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Aviation Collectables & Aviation Clothing - Stock Archive - Page 9
These are some of the SOLD items that have been listed on our website
There are a maximum of 20 items on each page - our most recent sale is listed first - this is now quite a large reference record.
If you have a specific interest, use our keyword search to search the entire stock database.
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 | Japanese Army Air Force WWII Bomber Crew Winter Flying Helmet - A good issued example of a pattern which is normally associated with bomber aircrew. These were first issued in the 1930's and remained a standard pattern helmet through until the end of WWII. The shell is made up from eight pieces of brown leather and is in generally good shape but exhibits some lifting of the original top finish, but it has responded well to a treatment of Pecards antique leather dressing. Bomber crew flight helmets were quite heavily padded. This gave increased insulation and also provided a degree of head protecting against knocks and bumps when manoeuvring between crew positions inside the aircraft. The seams are all tight although thehelmet has a small area of damage to the top left brow.
Pressed hardened leather ear cups are fitted and on the inside of right one it is fully stamped with kanji (Chinese characters) indicating this helmet was manufactured by 'the Clothing Department 'located in Osaka. It is further embossed indicating the production date was 'Showa 14' (meaning Japanese era) 1939 so it pre dates the attack on Pearl Harbour. Each receiver cup has a 2.5 cm holes to their centres for the mounting of communications receivers (which the Japanese seldom used). The two press studs for the goggle straps are attached to the top of the hardened receiver cups which is a distinct feature of the Bomber helmet as the fighter version had these straps fixed to the rear. It also features an adjustable leather strap at the rear of the helmet to aid the fit of the helmet. The chin strap leather shows some service wear but it fine for a display purposes; the friction rings rings are in excellent condition. Below the chin strap rings is the Chinese 'kanji' character which indicates this helmet is a desirable 'Large' size.
Inside the helmet carries a two tone synthetic fur lining which is in excellent issued condition. Whilst this helmet is not mint and has clearly seen service it is still a very decent untouched display example of an increasingly rare WWII pattern. Those of you owning a copy of Mick Prodger's excellent book 'Vintage Flying Helmets' will see a near identical example illustrated on page 310. Many thanks to my good friend Mr Yasu Kikuchi for invaluable help in the translation the Japanese characters as so identifying the origins of this flying helmet!
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| Air Ministry Light Switch - An original example featuring a porcelain back plate and domed brass cover and switch gear. Clearly embossed to the brass with a Kings Crown and below the Air Ministry stores reference number 5A/450. RAF equipment designate in the 5A series covered ground lighting so we believe this to be a standard light switch used throughout RAF bases in WWII.
The porcelain mount carries various stampings to the reverse including 'BCM Registered Ektrik' who we assume to be the maker and registered name. Condition is excellent and the switch spring remains firm but this item is for sale purely as a collectable as we doubt it complies with UK let alone EU current legislation! Measures 2.5" diameter (6.2 cm)
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| WWII Air Ministry Issue Fitters Callipers - We have had numerous examples of these over the years but this set is larger than the norm measuring 6.5" long (16.5 cm).They are in really good issued condition and carry a Kings Crown and below A.M. (for Air Ministry) as well as he all important date of 1940 so would have certainly served through the Battle of Britain. The instrument is also embossed with the makers name Geo Plumpton & Co of Warrington. The same embossing is repeated on the reverse side not shown in our picture. Another modestly priced genuine wartime period item that would make an idea stocking filler for the aviation collector in you life.
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| Luftwaffe Fliegerblinkgerat Airfield Signal Lamp - This is the first example of these we have ever had and is in superb original condition and still with most of the Luftwaffe grey paint intact. Model number 124-502A1 and the manufacturer's code is blc, indicating it was made by the renowned optical manufacturer Zeiss. Compete with optical sight and signal switch, together with a length of electical cable but lacking plug. These lamps were used to signal to Luftwaffe aircraft approaching the airfield when conventional radio communication was not possible. A rare and orignal optical instrument. Diameter of lens 24 cm (9.5").
