East); and Right Inset: Belgium & Germany (New Frontier). N.d., ca. 1944. Paper Map, with roads in red, water features in blue. Mar. [19]45. 22 x 29 in. Bridging Study - Lippe & Ruhr Valleys. Marked "Sheet 2 of 2." 62nd Engineers. Right side with information marked "Confidential," containing data on the Lippe, the Lippe-Seiten Canal, Dortmund-Ems Canal, Emscher River and the Ruhr River, with information such as width, depth, current speed, flooding, etc. (This copy appears nearly unused.) Paper map, same size, colors, date as above. Bridging Study - North of the Lippe River (also Sheet 2 of 2). With additional Confidential information also on the right side, much of it concerning the Dortmund-Ems Canal.