AN6512-1 (B7) Parachute & Harness

USAAF B-7 back type parachute was primarily designed for bomber aircraft crew members as a comfortable parachute that could be attached to the wearer at all times and not hung, as with many British aircraft, away from need in the aircraft fuselage. Standardized for use on October 1, 1940, the B-7 was heavily utilized in a variety of aircraft, becoming standard issue for pilots and crew of the B-17 & B-24 Bomber Groups until it was superseded in the latter part of 1943.
The B-7 was re-standardized as the AN6512-1 on June 19, 1942, after the Army-Navy joint use system was adopted and supplies were great enough to meet demand. Although packs remained almost identical, the harness switched from bayonet hardware to the standard snap hooks/V-ring combination seen in this example. Both the B-7 and AN6512-1 remained in service throughout the war and were finally declared obsolete on November 9, 1945.
 
This is an issued and used pack dated 1942. All parts are date stamped, the pack is complete with lines and 28' canopy and is still, importantly, "Rigger-Packed" which means it was inspected, tightly packed, dated, and tag sealed on the last entry date of the accompanying Inspection Card in this case, Sept 1945. The AN6512-1 is an extremely hard to find item on the collector's market, but with this early war date of manufacture, inspection tag intact, and with provenance of extensive use recorded, it is an extremely rare find.