Information on period pilot maps

[Tbag]

Not excactly what you want but I thought it might help:




Higher res one available if needed. Displayed at the Tangmere museum, probably they know more?!

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by Tbag

Not excactly what you want but I thought it might help:


Higher res one available if needed. Displayed at the Tangmere museum, probably they know more?!

1943 Escape map.

Silk maps were common for escape maps but much less likely to have been used as a general pilots map.

The escape maps were interesting. Aside from maps in tunic linings, there were playing cards with maps inside when soaked in water, gramophone records with silk escape maps sandwiched inside them, brass uniform buttons containing a concealed compass, escape boots that had a wire saw in the boot laces and a compass in the heal.

However I am pretty sure all of the escape maps, silk or otherwise, date from a much LATER period of the war than the Battle of Britain.

[KG26_Alpha]

Luthier check your PM plz

[major_setback]

I don't know what resolution you need, I presume very high. I'll post these though:

http://www.blitzandpeaces.co.uk/Muse...CAPE%20MAP.JPG

[major_setback]

Edit: Normandy invasion map:


Parts...

http://snyderstreasures.com/images/u...apNormandy.jpg

http://snyderstreasures.com/images/u...MapHolland.jpg

http://snyderstreasures.com/images/u...yCMapDover.jpg

http://snyderstreasures.com/images/u...DayCMapKey.jpg

Total:

http://snyderstreasures.com/images/u...DDayCMapOA.jpg

[luthier]

Thanks everyone for your help, but I still need more help with this. We didn't have questions about the map contents per se. We're actually pretty good on the content. We already have a high-res map of our area, which is what would be printed. We just don't know what to print it on, and how to print it.

And I'm still not sure whether this would need to be on cloth, silk, or paper. But since no one seemed to know much about these even on a forum full of aviation experts, I'm guessing the materials won't be a major deal, as long as the map itself is good.

[PeterPanPan]

Originally Posted by luthier

Thanks everyone for your help, but I still need more help with this ... We just don't know what to print it on, and how to print it.

This sounds like a great idea Luthier. I am sure someone at the Imperial War Museum or RAF Museum, both in London, will have the answer to this.

Imperial War Museum London

Telephone: +44 20 7416 5320
Email: mail@iwm.org.uk
Web: www.iwm.org.uk

RAF Museum

Research requests via http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/enquiries.cfm
Email: london@rafmuseum.org
Telephone: +44 20 8205 2266

I live in London and am happy to make some calls if this helps.

PPanPan

[SlipBall]

Originally Posted by luthier

But since no one seemed to know much about these even on a forum full of aviation experts, I'm guessing the materials won't be a major deal, as long as the map itself is good.

Hey not so fast, the experts don't usually arrive till page 9 or 10 of a thread

also, I'm pleased to learn that there will be a boxed version for purchase, thanks

[Foo'bar]

Originally Posted by luthier

Thanks everyone for your help, but I still need more help with this. We didn't have questions about the map contents per se. We're actually pretty good on the content. We already have a high-res map of our area, which is what would be printed. We just don't know what to print it on, and how to print it.

And I'm still not sure whether this would need to be on cloth, silk, or paper. But since no one seemed to know much about these even on a forum full of aviation experts, I'm guessing the materials won't be a major deal, as long as the map itself is good.

Somewhere I have a topographic map of the 1920's. It is paper sticked on linen. I will leave for the weekend now but when I'm back I will prepare some photos for you, Luthier.

[WTE_Galway]

Originally Posted by luthier

Thanks everyone for your help, but I still need more help with this. We didn't have questions about the map contents per se. We're actually pretty good on the content. We already have a high-res map of our area, which is what would be printed. We just don't know what to print it on, and how to print it.

And I'm still not sure whether this would need to be on cloth, silk, or paper. But since no one seemed to know much about these even on a forum full of aviation experts, I'm guessing the materials won't be a major deal, as long as the map itself is good.

Note that references to silk maps found so far refer exclusively to RAF "escape maps" which clearly were pointless during the Battle of Britain. From my experience printing directly on linen or silk was rare. Much more common was a paper map backed with something like linen.

I have found a few photos of crew in a he111 using maps in flight. One shows the co-pilot using what looks very much like folded paper. The second looks more interesting the as map appears to be mounted on a stiff folding board with two panels each about 40cm wide by 30 cm high. I will post these up when I get a chance to scan them.

Also remember that regularly updated/changed maps like strip maps and individual airfield maps would almost certainly be just paper. In addition the pilot/navigator generally drew on these maps with a "chinagraph" pencil meaning they had a limited operational life before becoming cluttered and needing replacement.

On the other hand, the 1940 equivalent of sectionals and WAC charts were likely to be backed with linen or some other material for longevity.