US AB Life jacket marked RS for 506 PIR

Original US Mae West life vest marked RS indicating issue to the 506 Parachute Infantry Battalion serving in the US 101st. Airborne Division. The vest is in very good, supple condition. Complete with two functional inflation releases with their original but empty pressurized air containers. The vest retains no straps as was a typical modification done to these vests prior to Operation Market Garden. The vest has its provenance in the south of the Netherlands right in the middle of the Market Garden area of operations. The vest is a rare example of some of the most famous units serving in world war two.