craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Share #1 Posted March 29, 2007 Lensatic Compass - pre WW2 M1938 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted March 29, 2007 Pocket Compass with box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted March 29, 2007 Lesatic Compass - WW2 period through 1950 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted March 29, 2007 Zipper Pouch - First pattern with undated early compass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted March 29, 2007 Compass Pouch with Dura-Last snap closure. There has been much discussion about this pouch but no photographic proof of it's use. If you should know anything of it's orgin or period of usage please comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted March 29, 2007 Various pouches for the WW2 era Lensatic Compass. These were used through the early 1950's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted March 29, 2007 Compass Instruction tool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted March 29, 2007 In 1951 the compass went through it's first major redesign since about 1942 or 43. The most obvious difference is the increase in size and the addition of a map scale on one side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted March 29, 2007 The compass pouch design was also changed to accomodate the newer design. A WW2 era pouch is shown lower left for a size comparison. Later First Aid Pouches became dual usage pouches for both compasses and first aid dressings. Some of these pouches are marked just for compasses, some are marked just for dressings and some are marked for both. There is no difference in the design of the pouch, just the marking changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted March 29, 2007 M1949 Wrist Compass The top example has the cover intact and the lower example has had the cover removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted March 29, 2007 This is the US Navy MK 1 MOD 0 Compass used by underwater swimmers. This includes UDT / SEAL Teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted March 29, 2007 This is a wrist compass included in many Survial Kits during Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted March 29, 2007 Wrist Compass used by parachutist during WW2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #14 Posted March 29, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted March 29, 2007 WW1 Marching Compass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #16 Posted March 29, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #17 Posted March 29, 2007 Pocket Transit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted March 29, 2007 Author Share #18 Posted March 29, 2007 Clinometer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loek Posted April 14, 2007 Share #19 Posted April 14, 2007 Thanks, great reference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregory Posted April 21, 2007 Share #20 Posted April 21, 2007 Here it is an interesting compass and its place. In my opinion it must be shock-proof compass. As we can see it is placed in the seat-type USAAF's parachute and it is a part of pilot's survival set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_pickrall Posted April 21, 2007 Author Share #21 Posted April 21, 2007 That compass is like the one shown in post #2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted April 28, 2008 Share #22 Posted April 28, 2008 These came from a trunk full of WWII items from a US Army Air Force CBI Hump pilot. They are not US issue but were carried by American GI's when they could get them. I have seen first hand accounts of US fliers carrying these in Europe and Asia. These are so-called escape compasses, designed to not only point the way but to be easily hidden as well. They are probably both British made but would have available for US airmen in the CBI theatre. This one could be sewn on as a button (the British used it as a fly button on BDU's). When needed, it could be removed and one piece - with a small spike on it - became the compass base. The other piece, magnetized and with north and south marked by dots, "floats" on the base and points to north. Also called a "button compass", a modern version of this next one is still being made as the "NATO survival compass" ( NATO Stock Number 6605 99 522 0223 for the trivia-minded). This one is the WWII version and could be swallowed for concealment (adding a whole new meaning to the phrase, "Please pass the compass"). The Brits had buttons and cap badges which could conceal one of these. There some other concealable compass styles including one button style that hangs on a thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bphealey Posted July 7, 2008 Share #23 Posted July 7, 2008 Do you have any information about manufacturers of the various "sweetheart" compasses that were part of the "Red Purses" made by the British and prt of the escape and evasion kits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bphealey Posted July 8, 2008 Share #24 Posted July 8, 2008 HA! I just noticed that there is a filter on forum posts! It actually changed the word above from "a$$h0le" to sweatheart. if I ever called my sweatheart an A-hole I think my "A" would be handed to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK101 Posted July 28, 2008 Share #25 Posted July 28, 2008 Some USMIL survival kit compasses (post WWII), the smallest one in the bottom pic is of unknown origin, but appears to be a very high quality "escape" compass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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