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The Bulb
holder made of alloy
The clip on
the electrical cable marked AST D 640 and includes a Hawker
inspection stamp HA 22
Shown above a
copy of a letter dated 1938 from the Air Ministry to Mr I
Bowen with reference to the arrival of the first Gunsight
from C.P. Goers.
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Battle of
Britain GM2 Mk III Reflector Gunsight (No 1 pg 1 Gun)
This
Gunsight is without equal, it is unique and the only known
surviving example of its type.
Click on pictures to enlarge
In
all the books written on the subject of WWII Gunsights and
armaments there are no photos of an existing example.
At
the time of the Munich crisis in 1938 increased orders were
placed for the top secret Barr and Stroud reflector
Gunsight.
These
were for the new Spitfire and Hurricane fighters coming into
production. Even with 24hr working the Barr and Stroud
factory were already at full capacity and all other British
optical factories were committed to other defence contracts.
The
Air Ministry asked the company to find a suitable overseas
licensee.
The
result with Air Ministry approval was an agreement signed
with C.P. Goerz of Vienna Austria.
Secret drawings and even a complete Barr and Stroud Gunsight
were sent to Goerz, in Austria. Herr Neuman of Goerz signed
a production contract with a British Air Ministry
representative.
In
Early 1939, with 55 sights delivered , the Anschuss pact was
signed by Germany and Austria .
However Air Ministry fears of cancellation of the order ,
were groundless and Goerz were only to pleased to honour the
contract . A total of 700 sights known as the GM2 MK II were
delivered before the outbreak of war.
Considering that the reflector Gun Sight was classified as a
Top Secret piece of equipment, vital to British security
during WWII it seems unimaginable that the British Air
Ministry would allow drawings and a complete sight to be
even shown , let alone given to the Enemy.
It
begs the question was the Revi reflector gunsight used
so effectively by the Germans during the Battle of Britain
developed as a result of British Air Ministry incompetence?
The
only people the MK II reflector Gunsight was secret to were
the British.
The
quality of this Gunsight exceeds the British made version,
the bulb holder is made of alloy as apposed to Bakelite and
the pad designed to reduce the impact of the Pilots head on
the Gunsight in the event of a crash was covered in leather
as apposed to just a rubber pad.
How
effective this pad actually was I would not like to say as
the top of the glass which is also original is razor sharp
and it appears that that is the point that the head would
make first contact, perhaps this was a form of sabotage by
the makers ?
A picture of the
sighting ring , its quite difficult for me as I am not a
professional photographer to get a decent picture but the
actual image is crisp and clear.
The
image of the sighting ring is crystal clear and the Gunsight
is in excellent condition.
There
is little doubt that this sight was used during the Battle
and in fact fitted to a Hurricane as the clip on the
electrical lead carries a Hawker part number.
This
sight last came on to the market some thirty years ago at
auction and at the time was fitted with an original Hawker
Hurricane Gunsight bracket.
This
is the only known surviving example of the 700 Gunsights
supplied. If aviation Historians or Authors
require pictures of this sight I am happy to supply them.
Below the Gunsight fitted to the Hurricane of Eugene (Red) Tobin.
After an
uneventful early career with the French airforce Tobin
joined the RAF flying Spitfires with 609 Squadron on
the 8th of August 1940.
On the 19th
of September 1940 He was sent to form 71 Squadron the first
Eagle Squadron flying Hurricanes at Kirton-in -Lindsey
Lincolnshire where this picture was taken.
Sadly Tobin was
killed hear Boulogne on the 7th of September 1941 in
Spitfire W3801 .
He was was
24 years old and seems likely to be the victim of the German
Ace Adolf Galland..
Out of stock more always wanted please
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Giro Gun Sight Recorder (No
7 pg 1 Gun)
Good
condition and in original box.
. A very rare item.
Sits
on top of the bomber type Ace Maker Giro Gun sight.
14A/4196
Click on pictures to enlarge
Out of stock more always wanted please
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T1 bomb
sight and Z-transmitter Equipment show below
Click on
pictures to enlarge
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Lancaster Z Friendly Fire Equipment
(No 54 pg1 Gun)
Top secret Z equipment used to prevent
friendly fire from Lancasters fitted with the AGLA Village
Inn system. Z transmitted and
picked up an infra red beam from any following friendly
aircraft in the Bomber stream. Throughout Bomber Command,
all aircraft had been fitted with "Z" equipment which would
transmit the infra-red 'friendly' signal to any 'Village
Inn' Lancasters
they might come across. When picked up by the Z equipment the guns
in Village Inn Lancasters would be disabled and prevent friendly
fire in the dark. A very rare piece for the serious Gunsight
collector.