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| RAF tropical Issue Snake Bite Lancet - These ingenious tools were developed by the Air Ministry to be carried by aircrew serving in the Far East theatre as part of the tropical survival kit 27P/19 in conjunction with the Beadon lightweight flying suit. The container is made from chrome plated brass and is embossed with the makers name Gardner Co. London as well as a crown and an A.M (Air Ministry) property mark. One end unscrews to reveal a small chromed lancet blade used to cut out the venom from a snake bite. The other end unscrews to reveal a cavity that would have originally contained a potassium permanganate capsule for use on the bite ; this is now absent. The chrome finish shows minor surface wear but generally an excellent original example. Measures 1 9/10" (6 cm)
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| RAF Flight Sergeant's Jacket Other Airmen - Fully badged with a padded Navigators brevet to the left breast and Sergeants stripes and Kings Crown to both arms, surmounted by rectangular shoulder eagle. Interestingly the left breast pocket has cotton loops sewn on and we speculate this may have been to carry a Pathfinder badge, but this is pure guesswork on our part. This tunic is the second pattern, which replaced the 1940 design, that carried faux French cuffs. It is made from coarse airforce blue fabric which is generally in well above the average condition and not faded, as many we see, with just a few minor moth nips, that are hardly noticeable on display.
Inside the unlined tunic carries a good clear label indicating a size 2 to fit a chap of a modest 5'2" to 5' 4" height and with breast 34"-35" and a waist of 32". The manufacturer's details are H.523727/41/C.I.B. and clearly dated 1941 below. The original owners name has sadly been been blacked out, a common practice when families sell on original uniforms. The tunic is completed by a standard pattern waist belt and a full set of Kings Crown brass buttons made by J.R.Gaunt of London.
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| RAF Officers Brown Leather Dress Gloves - This fine pair of gloves and the RAF stable belt we are also listing today came in with a post war RAF visor cap and we believe all three items belonged to the same Officer. These gloves are made from very soft calf or doe leather and are sealed with a button closure. They are a matched pair and carry a label inside indicating a reference nos of 415-8012, marked size 9 and dated 1974. The label confirms they were made by the quality glove makers of Burfield, operating from a small factory in Martock, Somerset coincidentally just 5 miles from the Oldnautibits HQ!
Burfields & Co. were established back in 1944 and the company had a long, successful association with the British Ministry of Defence and the RAF in the supply of service gloves. Sadly they went into liquidation in March 2017 so all production has now ceased and these can never be repeated. So grab this one off opportunity to invest in a fine pair of quality gloves that must have cost the UK tax payer a fortune to manufacture. Ideal for re-enactment, The Goodwood revival or even for general wear. They appear virtually unworn and at this price must be a fraction of their original cost.
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| 1941 Pattern Mae West Floating Light and Battery Housing - The RAF 1941 Pattern Mae West was first introduced in July 1941 and whilst it evolved as the war continued it remained the standard 'waistcoat, lifesaving, stole inflated' pattern until well into the 1950's. One of the improvements made occurred in July 1943 when two cylindrical pockets were added on the lower right hand side designed to house a floating lamp and attached battery pack. The example we have on offer here is such a lamp, issued against stores reference 5A/2728. This is the correct item for display with a '41 vest as opposed to the more commonly seen 'Easco' lamp which is not.
The cylindrical metal battery container retains most of its original blue paint and carries a clear Kings Crown, A.M. and the stores reference number detailed above. What lifts this one above the norm is it still carries its original paper label which clearly states made by G.E.C and is described as 'Floating Light Life- Jacket'. Below is a photo of an airman wearing a Mae West and carrying the lamp followed by instructions for us. The base of the battery housing carries a metal seal and the instructions indicate 'In emergency ONLY break the seal by pushing base sharply upwards and turning to right'. The seal on this example remains intact. A final detail is the label is marked 'reprinted March 1943' so is an early production example when stocks were clearly being prepared for the introduction into service in July '43.
The floating lamp is made from wood and metal and the lamp cover and bulb remain in place. The base is marked' Made in England, L 611, G.E.C' and a patent number. The one issue with this set, which is apparent on most that we see, is the the wiring insulation is hardened, cracked and perished. It would be possible to replace this with appropriate modern wiring for display purposes but we prefer to leave it in its current original condition. These are now getting increasingly hard to find and other than the wiring issue is a really crisp and wartime dated example.
