USN Mark 3 BuAer Mirrors

[Salvage Sailor]

Two different sizes of the Korean War era US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics signaling mirrors.

 

NEW MK-3 SIGNAL MIRROR OUT (Naval Aviation News, June 1949, p. 35)

BuAer Airborne Equipment division is procuring a new and improved signaling mirror for inclusion in multi-place life rafts and PK-2 survival kits carried by pilots.

Fifth and latest of the line of signaling mirrors developed since the start of the war placed much emphasis on ocean survival, the new device will replace all existing mirrors which do not have reflex sighting. Three years of testing went into the design before it was accepted.

The new mirror is made of double-laminated tempered and annealed glass and is so tough it will resist heavy usage without breaking. Sighting is done as with several other of the signaling mirrors – through an aperture in the middle of the mirror. A stainless steel screen coated with Scotchlight produces a gleaming "point" for the downed pilot to aim at a plane overhead or distant ship to catch their eyes by flashing sunlight.

The Navy started the war with a simple signaling mirror made of stainless steel with a plain hole in the middle. The next one brought out was the Mk 1, featuring a plus sign in the middle for sighting. An experimental model, never produced, came next. It had a hinged inset in one end for sighting but its plastic construction did not stand up in the water so the Mk 2 mirror was brought out. This featured a black metal casing for a mirror and a fixed-hinge sighting reflector. The new Mk 3 device, with a range of 10 miles or more, replaces these.

 

 

[milsurp_scout_14]

Extremely timely post as I just picked a Mark 3 Type 2 up at a pawnshop. I believe it is an aftermarket, as there is no contract info, and just a single word 'JAPAN' over the corner of paragraph 4. It came in a high quality OD nylon case, named to a CPL Reynolds. Were there in fact aftermarket versions made for private purchase?

[dustin]

The Bureau of Aeronautics developed a prerogative to retroactively re-designate equipment, this is one such example. In the image of mirrors, the first adopted type beyond polished plated types was the M-580 (also known as the ESM/1) designated as Mark I in the image. Next, was the M-580A, designated as Mark II in the image. The "Mark" designations were adapted post war to these mirrors. Interestingly in the article it mentions and experimental type with a hinged inset.

 

Here is an image of that experimental type. This mirror can be seen in the image as part of the article.

 

Scotchlite was a new wonder material that had great reflective properties that both the USAAF and BuAer were looking into by late 1944 for signal mirrors. The USAAF adopted this type of new mirror in 1946, it is a curiosity why the BuAer spent so many additional years on its development, they adopted the Mark 3 in March 1947. Through 1945 they we playing around with plastic bodies still, but ultimately stuck with the laminated glass type for durability.

The article is referencing the new amendment to the Mark 3 of May 1949. Even the M-580 specification cited three different sizes, this specification was no different. Type I is of the smaller type, better to integrate into personal kits and would remain consistent into the modern era.