RAF Immersion Suit (1948)

Farnborough, Hampshire. M/S of a man hanging from a roof; he drops into a tank of water. Underwater shots of the man releasing dinghy from the base of his lifejacket. The dinghy inflates and he gets into it. He takes off his 'Mae West' and takes out the lightweight immersion suit that is packed tightly inside. He puts it on and pulls the hood up. He then blows into a tube to inflate the suit. This protects against windchill on wet clothes but the man looks like a human sofa or mattress. He blows up a little air cushion and puts it under his bottom. Small plugs at his feet allow water from his clothes to drain away. The man then tips himself into the water to show that he can float in the suit. He swims to the side and gets out. Note: story was shot at the Experimental Centre. FILM ID:1247.22 FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT http://www.britishpathe.com/