[email protected] Posted February 10, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 10, 2016 I attempted to re-create the contents of the WWII USAAF Bombardier's Kit. The first image is taken from the Bombardier's Information File, and the second is my equipment. The pilot's penlight is an A-6B. I will have to wait until and A-6 becomes available to make it fully accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted February 10, 2016 Share #2 Posted February 10, 2016 Very impressive..some very nice items in your bag.......I gotta ask about the need for pliers and screw driver... for the sextant??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 10, 2016 Share #3 Posted February 10, 2016 I had a guy at the Alabama Military Collectors Association Huntsville Show a couple of weeks ago offer to trade me an A-6 Pilots Pen Light in near perfect condition. I knew nothing of the value of one so I turned him down. Just saying this to let you know they are out there. You have a nice display. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaaf93 Posted February 10, 2016 Share #4 Posted February 10, 2016 hello really nice. Could you please add some close up views of the compass and skrewdriver. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted February 10, 2016 Well, I have two functioning Norden bombsights I have restored, and you can't do anything to them without a screwdriver, and I can see where the pliers might be handy. I will be putting on a demonstration of the Norden bombsight at this year's MacDill AFB Airfest/75th Anniversary and I am told that there will be two WWII veteran bombardier instructors there to work with me. I plan to have a lot of questions for them, including the contents of the kit. Here is a link to my video of my working bombsight and instructions on use: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share #6 Posted February 10, 2016 USAAF93, There is no compass there; do you mean the dividers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted February 10, 2016 Share #7 Posted February 10, 2016 I attempted to re-create the contents of the WWII USAAF Bombardier's Kit. The first image is taken from the Bombardier's Information File, and the second is my equipment. The pilot's penlight is an A-6B. I will have to wait until and A-6 becomes available to make it fully accurate. To make it fully accurate you'll have to get some period batteries and get rid of those Energizers!! I only kid obviously.... Man this is seriously too cool! The attention to detail is top notch and you have some great and rare items there. I am truly impressed! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaaf93 Posted February 10, 2016 Share #8 Posted February 10, 2016 USAAF93, There is no compass there; do you mean the dividers? Yes indeed. Sorry for my english. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted February 10, 2016 Neither of these items are original USAAF. They were the closest I could find to the picture I had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usaaf93 Posted February 11, 2016 Share #10 Posted February 11, 2016 thanks. I wanted to check if there was any "army air force" markings on them. It is still a nice display Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted February 11, 2016 Share #11 Posted February 11, 2016 were hand tools marked AAF?? I did find an old pair of Ford pliers with the F script...but have not run across AAF marked tools... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share #12 Posted February 12, 2016 No, the tools are not marked AAF. Based on the inquiries, I should probably elaborate on the items and their sources. The e-1 bombardier case is a reproduction. (I have two USAAF e-1 cases, but they are dark olive and rather dingy). The four computers are authentic, although the small one is a D-4, not a J-1, which seems to be available once a decade. The watch, stopwatch, and Weems plotter are authentic. The bombing tables are authentic, but of the wrong type. The flashlight is authentic, but an A-6B, when it should be an A-6. The remainder of the items, including most so the tools, are the best mates I could find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted February 14, 2016 Share #13 Posted February 14, 2016 Nice kit! Remember that Your A6b penlight is post war. Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted March 16, 2016 Share #14 Posted March 16, 2016 Man this is seriously too cool! The attention to detail is top notch and you have some great and rare items there. I am truly impressed! -Daniel I Echo what Daniel said, it is evident you have been working very hard to assemble the kit. Sometimes we are quick to point out what is not 100% correct, we neglect what is 100% correct and forget how hard some of these tiny details are to find. Thank-You for preserving history and doing the detail work! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanWWII Posted March 23, 2016 Share #15 Posted March 23, 2016 Nice kit! Thanks for posting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witriflyguy Posted December 13, 2017 Share #16 Posted December 13, 2017 Thanks for sharing! Could you post a few more photos of the bombing tables booklet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Jack Posted December 13, 2017 Share #17 Posted December 13, 2017 I'm half way there. Your presentation is incentive to get on the stick, and continue the search. Nicely presented. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted December 24, 2017 Here is an update. All equipment is now USAAF original except for the pliers, screwdriver, pencils, batteries, and paper clips. The bag is the correct color. I cannot find Champion AA batteries anywhere, and cannot find that manufacturer of paper clips. A previous post had inquired about the pliers; I found out they were used by the bombardier to pull out pins to arm the bomb fuses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted December 24, 2017 Here are pictures of the Fluorescent Bombing Tables: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted December 24, 2017 Pictures of the second book: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluehawk Posted December 25, 2017 Share #21 Posted December 25, 2017 That, is impressive, very. Would love to know how long a time it took to pull it all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted December 25, 2017 Author Share #22 Posted December 25, 2017 About two years. After the initial picture, the biggest gain was buying a Navigator's Case as part of an estate sale with a lot of items included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry_k Posted December 25, 2017 Share #23 Posted December 25, 2017 Nice A-6 penlight. Try to buy some vintage batteries at Ebay (even post war). Better look than modern energizer ones. Regards, Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltusma Posted January 31, 2018 Share #24 Posted January 31, 2018 No, the tools are not marked AAF. Based on the inquiries, I should probably elaborate on the items and their sources. The e-1 bombardier case is a reproduction. (I have two USAAF e-1 cases, but they are dark olive and rather dingy). The four computers are authentic, although the small one is a D-4, not a J-1, which seems to be available once a decade. The watch, stopwatch, and Weems plotter are authentic. The bombing tables are authentic, but of the wrong type. The flashlight is authentic, but an A-6B, when it should be an A-6. The remainder of the items, including most so the tools, are the best mates I could find. Great display! I'm also working on putting together all of the contents. Where did you get the reproduction E-1 case? I've been looking and only found a company in France. Thanks! Walt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share #25 Posted February 1, 2018 Yes, in the first picture, that was a reproduction E-case in the light brown as opposed to the usual olive. I got that from the same French company that you found. In the updated second photo, that is an original light brown E-1 case that I acquired from an estate sale a year later. I was fortunate; those light brown ones are hard to come by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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