World War II | RAF Flight Navigation Computer | 1940’s
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: United Kingdom
Material: Aluminum, Bakelite, celluloid, fabric straps, paper notebook
Period: World War II era (circa 1939–1945)
Description
This rare and historically significant RAF navigational computer is a fully equipped flight tool used by Royal Air Force navigators to calculate true course, airspeed, drift, and altitude adjustments. Complete with original Air Ministry markings, leg straps, pencil, and a flight notebook containing handwritten navigator’s records, this museum-quality artifact provides an authentic glimpse into the operational demands of WWII-era aviation.
Features
- RAF issue navigational computer with Air Ministry stamp
- Rotating aluminum dial for 360-degree directional adjustments
- Marked “Isothermal Calibration” for precision in varying flight conditions
- Back panel with paper grid under clear celluloid, adjustable via Bakelite knob
- Calibrations for nautical miles, statute miles, altitude (feet), and temperature (Celsius)
- Original straps, pencil, and navigator’s notebook with handwritten flight records
Cultural Significance
Navigational computers such as this were essential tools for RAF crews during WWII, allowing real-time calculations in flight. Precision navigation determined the success of bombing runs, reconnaissance missions, and long-range operations. The inclusion of the original flight notebook provides extraordinary provenance, documenting authentic wartime and post-war missions with hand-recorded flight paths and navigator’s notes. Together, these elements highlight the technological ingenuity and disciplined training that underpinned Allied air power.
Condition
Excellent preservation with original components intact. Notebook retains legible handwritten entries, enhancing both historical and collectible value. Functional mechanisms remain well-defined.
Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 11.5 in
Width: 7 in
Age
World War II era, circa 1939–1945
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: United Kingdom
Material: Aluminum, Bakelite, celluloid, fabric straps, paper notebook
Period: World War II era (circa 1939–1945)
Description
This rare and historically significant RAF navigational computer is a fully equipped flight tool used by Royal Air Force navigators to calculate true course, airspeed, drift, and altitude adjustments. Complete with original Air Ministry markings, leg straps, pencil, and a flight notebook containing handwritten navigator’s records, this museum-quality artifact provides an authentic glimpse into the operational demands of WWII-era aviation.
Features
- RAF issue navigational computer with Air Ministry stamp
- Rotating aluminum dial for 360-degree directional adjustments
- Marked “Isothermal Calibration” for precision in varying flight conditions
- Back panel with paper grid under clear celluloid, adjustable via Bakelite knob
- Calibrations for nautical miles, statute miles, altitude (feet), and temperature (Celsius)
- Original straps, pencil, and navigator’s notebook with handwritten flight records
Cultural Significance
Navigational computers such as this were essential tools for RAF crews during WWII, allowing real-time calculations in flight. Precision navigation determined the success of bombing runs, reconnaissance missions, and long-range operations. The inclusion of the original flight notebook provides extraordinary provenance, documenting authentic wartime and post-war missions with hand-recorded flight paths and navigator’s notes. Together, these elements highlight the technological ingenuity and disciplined training that underpinned Allied air power.
Condition
Excellent preservation with original components intact. Notebook retains legible handwritten entries, enhancing both historical and collectible value. Functional mechanisms remain well-defined.
Dimensions (approximate)
Height: 11.5 in
Width: 7 in
Age
World War II era, circa 1939–1945
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