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| RAF Dinghy Pack Very Pistol Red Star Distress Cartridge Tin - Another essential rescue aid which we are listing today. This tin, which is now empty, would have contained three red star distress flares designed to be used in conjunction with the standard RAF issue Very pistol and would have been included in both the single seat and multi place dinghies of WWII. Whilst the original paint shows some wear and surface rust that is hardly surprising after 73 years but the writing on it is still readable. The top would originally have been taped on to avoid moisture entering and is marked 'Do not remove sealing tape & open until cartridges are required'. The front detail confirms the contents as '3 Cartridges Signal 1" Red Mk 12. T.' And 'Lot No' below. The same is written on the reverse side whilst on the side is 'Box No.381. Mk I'. In smaller writing towards the base is written '12MB/45' indicating the tin was made by the British Metal Box Company in 1945. The tin measures 3 1/2" x 2.75" (9 cm x 6 cm) and an identical example is illustrated on page 68 of Mick Prodger's excellent Luftwaffe V RAF Flight Equipment reference book.
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| British WWII Molins Mk 2 no 5 1' Very Pistol - These were standard issue to the RAF in WWII and were supplied with both one-man and multi- place dinghies to enable downed RAF aircrew to attract the attention of passing aircraft or ships. They were also carried by fighter pilots tucked into their flying boots so to hand if required in an emergency. This example is numbered 087963 whilst the hammer is stamped M 601. Online research indicates this is a manufacturers mark indicating it was made by I.L. Berridge & Co, who were a commercial knitting machine manufacturer based in Leicester. Berridge apparently made over 200,000 examples of this model during the war and were issued to the RAF, Navy and the Army.
This example shows some pitting to the barrel and frame and the original blued finish is largely worn away but it remains a good solid display example of a model that is getting increasingly hard to find now.. It is broad arrow marked and the lug on the left side of the barrel enabled RAF aircrew to lock the pistol into a locator fitted to the aircraft fuselage so a flare could be discharged from within. The pistol cocks and 'fires' with a very positive action and the grips remain in good condition, as is the retracting lanyard loop. This flare gun comes complete with a deactivation certificate indicating it was deactivated back in 2003 and is therefore legal to own in the UK by anyone over the age of 18 without a firearms certificate. This class is fortunately outside of the over the top revised deactivation regulations introduced by out EU 'masters' this year. It is hoped after 'Brexit' our Government will see sense and abolish these draconian regulations that are a nightmare for both collectors and dealers alike. Interestingly the Deac certificate indicates it was made by Enfield so we stand to be corrected on this if our Berridge information is inaccurate. An identical example is illustrated in Mick Prodger excellent reference book 'Luftwaffe V RAF Flying Equipment of the Air War 1939-45' on pages 68 & 69 and it measures 8" (20 cm). Please note this item is only available to customers based in the UK, due to difficulties in shipping weapons overseas and as stated is restricted to collectors aged 18 or over.
Please also check out the (empty) WWII flare cartridge tin we have also listed today that would be a perfect display accompaniment to this flare pistol.
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| Air Ministry Half Gill Spirit Measure - The Gill was introduced in the 14th century to measure individual servings of spirits or wine. In Great Britain, the standard single measure of spirits in a pub was 1⁄6 gill (23.7 ml) but was discontinued after metrication. Half of a gill is a jack, so an eighth of a pint. Our measure is made from English pewter by Gaskell Chambers Ltd of Birmingham, established in 1892. Gaskell and Chambers did not just deal in pewter but supplied an assortment of fixtures and fittings for the bar trade in general. Their premises were bombed by the Luftwaffe in1941 but they survived the war (minus their records! but sold out James Smellies in the early 1970s, but finally shut up shop in 1983.
Gaskell and Chambers catalogues showed a wide range of products available but the bulk of their production was beer mugs and measures. Their products, as our measure, were marked under the base 'Gaskell and Chambers Birmingham' and with a further stamp inside with a crowned 'X' with a triangle below. Whilst these measures turn up regularly this is the first we have seen that was specifically destined for the RAF. It is marked to the base with an indistinct crown and below A.M. (for the Air Ministry) and is numbered 661821/37 so manufactured in 1937 specifically for the RAF. Below is stores reference number 21C/777. RAF Stores reference '21' covered an assortment of 'Barrack Equipment', and sub category 'C' encompassed 'Metal Ware'.
