MANDALAY AND RANGOON. [Two R.A.F. Cloth Maps, Printed Both Sides.]

[London] 1957, Geographical Section, General Staff. Cloth folding map, opens to 86.5 x 60 cm., folds down to be ca. 10 x 13 cm., color printed on two sides, brilliantly clean, sharp, no marks, in collector's condition. R A R E . . *** **** *** . . This is a lovely pair of very clean, bright undamaged color folding cloth maps. * 1. MANDALAY: This shows from 20 degrees south to 24 degrees north and 96 degrees west to 102 degrees east. Shows from Yamethin at lower left across Meng-lieh [Chiang-Cheng], Mandalay at the center left and all the rest of the country north and east of there. Shows the Irrawaddy, Mekong and other rivers. Shows Mo-chiang [T'a-Lang] at upper right corner. . * 2. RANGOON: Showing from lower left corner 96 degrees west to 102 degrees east, 16 degrees south to 20 degrees north. The Gulf of Martaban, Laos at the extreme right edge. Toungoo at upper right [Home of the A.V.G. [AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP] aka. "FLYING TIGERS."], Moulmien and lower right, Mekong river from top to bottom center, and the Mekong river at the right near Laos, Mae Haun Saun [Mau T'au] Wang Mak Khaun, Rahaeng, Thani [Sukhothai], Phitsanulok, Uttradit, Phrae, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Mae Haun Saun Muang Nan, Pak La Phitsanulok. Essentially the map drifts from Burma at the left through Thailand and Laos, showing the main cities and all of the smaller villages. . *** KEY: The key shows the scale as 1:1,000,000, miles, kilometers, with a reference key[ legend] shows all landmarks, symbols, roads, railway lines, canals, rivers, wells, water pipe lines, contours and other prominent features. all of the small cities, villages, mountains, rivers, roads, and times ahead of G.M.T. . * RARITY OF THE MAP This map is a relic of the Cold War, issued to British Royal Air Force pilots and crew. Seldom brought home due to the "Restricted" nature of the map, which is imprinted in red both at the top and bottom. All such maps were checked out from the flight line then returned after return to the airbase. "Restricted is printed in red on both sides. QUITE RARE ! . * PRINTED ON TWO SIDES The map is printed on both sides . * CONDITION: This map is flawless, no defects marks or blemishes whatsoever. Exceptionally brilliant and clean collector's condition. . *** RED BY THE AMERICANS AND BRITISH FLIERS AND AIR CREW: This map and others like it were also used by the "FLYING TIGERS" during the fight against the Japanese prior to World War II in 1937 through the end in 1945. . * This map and many similar to it were part of the items issued to "FLYING TIGER" pilots and A.V.G. ["AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP'] pilots. They were often tied around the neck to keep them warm while flying. . * PART OF THE ESCAPE AND EVASION KIT: The map also had an Annual Magnetic Change compass, miles scale, kilometers, nautical miles [1:1,000,000], altitudes of land mass, legend or key to symbols, roads towns, cities, rivers, mountains and an index to boundaries. This map was part of the U.S. Army Air Force & Naval flyers "E & E" survival kit [Escape and Evasion], printed on thick nylon parachute cloth. These maps were often worn by fighter and other air crew members as scarves to insure they would be with the downed airman if/when his plane or he had to parachute out into the sea or over land. . * SURVIVAL KIT: Each air crew member carried among other survival supplies, a .38 or .45 caliber pistol, survival knife, a signal mirror [stainless steel or glass], compass and some basic food rations, fishing kit, water purification tablets, along with minor medical supplies; the whole kit was tucked into the pant pocket of the flight suit. . * The majority of these perishable maps have been lost during the Korean War and few if any others survived the attrition rate of war, time and climate prevented many from ever being brought back home. This map was issued to fliers to insure downed fliers had some chance to navigate their way back to friendly forces. . *** Color photos are posted to our.…