Red Plastic Flashlight

[BlueBookGuy]

hello,

thought about parting company with this flashlight I had no need of, it stayed aside together w/ other small things since a lot of time. Thinking now for a moment of a possible use if putting it on a Navy aviator, timeframe could be early 1944  but not later. Please anyone can state for sure about these plastic-made flashlight being in use in that period,? Do not remember in wich topic I read time ago that even the purposely-designed, classic metal-bodied (gray) flashlight by BMG wasn't available until well into springtime 1944, do not know if this red model could be corrrect.

If not, no problem at all.  Light is a ''Life Saver Model #2'' by Lennan of L.A.  Thanx in advance.

 

[jerry_k]

Hi Franco. Dustin books all volumes will be your "friends" forever! 

 

According to Dustin book this Lennan Light Life Saver Model No. 2 was approved at an unknown date however we can spot them in late war Navy squadron photos:

VF-40 USS Suwannee april 1945 (photo courtesy by Dustin)

 

Second one also from VF-40 from Paul's (pararaftanr2) old site: 

 

So this type of light would be more accurate for late war (1945) rather than early 1944 of course if you want make your display based on vintage photos...

 

For early 1944 year I would use a M567 example (here is a NAN article from March 1943).

 

Cheers,

Jerry

 

[BlueBookGuy]

hello Jerry

 

ok it will go perhaps to the late-war character, taking place of its present BMG gray metal flashlight. Read time ago somewhere in this Forum of the said BMG model that started to see use well into springtime '44, not before, so either this and the red plastic one are out of matter for that other period.

Thanx very much,  Franco.

 

 

[BlueBookGuy]

here the two variations I still have, one of them could go on the aviator set in summer '45.  

 

[jerry_k]

The second one is a Colvin Slocum light approved by CG in 1942. I saw wartime pic with an example but with a clear lens. Here is one from USS Wasp aviators from 1944 (photo courtesy by Dustin as well:

VT-14 pilot

 

Yes, "standard" metal body one-cell life preserver attachable light was introduced in mid-1944

 

[BlueBookGuy]

thanx Jerry,

Ok one of them will go on the late-war aviator 👍

[BlueBookGuy]

btw.,  this one is in fact a Slocum specimen, and marked as Model A.