Other less scrupulous dealers (who I won't name) would indicate this came direct from behind the bar at the Petwood Hotel. I prefer to think it was used by the late Geoffrey 'Boy' Wellum, after a successful fighter sweep with 92 Squadron chums at Biggin Hill. For those who have not read 'First Light' I suggest you secure a copy now and I am currently enjoying it even more for a second time around! So whilst this measures history has been lost down the years for sure with its pre-war manufacturing date it clearly served throughout WWII and as we so often say 'if it could only talk '. Whilst small (measures just 2 1/2" high/6 cm) it is beautifully formed! An ideal stocking filler for the RAF collector in your life and why not add a copy of my ' book of the month' 'First Light' which is available via Amazon. com!
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5452 
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| The Log Book of Wing Commander Guy Gibson V.C. This ring bound example is not in the same league as the fantastic 'After the Battle' replica log book, which if you are lucky enough to find one on the second hand collectors market, is as close as any of us will ever get to owning the real thing. Having just sold our only current example this is the only alternative that we can offer at this time. Published by Aries Archives and Memorabilia back in 1993 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Dams Raid which occurred on 16th May 1943. Now a further quarter century has gone by even these copies are themselves getting hard to find. Inside is a brief biography of Wing Commander Gibson who died in mysterious circumstances on September 19th 1944 and by then was one of the most experienced pilots in the RAF, despite being aged just 26.
This bound folder contains copies of all the entries from Gibson's No2 log book covering the period November 15th 1940 to September 16th 1944 just 3 days before his untimely death. It includes both training and operational flights, the lead up to the Dam's raid on May 16th 1943 and written below the entry 'Awarded V.C.23:05:43'. It also covers a flight to Cardiff when he piloted a Blenheim to attend his own wedding on 21 November 1940. They were married in Penarth's Anglican Church on 23rd November and the log book entry simply reads 'To Cardiff (to be married!
This facsimile copy contains 50 printed pages and despite not being as sexy to handle as the 'After the Battle ' example it contains the self-same entries and is available now as a significantly cheaper price!
Pages: 50
Cover: Soft
Author: Wing Commander Guy Gibson
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| RAF Dinghy Leak Stopper Set - On offer are 6 individual stoppers that would have formed part of the aircrew dinghy pack. The smaller sets comprised three bungs and would normally be included in the K type pack issued to single seat fighter pilots. This set includes the additional larger sizes so is more likely to have been issued to Bomber Command aircrew, to be used in conjunction with the larger H or Q type multi crew dinghies. If the dinghy was holed the threaded section of the bungs would be screwed into the fabric of the boat to form a repair by simply 'stopping' the hole. To save space the stoppers are designed to be inserted one into another for storage purposes. The smallest plug no1 is wooden but the reminder are rubber and are numbered 2-6 with '6' being the largest diameter. A small but critical piece of kit for survival at sea and no doubt many aircrew who were forced to ditch at sea would owe their lives to this ingenious device. This set is in mint and unissued condition and still carries the French chalk applied when manufactured.
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| Easco Life Jacket Light - This example when purchased was fitted to a 1941 pattern Mae West. The battery container is stamped with makers details on the base 'EASCO PATENT No 540862 LIFE JACKET LIGHT.' We understand this patent number dates to 1940 and these lamps were used to aid location and recovery of those who had the misfortune to end up in the sea. It is in good issued condition for a some minor scratches to metal parts. The battery unit comprises a black metal body with screw on lid, with a length of plastic coated black flex extends 56 cm to a black painted metal bracket with a bulldog clip attached with a bulb and round red plastic cover attached. The wiring is in excellent original condition.
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3710
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| Vulnerability & Armament of German Aircraft 1944 A superb original booklet published by the Air Ministry A.I.2. branch in 1944. The cover is stamped 'Secret Registry' and has been signed above by an Adjutant Officer. The card covers enclose a total of 13 separate loose leaf pages held in position by string binding. Inside the front cover is key to the diagrams with images indicating crew positions, fuel tanks, armour plate and armament with a notation 'N.B. Guns are not to scale.' This page is stamped like the cover A.I.2 (G) followed by No W/111 and is dated 1/44.
