From the display:

This helmet is equipped with a pair of headphones for listening to radio communications from ships or other aircraft. The headphones also captured sounds generated by sonobouys, which were dropped in the water to listen for submerged U-boats.

The B-4 life preserver functioned as a flotation device and survival kit. Small air canisters inflated the vest, while rubber tubes could be used to add more air by mouth. The vest had a mirror for sending signals to aircraft, two smoke flares to attract attention, and shoulder pouches that contained shark repellent and a dye marker packet.

A waterproof light-was pinned to the survival life vest. It provided a faint beacon at night to signal rescue aircraft. Its battery could last for several hours.

The kneeboard strapped to the pilot’s upper leg became a miniature writing desk while sitting in the cockpit. Its flip-open top contained small maps as well as paper for taking notes during the flight. A pilot kept rough notes about his course changes for later use in compiling his flight report.

The Type AN-6510 parachute was a standard U.S. Navy seat parachute. The parachute container served as a seat cushion when the pilot was sitting in the cockpit. Unlike today’s parachutes, which are typically made of nylon, most World War If chutes were made of silk. The term “hitting the silk,” became slang for making a parachute jump.

U.S. Navy Pilots flying from aircraft carriers typically wore the U.S. Marine Corps rough-out leather boot. Made of heavy leather, they were durable enough for the rigors of daily flying.