5C/3157
Click on
pictures to enlarge
Out of stock more always wanted please
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Gunsight Storage
Box (No 8 pg2 Gun)
Here we
have a original gunsight storage box for a MK II gunsight.
With inserts.
Click on pictures to enlarge
Out of stock more always wanted please
contact me
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MK II Day Fighter Reflector Gunsight (Pg1 Gun)
Here we
have the classic MK II Day fighter reflector Gunsight. This
is a superb example with a flawless glass and dated
1941 making it one of the first
square top versions to enter service with the RAF. The
day sight is different from the Night fighter version mainly
in having an orange reticule sighting ring and has two
adjustments for range and base feet. Both work
perfectly and the sighting ring is clear and crisp. It comes
with an original box but the mounting supports have been
removed at some stage so it sits in a soft green cloth. This
sight was the mainstay of fighter command aircraft and
fitted to the frontline fighters including the Spitfire and
Hurricane .
The legend
on the sight is clean and the rubber crash protector is in
good shape. There is no evidence of corrosion and its only
drawback is the lack of a bulb holder and original wooden
supports in the box. The sight can however be illuminated
with the introduction of a light source to the base of the
sight.
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them
The above picture was taken
by placing the actual sight listed on our light box facing a
picture on the PC as you can see the sighting reticule
is in excellent shape the blurring and yellow colour comes
entirely from the camera.
Sorry out of stock more always wanted please
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Click on the
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Out of stock more always wanted please
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Barr and Stroud Oval top Gunsight 1939 Mk I (pg1 Gun)
This Gunsight is a bit of
a mystery. The base bulb holder and box are all original 1939 dated RAF British
made. On closer inspection it appears the oval top is made in the US. It fits
perfectly but there are a few very subtle differences from the British made
version and it carries a US part number. It was not sourced from a dealer or a
collector but from an elderly British couple who had owned it for many
years. I can only assume that this was fitted during the war as a field
Modification, if they had something that would fit and worked they would use
that rather than have a grounded aircraft. This does reduce it's value but for
someone looking for an oval top with an early date it represents a good
opportunity to own one which does have an original wartime top but not fitted as
original to this sight.
This base is dated
1939 and is complete with its box and bulb holder and in good
working order.
This model being fitted
with a single ring, either open or closed and the reticule is a simple dot with
brackets and white in colour as apposed to orange, the picture makes it appear
slightly orange but to the eye its pure white..
This usually indicates
its for a night fighter which makes this sight possibly unique. These sights
were first fitted to the Gloster Gladiator but were in use in the very early
Mk's of Spitfire and Hurricane throughout the Battle of France and the Battle of
Britain.
Below a MK I Spitfire
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them.
Click on
the pictures to enlarge them.
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pictures to enlarge them.
Out of stock more always wanted please
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RCAF MK II Oval Top Battle of Britain reflector Gunsight (pg1 Gun)
This stunning MK II Oval top Gunsight
was imported from Canada. This Gunsight was in very short
supply in 39 and 40 so much so that contracts were issued
with an Austrian company to make them under licence.
This being the case its very hard to
fathom how this sight ended up in Canada. One possible
theory is that once they were replaced with MK II with the
square glass that this sight made its way to Canada to used
for training fighter pilots.
Its pretty much inconceivable
that this was not used during the Battle of Britain seeing
that they were in such short supply. Used extensively throughout the Battle of
Britain in the Hurricane and Spitfire as well as the
late 1930s Bi plane fighters the Bulldog and Gladiator.
The MK II reflector Oval top Gunsight
was only used for a short time between 1938 and 1940 being
fazed out at the end of 1941 and replaced with the square
glass model in 1941.
This Gunsight is in excellent condition
it is complete and even has the original packaging used to
keep moisture out probably why it survived so well. The only
fault I can find is that it has a very small piece removed
from the rubber head protector. The reticule is crisp and
clear.
If you know about these sights you will
know how incredibly rare they are and this one is quite
unique in having an RCAF transfer. The box is also unusual
in being painted grey , I believe this is period as it has a
number painted on the box over the grey paint.
