The name was given by fliers because when inflated it made them look voluputous (like Mae west the actress)
What is funny as her boob's were real and alot today's big-boobed film stars are inflatable themselves. Have a read of this. Inventor of Mae West life preserver dies - Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal: Mr. Toti's best-known invention, the Mae West life preserver vest, came into being because his mother worried that her 14-year-old son may drown while operating his souped-up powerboat. In 1936, when he was only 16, the War Department paid Mr. Toti $1,600 for rights to the vest, which wearers nicknamed the Mae West for the buxom movie star whom it made them resemble when inflated. The life vest was credited for saving thousands of lives during World War II and versions of it are still widely used today. This article says Mr Toti just helped in it's development. Mae West: The "Real" Mae West Vest
If you saw the appropriate movies from the 30's onwards you wouldn't be asking these questions An apropriate quote from here is: Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Better than any words, sniper101st, a photo of Ms West from the 30s: OOps - just noticed Kyt's posting! Still, can't see too much of our Mae, I always say......
Thanks guys, I asked this because I was reading Stephen Ambrose's D-DAY and all the way through veterans kept referring to these Mae Wests and I was curios to know how they got the name. thanks to all. paul
During the Falklands War, they were called "Dolly Partons" for obvious reasons. I guess they might be "Pamela Andersons" today.
Thanks for your feedback guys a question has been answered that has long puzzled me, cheers to all, sniper101st.
I think May would have "bouyed" any soldiers dream. I have always loved her saying: When I am good, I am very good, but when I am bad, I am better.
BBC audio - "Great Lives" - 30 mins... BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Series 8, Mae West "Mae West Great Lives - Series 8 Writer Kathy Lette chooses Hollywood's 'queen of the quip', Mae West. With Simon Louvish and Francine Stock. From 2005."
Some Mae Wests were manufactured in my home town of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Barn Mills became part of the Littlewoods Group for a few years during the war. They made parachutes and para-dummies as well as the life-jackets.