Each page contains a drawing of the key Luftwaffe aircraft of the time showing detailed images of the aircraft from front, top, side and rear. The cut away images then indicate the crew positions, fuel tanks, positioning of the armour and gun position and type. Each page is stamped A.M. A.I.2 (g) and dated 1944. All the drawings are signed 'Drawn K.L. Approved J.J. 'A little online research has identified 'KL' as Kerry Lee, born in Hackney in 1903 and who became an artist with works ranging from text-book illustrations to wartime cut-away drawings of German aircraft. In February 1941 Lee was recruited by the Air Intelligence branch of the Secret intelligence Service MI6 (referred to as A.I.2.) and made up a trio of talented artists by joining Peter Castle and Hubert Redmill. They had full access to crashed and captured German aircraft, including The Enemy Aircraft Evaluation Unit (nicknamed appropriately 'The Rafwaffe'!) which resulted in detailed drawings as shown in our booklet and also a range of cutaway posters all designed to help allied aircrew and AA crews to maximise the effectiveness of their attacks.
These artists work is now largely forgotten but at the time played a critical part in the war effort. Very few of their wartime posters remain although copies are held by the Imperial War Museum. We have certainly never seen another example of this booklet offered for sale and is again incredibly rare, and despite its 74 years is in remarkably clean condition, with just minor foxing on some pages. The range of aircraft illustrated are the FW 190 the 109G, ME110, JU88, DO217J, ME410, JU88A, JU188, Do217, JU97, HS129, and interestingly the Messerschmitt ME323. The detailed cut away drawings show angle of fire for the guns and detail as bullet proof glass. This would have been an invaluable document for allied aircrew.
Lee left MI6 in 1946 and worked as a commercial artist and illustrator, forming Pictorial Maps Ltd just off Baker Street. The contributions made by Peter Endsleigh, Hubert Redmill and Kerry Lee working as Air Ministry draftsman to the War effort cannot be underestimated and many aircrew almost certainly owed their lives to this dedicated team. Kerry Lee died in 1988 aged 85. In view of the loose left binding of this booklet the 13 illustrations could easily be removed and framed and so make a fine matched collection for wall display without causing any damage. The booklet size is rather larger than A4 measuring 13 1/2" x 8 1/2" (34 cm x 22 cm). A one off item that we are unlikely to be able to replace; as with all our stock we are happy to supply additional photographs on request.
Pages: 13
Cover: Soft
Author: Issued by Air Ministry Branch A.I.2.(g)
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| Luftwaffe Parachute canopy - This one is a bit of a mystery! The canopy is of small size measuring just 60" diameter (152 cm). It is Luftwaffe issue as it is clearly embossed with a Betriebs Aufsicht (BA) inspection stamp of the German Wehrmacht and numbered below 14019. It also carries German manufacturers factory code 'ecg' who we have traced to C & M Brüggemann KG, Mechanische Werkstätte / Flugzeug-Gerade who manufactured parachute equipment since 1936. This company are still in business today and we contacted the them to see if they could help us with intended us of this parachute but they were unable to do so. Sadly no Fl number is detailed to help us and the only other clues we have are an embroidered number inside that reads 1365 and a further embossed number W246909. We have discussed intended use with various dealer and collector friends. The high visibility yellow with red strips would indicate it was designed to be seen in the air (target dropping) or perhaps to aid pick up if used to drop rescue or survival equipment to downed aircrew, perhaps in snow or over the sea. The other theory is it was used to carry a parachute flare to illuminate a target. The canopy does not have the normal central hole so the drop speed would have been relatively slow. Seeing intended use is currently unknown we list as a 'mystery Luftwaffe canopy.' It is in used condition and the lines have been cut. The canopy is however complete although it does have the odd small hole and other minor damage to the fabric, which feels as though it could be silk. It is a very good display size for a collection. If any visitors to the site can help with a possible use please feel free to join our chat room and we can add details to our description!
