WW2 Flight Suit at the PBY Memorial Historical Display

This is an electrically heated WW2 era flight suit. There are  attaching points for electrically heated gloves, boots and, on the chest, for an oxygen mask heater. These suits were developed for patrol and bomber crews who routinely operated at high altitudes above 30,000 feet, where air temperatures could get so cold that flesh could freeze instantly to any metal it touched.

This spiffy little museum really is the best kept secret on Whidbey Island. Housed on the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor, there are beautifully displayed Navy uniforms and artifacts, a gorgeous old Wurlitzer jukebox playing tunes from the big band era on 45's, a PBY flight simulator that you can try out, and of course, the magnificent PBY plane itself -- sitting on the hill outside. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteer docents are ready, willing and able to tell you about it all.




You may be asking yourself at this point, "What the heck is a PBY?"  Here's a teaser from their website:

Throughout the history of aviation, only a few aircraft have excelled to become legend . . .

Learn all about the PBY and the PBY Memorial Foundation Historical Display here.

In keeping with the Naval aviation theme, we stopped off at Flyers' Restaurant and Brewery for one last sketch.