{"product_id":"type-0-6air-ministry-raf-hand-bearing-compass","title":"WW2 Type 06A Air Ministry RAF Hand Bearing Compass. New Old Stock","description":"\u003ch1\u003eWW2 Type 06A Air Ministry RAF Hand Bearing Compass. New Old Stock \u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWW2 Type 06A Air Ministry RAF Hand Bearing Compass. New Old Stock, In Its Original Wood Transit Case, it is in\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e very good cosmetic condition, with a few surface blemishes commensurate with age and use. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe compass damping fluid has evaporated and the inside of the compass bowl is dusty. The rubber cushion inside the wooden case has started to disintegrate; a combination of age and loss of compass fluid in the case.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBatteries would be placed via the base of the compass handle, which screws off, to operate a small lamp which would light up the inside. It can be turned on\/off by the sliding switch at the side. The lamp has not been tested and batteries are not included. I'm not sure of the battery size but a modern 'C' cell is slightly too big.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Size:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompass \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMax. diameter: 9 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: 24cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCase (WHD):  13.3 x 27 x 14 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top of the compass ring is very faintly marked as follows:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6A\/0473 \u003cem\u003e(where 6A is the RAF stores number for Aircraft Instruments)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eType 06 \u003cem\u003e(Where O = Observer)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo.15085.D\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is an examination stamp inside the top of the case which is also fairly illegible but I think the date is 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of compass was commonly used in WW2 by the RAF Coastal Command, and for \u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etaking star sights from an aircraft observer's cupola in, for example, a Lancaster to take navigational bearings in cases where a fixed compass could not be used\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe object is sighted through the 'V' on the mirrored sighting prism, the bearing is then taken from the prism as it is reflected up from the compass chart (see image). The numbers on the chart are reversed so that they are projected in a directly readable form on the prism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely piece of RAF WW2 history!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease click on the following link for more \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mullardantiques.co.uk\/collections\/militaria\" target=\"_blank\"\u003emilitaria\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"RAF","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44458482303233,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0303\/5122\/8972\/files\/DSC08605.jpg?v=1708361852","url":"https:\/\/mullardantiques.co.uk\/en-us\/products\/type-0-6air-ministry-raf-hand-bearing-compass","provider":"Mullard Antiques and Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}