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6441
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| Wing Commander Guy Gibson D.F.C. RAF Pilot's Flying Log Book No2 It seems only appropriate we should list this item today, exactly 75 years to the day after Wing Commander Guy Gibson led 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force on an audacious bombing raid to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley, on an operation codenamed 'Chastise' that took place on the night of 16-17 May 1943.
Clearly this example is a replica, with the original Flying Log Book held as a national archive item at the Public Records Office. Despite this these copies are now also incredibly rare and have become a sought after collector's item in its own right. This was published in a single run by 'After the Battle ' magazine in 1975 and sold out very quickly and is now only very occasionally available on the second hand market. I will certainly never be selling my own copy but we have now been fortunate enough to find a further example that is offered for sale here.
Guy Gibson's Log Book No. 2 was faithfully replicated from the original copy held in the Public Record Office, London. The first and last pages have been stuck together as in the original book. The photograph that had been inserted on the page following the entry for the Dams raid on May 16, 1943, is missing in the original and is missing here. The log book cover, which is now showing some age related foxing (which actually adds to the authenticity in our view) is marked 'Log Book No2' ;it is not known what happened to Guy Gibson's original log book covering the period up to November 15, 1940. The written entries end of September 15, 1944. Just Three days later, on September 19, Gibson piloted a Mosquito to Rheydt in Germany, acting as Master Bomber for a raid on communications. At 21.53 hours he turned for home but three-quarters of an hour later crashed in flames at Steenbergen, Holland. Mystery continues to surround his loss but the current theory is he was mistaken for a Luftwaffe aircraft and was sadly shot down and killed by 'friendly fire'.
Don't just take our word for it just how good this facsimile is and I quote from Amazon. com reviewer J. R. Perkins: "As an historic document, this item ranks up there with the best. Especially if you have an interest in aviation from the Second World War, as Guy Gibson is one of the best known pilots of the Royal Air Force and to have a reproduction of his Log Book is something really special. Some of his less known sorties are listed here, being his time as a night fighter pilot with 29 Squadron flying Blenheims and then Beaufighters defending the skies of England against German night bombers. Truly a very special book to own and treasure. Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO DFC (12 August 1918 – 19 September 1944), was the first CO of the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron, which he led in the "Dam Busters" raid (Operation Chastise) in 1943, resulting in the destruction of two large dams in the Ruhr area. He was awarded the Victoria Cross and died later in the war. He had completed over 170 operations at the age of 24."
As mentioned these copies, that were made in a one off limited edition, hardly ever come on the market these days although we have noticed one is currently listed on Amazon. com at £352.00 We are happy to list ours at a rather keener price so make your choice! This example does have age related wear to the cover as already mentioned but the binding remains strong. Inside the entries are all clear and remain bright and the pages are generally clean with again just minor foxing in places, that adds rather than detracts to the authentic look of this amazing replica. Grab it whilst you can on this 75th anniversary of the raid as it is almost certain prices for these will continue to rise. Please also check out the 617 Squadron 'Honours Board' we have also listed on the site today.
Pages: 104
Cover: Hard
Author: Wing Commander G.P.Gibson D.F.C.
