US WWII D-Day Style Inflatable Flotation Life Preserver-There is a great scene in the movie Saving Private Ryan where you see Tom Hanks and Tom Sizemore on the landing craft on their way to the landing site. You can see the inflatable devices around their waists. This is what we are talking about here. A M1926 Flotation Belt Life Preserver, which is heavily rubberized canvas that inflates, hopefully keeping you above water with your 70 to 90lbs of gear on. The belt was inflated by squeezing two switches located inside the belt, which activated two CO2 bottles. If the CO2 bottles failed, the belt could still be inflated by blowing into the rubber tubes, which have valves on the ends. This type of belt is particularly known for use during the D-Day landing on the Normandy beaches on June 6th, 1944. This is very well marked for the maker, you can see the stamped CONTRACT No. W 33 034 96 EAGLE RUBBER CO., INC. ASHLAND, OHIO Dec 4, 1944. The metal buckle that would surround the CO2 containers shows the USN marking. The instructions are stamped on the canvas, close to the CO2 slots and indicate: "To inflate squeeze arrows together with a hard quick grip and release". This shows discoloration but is overall, in very good condition. This is a very desirable piece, and one we certainly do not see very often.