Reference number
7A/1124 dated 1940
Among the greats. Douglas Bader (fourth from right), the
English flying legend, commanded 242 Canadian Squadron
RAF. At the beginning of the war, the RCAF had not yet
equipped and assembled squadrons for deployment in Europe.
There were however many Canadians who were either in the
RAF, or who were RCAF in the Royal Air Force. In order to
show Canadians back home that their boys were fully engaged
in the war, it was decided to create a special squadron
(242) manned by Canadians already in the RAF. This squadron
assembled some of the finest talent of the war—young fighter
pilots from across the land, now seen fighting the Nazis as
a cohesive unit. The photograph below right was taken at RAF
Duxford in September of 1940.
Above left Stanford Bob Tuck seen here in a Mk I
Hurricane during the Battle of Britain the oval top Gunsight
clearly visible.
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them.
The prototype MK II Gunsight was tested at
Farnborough, and then at Martlesham in a Bristol Bulldog for
air firing tests. The trials reports led to various
modifications. A substantial rubber pad was fitted to
protect the pilot from injury in the event of a rough
landing, the range/base setting was modified to two similar
knurled rings with their own scale and indicator, and the
lamp changing was also made easier. The blue-tinted swing-in
sun screen was found to be effective in high brightness
situations although the orange reticule was not perfect in
some conditions.
The modified sight was accepted as the standard fixed Gunsight of the RAF, being known as the Reflector Sight Mark
II. it was patented in 1937, and the first sights of an
initial order of 1,600 reached some Gloster Gladiator
squadrons in 1938.
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them.
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B17 Flying Fortress Mk 18 Giro Gunsight (pg1 Gun)
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them.
The Mk 18 and MK 14 Giro
Gunsight was the American Sperry version of the British MK
II Gunsight. The Mk 14 was fitted to the Mustang and other
US Airforce Fighter aircraft and the MK 18 was the turret
version. Both types being used extensively in WWII and the
Korean war. Although designed for use in turrets there does
seem to be some evidence that they were also occasionally
used in some fighters such as the Mustang and the later
Sabre jet fighter in Korea.
This Gunsight was generally fitted to the
Martin 250 CE which is a
24 volt, electrically operated turret containing two .50
calibre machine guns. Four ammunition boxes provide 1600
rounds of ammunition. It was mounted on the top of the
aircraft, about mid-way down the fuselage.
This turret was used on
American bombers such as the A-20 Havoc, B-24 Liberator,
B-17 Flying Fortress, and B-26 Marauder. During the war, the
Royal Canadian Air Force realized the limitations of their
.303 calibre machine guns and took steps to switch from the
hydraulically operated Fraser-Nash mid-upper turrets to the
Martin. However, this modification was only included on the
last 276 of the 431 Canadian built Lancasters.
B 24
Liberator
B17 Flying
Fortress
Canadian
built MK X Lancaster
This Gunsight is
complete and in superb condition and a great addition for
any serious Gunsight collector.
Out of stock
more wanted please
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B 32481 32482
SM
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pictures to enlarge them.
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Hurricane original Gunsight mount (pg1 Gun)
This a
super rare original Gunsight mount for a Hurricane , the
first one I have owned its in excellent condition probably
from some sort of magnesium alloy as its super light. It
came attached to the GM 2 MK III shown at the top of the
page but does fit the standard MK II reflector Gunsiight.
Out of stock more wanted
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Click on the
pictures to enlarge them
Out of stock more wanted
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MK II Night Fighter Reflector Gunsight (Pg1 Gun)
Here is a
really nice peace and the rarest of the MK II Square glass
reflector Gunsights being a night fighter version.
With a nice
early 1941 date, the night fighter sight differed from the
classic day version in only having a single ring for open
and closed, a white target circle with a dot as apposed to
orange cross hairs and ranging ring found on the day fighter
sight.
It is
complete and original with its original glass, box and
bulb holder with a nice crisp clean graticule as can be seen
in the picture below.
A/M 8B/2666
Mk II N ( N
stands for Night Sight )
Serial number
22394/41 (41 being the date.)
The
Spitfire and Hurricane despite being excellent day fighters
were not effective as night fighters and while other stop
gaps such as the Bolton Paul Defiant and the Bristol
Blenheim were pressed into this role the appearance of the
Bristol Beaufighter which was fast, heavily
armed and equipped with AI Mk IV radar.
