RAF Silk Map, 1943 Series

RAF Silk Map, 1943 Series, Belgium, France, Holland, German Swiss

In 1940 the British military intelligence unit, known as MI9, started issuing silk maps for use by British aircrews shot down over enemy occupied territory in Europe.  Silk maps were intended to assist airmen in evading capture. MI9 also smuggled silk and tissue paper escape maps into POW camps in Germany along with other escape aids to encourage POWs to attempt escape.

This example is the 1943 Series, on side or sheet A is France, Belgium, Holland, on side B is German-Swiss frontier, France and Spain, this is a good example and clean.  Silk maps are still a RARE piece is good order.

During the Second World War, silk escape maps were very important. When a serviceman was captured or shot down behind enemy lines, he could use a silk map to find his way to safety, or better still, evade capture in the first place. They were also sent to Prisoners of War to help them if they managed to escape

Where did they hide the maps?

The maps were hidden in many creative ways before being sent to prisoners of war.  Some ways that we know about are,

• Hidden in Monopoly Boards (a dot on the car parking square told you that a map was hidden in the set)
• In playing cards,
• In pencils,
• In gramophone records.

Printed on silk, which is durable, the maps would not rustle at night and could  be folded up very compactly to be more easily concealed. The maps were   printed with waterproof dyes so the colors would not run if it got wet.

For further information see link below

Silk Maps

RAF Silk Map 1943

See here for more RAF items RAF