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| Battle of Britain Roll of Honour published by The Illustrated London News - The brainchild of Sir Brice Ingram MC (1887-1963) who planned, organised and funded the Battle of Britain Roll of Honour to commemorate the allied losses in the Battle of Britain. Ingram had a distinguished service record in WWI initially joining the East Kent Yeomanry then transferring to the Royal Garrison Artillery. He rose to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in 1917 and was three times Mentioned in Dispatches. He was the editor of The Illustrated London News from 1900 until his death in 1963. The concept of a memorial was considered as early as 1942 and Ingram suggested that the Battle of Britain was of such importance to the history of the country that it stood comparison with such epic victories as the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the Battle of Trafalgar. The original is now held in the RAF Memorial Chapel in Westminster Abbey and was illuminated by Daisy Alcock. It contains the names of l, 497 pilots and aircrew killed or mortally wounded during the Battle, of which 449 were in Fighter Command, 732 in Bomber Command, 268 in Coastal Command, 14 in other RAF commands and 34 in the Fleet Air Arm. The names include those of 47 Canadians, 47 New Zealanders, 35 Poles, 24 Australians, 20 Czechoslovaks, 17 South Africans, 6 Belgians and one American, as well as those from the United Kingdom and Colonies. Our framed and glazed example shows the title page published in the Illustrated London news on January 18th 1947. The colours are still strong although the paper shows evidence of minor damage as well as creases caused by folding prior to it being professionally farmed by the late Chris John from whom it was purchased. Below the image is a little background to the reasons why the scroll was produced in Bruce Ingram's own words. We have no idea as to how many of these still survive but it is the first one we have been able to procure and it would be a worthwhile and emotive addition to a Battle of Britain related display. Frame measures 21" x 15" (53 cm x 38 cm)
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| Royal Observer Corps Portable Telephone for Observer Posts RAF Ref Nos 10G/125 - The Royal Observer Corps was a Civil Defence organization, formed in 1925 and which operated until disbanded in 1995. Its main objective was to detect, identify, track and report sightings of allied and axis aircraft flying over the UK. To meet this aim Observer Posts were set up in areas liable to attack and each post was connected by a direct telephone line to a Central Control and provided warning of raids, giving numbers, heights and types of enemy aircraft. Used in conjunction with information provided by the early-warning radar sites, this was a vital input to help develop an overall picture of incoming attacks and all this information had to be put together to ensure Fighter Command were in the right place at the right time. Each Post had two observers on duty with one responsible for the working of the Post, watching and listening for aircraft and estimating height, direction and numbers. His no 2 Observer operated the Post Field telephone and reported in up to date information and also listened to reports from other posts.
Our Field Post Telephone is of the early pre-war pattern AD 163 B; this was later superseded during WWII by an economy version of simplified construction model nos AD1542. It is therefore an extremely rare survivor that almost certainly served in the early years of the war and during the Battle of Britain. This model carried a hand cranked "magneto" and was linked directly through to the Observer Centre via the telephone line network. The phone operated by turning an handle which generated an electrical charge in order to ring the bells of other telephones on the same line and to alert the operator. These telephones were used with a head and breast set that was worn by the observer; when not in use the mouth trumpet was turned away. Interestingly our headset only carries one receiver which appears to be a trait of these early sets. Another detail often missing is the 'Alphabetical Speaking Codes' chart cemented on the front fold down flap. This would now be known as 'the Phonetic Alphabet' but this one in early from is quite different to that in current use and appears to have been superseded in 1942.
The oak case is in sounds condition with just a few chips indicative of a unit that has served. The leather carry handle to the top is still solid as are all the brass fittings, hinges and catches. The inner section, which carries the magneto handle, slides out to reveal the interior and the location for two dry cell batteries is accessed. These are now missing and whilst all the electronic parts seem to be in place we have no idea if it could be restored to working condition so is on offer, like all out stock, as an historic collectable. Inside is chalked '10' and on the back wall of the case another original touch is a printed wiring diagram. The back of the case carries a brass plaque reading 'Telephone Observer' and 'DIAG AD 163B'. Above is a brass plate that when rotated allows the headset jack plug to be connected. The case measures 12.75" x 8.75"x 9 1/2" (31.5 cm x 22 cm x 24.5 cm). This is a museum quality piece and of significant historical interest to both Royal Observer Corps and RAF collectors alike that could well have played an important part in the most significant air battle of WWII. This is the first example of one of these early units we have seen in many years and believe it will be a long wait before we find another.
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| USAAF A-11A Intermediate Flight Trousers - A very crisp set manufactured by Ben Greenholtz & Co with a 1945 contract date. The waist size is marked at 34". The fabric is all in really good condition and the trousers feature a very crisp Army Air Force decal to the top of the left leg. The pocket section below this, as well as a panel in the rear, is finished in a deeper olive shade than the rest of the garment and this looks like a period a field repair. The set also features a very small patch repair to the back rear panel but clearly these have all been professionally done and actually add to the interest of the garment. All the various zips and snaps are in good shape and functioning and the original leather and fabric braces are still fitted. The A-11 A represented and updated version of the A-11 and first entered service on November 4th 1944 and remained in service until June 4th 1945 when the A-11B variant was introduced which in turn remained an issue items with the AAF and USAF for many years to come. This set certainly tick all the boxes and despite clearly having been issued are in exceptional condition.
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