The first ground controlled interception
stations were set up, so that operators could view a radar
map of the action, and guide the night-fighters towards the
bombers. Once within two or three miles, the crews used
their onboard AI sets to get within visual distance and
then, hopefully, make a kill.
The new system worked.
In March 1941 22 German bombers were shot down. In
April the figure was 48 and in May almost 100 enemy aircraft
were destroyed by RAF night-fighters.
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K14A P51 Gyro Gunsight (pg1 Gun)
Here is a
superb K 14A Gyro Gunsight its all original and complete
except it does not have the original glass,
it does
have a glass fitted but unfortunately not original. I am
sure with a bit of searching these will be available.
This is a
Gyro Gunsight which works out the deflection required to hit
the target.
This is the US version of the British MK II
Ace maker gunsight so called because with the introduction
of this sight Pilots not skilled in deflection shooting
amassed more kills rapidly becoming Aces.
Used in the
P 51 Mustang .The P 51 was originally designed as a fighter
for the RAF and initially not a success until fitted with
the Rolls Royce Merlin, it found fame with the USAF.
Due to its laminar flow wing and design of the radiator
which cleverly produced a small amount of thrust negating
the drag of the rad it could escort Bombers deep
inside Germany keeping the bombers safer and inflicting
serious casualties on the Luftwaffe.
Later in
the war huge numbers of this effective US frontline fighter
with its impressive range devastated German air defences.
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them
Seen above
left the P51 Mustang and above right the K 14 A Gunsight in
situ in a P51.
Out of stock more always wanted
please contact me
Overseas buyers
please contact me for a shipping cost
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Luftwaffe Revi
16B Gunsight (pg1 Gun)
This is an absolutely superb,
complete and boxed 100% original mid war Revi B Gunsight.
They don't come any better than this example.
The REVI (Reflex visier=Reflector gun sight) 16B was
manufactured as of 1942 until the end of the war. It was
used in the majority of the Luftwaffe aircraft types.
Including the BF 109, FW190 and ME 262.
Fliegnummer (Fl-Nummer –
Anforderungszahl( Luftwaffe reference number)): Fl 52955
This example has a reference placard at the front of the
sight which is an indication that this was a mid-war
production sight.
The letter code bvf desginates the factory where it was
produced.
bvf = Optische Werke, C.Reichert in
Wien 107, Hernalser Hauptstrasse 219
Click on the
pictures to enlarge them.
Seen above far right the REVI 16B in
situ in the cockpit of a BF 109.
Here is a link to the Revi manual
and
link to the AP
Out of stock
more wanted please
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pictures to enlarge.
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pictures to enlarge.
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pictures to enlarge.
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B17/B24 K 10 Compensating Gunsight (pg1 gun)
very good original condition K 10 compensating
Gunsight. This rare Gunsight was fitted only in the rear
turret of the B17 and B24
heavy Bomber and other USAF Wartime Bombers.
Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Out of stock more wanted please
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Mounting for Giro Gunsight (pg1 gun)
This is a really rare piece you will see a few Gunsights
before you come across the mount. Used in both Bombers and
Fighters for mounting the MKII Acemaker Giro Gunsight, 100% original in
good condition.
This mounting is also suitable for attaching the cathode
ray tube from Village Inn.
Out of stock more wanted please
contact me
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click on the
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Lancaster Z Friendly Fire Equipment boxed (pg3 gun)
Here we have a boxed version of the Z Friendly fire
equipment.
This is in Excellent Condition
This Carries the Reference Number 5C/3157
Out of stock more wanted please
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Click on the
picture's to enlarge
Click on the
picture's to enlarge
Out of stock
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Lancaster Z Friendly Fire Equipment boxed 2 (pg3 gun)
Another mint boxed piece from the Lancaster Z friendly
fire prevention system.
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pictures to enlarge
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RAF Mustang Gun sight (pg2 Gun)
This gun sight was used in the P51
Mustang. What makes this particular gun sight rare is the
fact it was produced for use in the
Mustangs supplied to the RAF. We can tell this by the
Air ministry label with the Kings
crown.
The round glass at the top is broken and the Internals
The RAF loved the early Mustangs
and it was very much missed when the production line closed
in favour of the Merlin engined B’s and C’s. As a low level
fighter the P51A had few equals in speed and range, even if
its agility was exceeded by the low altitude cropped wing
Spitfire Mk V’s. Mustangs saw action all over Western Europe
including Dieppe flying in ones and twos at ranges
Spitfire’s could only dream about in their armed versions.
