Museum of Technology 

WWII STANDARD ISSUE ALLIED BOMBER PANTS

During WWII, technologies that served the aims of death and destruction were progressing rapidly. Bombing runs on civilian and industrial centers were common place. The allies used the euphemistic term strategic bombing to reference the bombing of civilian centers in Germany.  A bomber could expect multiple different defensive tactics en route to its payload drop point. A typical defense of a civilian center would involve a wave of fighter jets, then ground to air flak cannons while above the drop point, followed by another wave of fighter jets. Some first wave fighter plane pilots would choose to stay for the fireworks. Bombers were typically outfitted with four manned turrets each armed with two 50 caliber machine guns. To counter the flak cannons, bombers reached for higher and higher altitudes. The planes were not outfitted with pressurized cabins and at high altitudes like 30,000 feet, around the height of Mt Everest, temperatures could easily reach -50 degrees Celsius in the plane. It was not uncommon for the bombers that did make it back to base to be suffering from frostbite and hypothermia. These standard issue bomber pants are essentially an inside out sheep. The particular set in the museum has a bomber's name stitched into the tag. These pants sit at the intersection of technologically advanced warfare and the humans trapped inside it. Behind the detached language and payloads were lonely bombers, freezing in the sky. 

​​

Bought for: $50

Market Value: $600

Value to Museum: Priceless
More