More about liferaft equipment (it WAS an interesting question).
“When Zamperini’s B-24 went down in the shark-infested Pacific Ocean, he and two crewmates (pilot Russell Allen “Phil” Phillips and Francis “Mac” McNamara) had to survive with only the supplies that had been stashed in the pockets of a pair of small life rafts. It wasn’t much. The military would soon add many more pieces of essential equipment to these emergency rafts — sun tarpaulin for shade, bailing bucket, mast and sail, sea anchor, sun ointment, first aid kit, puncture plugs, flashlight, fishing tackle, jackknife, scissors, whistle, compass, Gibson Girl radio transmitter, and even religious pamphlets for morale. But Louie, Mac, and Phil would not enjoy the benefits of these future additions. They had no knife, almost no food, and no navigation equipment whatsoever.”
I was very surprised to see the lack of emergency preparation for these flight crews. I read that the B-24 Liberator had a center-line ventral catwalk just nine inches wide making it almost impossible for the flight crew and nose gunner to get from the flight deck to the rear when wearing parachutes.
You seem to have a real insight into what went on.