Mustangs had the standard day scheme of green/brown uppers
and sky undersides later replaced by the green/Ocean
Grey/Medium Sea Grey scheme. Markings were a standard mix of
B roundels on the upper wings and C and C1’s on the under
sides of the wings and fuselage sides (A’s on the green/Dark
Earth versions). The RAF also had some of the 20mm cannon
armed aircraft designated 1a’s. The last Mustang 1/ll
squadron kept their aircraft until 1945. All others having
been replaced by other types or Merlin Mustang versions
Out of Stock More Wanted
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Click on the
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Projector Type 2
Mk.1 Gunsight (pg2 gun)
Here we have a Projector,
Type 2 Mk.1 Gunsight
This carries the Air
Ministry Reference Number 8B/2525
It is Dated 1944
This has had a new Glass
Fitted as the Original was Broken
Although the Plate States
this is a Mk.I Variant, it looks Similar to the Mk.
III*N
It was used in daylight
Operations as a Pilots Sight for Fixed Guns in Multi Engine
Aircraft Such as the DeHavilland Mosquito
DeHavilland
Mosquito
Out of Stock More Wanted
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Me
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Original Square Glass for MK II Gunsight
2 (pg2 Gun)
Here we
have a Original Square Gunsight Glasses.
This has
some damage to the corner and a few chips on the edges
Out of stock more wanted please
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Reproduction Oval Gun sight top (pg2 Gun)
Reproduction
cast in alloy, complete with glass attached, holes for
mounting bolts on the under side drilled and tapped. Simply attach to Gun sight base. Nice alternative to the very
rare and expensive original
as fitted to RAF Battle of Britain fighters and
discontinued in favour of the square glass type soon after.
Out of Stock More Wanted
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Click on the
picture's to enlarge
Click on the
picture's to enlarge
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Village Inn
Cathode Ray tube (pg3 gun)
Here we have a Complete Original Cathode Ray Tube that
was used with the AGLT "Village Inn"
It is in a Very Good Condition
It Carries the Part Number
8B/2536
Out of stock |
click on the
pictures to enlarge
Out of stock more wanted please
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MK II Gunsight wooden box (pg3 gun)
This is very nice original
wooden Gunsight box for the MK II reflector Gunsight. Please
note the brackets for holding the Gunsight are not present
its just the box.
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Giro Gunsight MK I dimmer control (pg3 gun)
This is very nice original
dimmer control for the MKII/ Gyro Gunsight.
A/M 8B 2458
MK I Type 5
Click on the
pictures to enlarge
Out of stock more wanted please
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Spare Glass for Oval Gunsight (pg2 Gun)
New cut
glass for the Oval Gunsight top seen above only one left in
stock.
Out of stock more always wanted please
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Click on
the pictures to enlarge
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12V White Reflector Gunsight Bulbs (pg1 gun)
Genuine 12volt wartime bulbs for the
standard MKII reflector Gunsight fitted to Spitfire's ,
Hurricanes and pretty much every wartime RAF fighter. Used
in other versions of the wartime reflector and projector
sights.
In working order as new, bring that
Gunsight back to life.
Out of stock |
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Click on
the pictures to enlarge
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24V White Reflector Gunsight Bulbs (pg1 gun)
Genuine 12volt wartime bulbs for the
standard MKII reflector Gunsight
. Used
in other versions of the wartime reflector and projector
sights.
In good working order as new, bring that
Gunsight back to life.
Out of stock |
Click on
the pictures to enlarge
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12V Reflector Gunsight Bulbs (pg1 gun)
Here we have a Genuine 12volt wartime bulb for the
standard MKII reflector Gunsight fitted to Spitfire's ,
Hurricanes and pretty much every wartime RAF fighter.
Out of stock |
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Click on the
pictures to enlarge.
Out of stock more wanted please
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Rocket firing Reflector Gunsight Glass holder (pg1 Gun)
This is an original Gunsight
glass holder which sits on the top of the MK II reflector
Gunsight base.
It is rocket firing
modification and is in relic condition ithas clearly been
recovered from a crashed aircraft so almost certainly has
fired in anger.
Unfortunately its
history has been lost and so no exact details are known.
Commonly used by rocket
firing Typhoons.
It Carries the Reference
8B/2157
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pictures to enlarge.
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