WWII RAF Navigator's Compass

[browningautorifle]

Is there a way of setting the declination

Given that I don't know of too many aircraft in WWII that sat level on the tarmac

Remember it's going to be used when they are in level flight, not for shooting a bearing through the bamboo. Considering the examples seen including yours and the others in the links...the indicator sits directly on the north indices. The navigator has to do some math.

I understood that a lot of the RAF stuff like calibrated instruments was all sent back to the UK for repair etc to the manufacturers for certification.

I guess that makes the most sense. Our guys do handle instruments but I'd have to find out how deep that would go.

[lawrence_n]

The RAF Museum (or IWM) might have the AIR publication for this device. Not likely posted online, but you can contact them and ask them to search their collections.

I had purchased this at a very good deal as a gift for one of my besties whose father had been navigator in the RCAF and had basically carried on his position into the civilian aviation world when he was demobbed. My buddy was blown away and started doing his own research. In short, it was as I had suspected that this is a scarce variant as it was prewar manufacture so it was more complex and fancier than the later and more common compasses that were simplified for speed of manufacture. This style was heavily used in twin engine aircraft like the Beaufort, Anson, Beaufighter, Hudson, etc. and very often issued to Coastal Command. I wonder what this would be worth to collectors of militaria, given its rarity.