AAF Cloth Chart – Philippine Series No. 41 Mindoro Island [and] No. 42 Samar Island

A double-sided evasion map issued for pilots during WWII.

This fascinating relic from the Second World War shows detailed information on the Philippine islands of Samar, Negros, Luzon, Panay, Palawan and Mindoro. The map, printed on synthetic cloth, was designed to be distributed to pilots operating in the region in order to aid their escape, should they be shot down over water or hostile territory. The design was easy to conceal, quiet to use, and resistant to water damage.

A glossary of geographic terms, information on coastal currents, color topography, and details on the local transportation networks are just a few examples of the useful data provided by the map’s image. More information on these ‘silk’ evasion maps can be found on my blog post here.