Between July 1946 and June 1947 for the W date letter (Birmingham). Were the inscriptions on the back of the other two from 1946, or 1947 as in your case ?
To be clear, it was assayed between July 1946 and June 1947 (as far as I understand, willing to be corrected). For the other two I was more referring to any inscriptions that may have been on the outside of the caseback.
My apologies to the UK people for continuing to misspell Birmingham. I've been too lazy to make another image of the inside of my watch.
I think Admiral Moffett who was head of the BuAero division that was over BuNav was fully aware of the Weems watches. Since Marc A Mitscher at this time was working for Admiral Moffett, it is easy to presume that Marc A Mitscher also was aware of the Celestial Navigation and Longines Weems watches. Still missing an undisputable link between Mitscher and Weems other than linked by Adm Moffett and the Bureau of Aeronautics. Note: Order was invoiced 1930.
By 1939, there were at least this many publications on the subject of Air Navigation using Celestial Navigation. This was complied as an extensive 156 page government report from the Instituted of Aeronautical Sciences. The report is on archive at Cornell University research library.
This is also a bit interesting in that it suggests there was an organizational relationship between USNA, Hydrographics Organization, Nautical Almanac, (P.V.H. Weems worked at all of these offices at one point) and BuNav. Did this exist at the time of Mitscher and Weems, have not found this yet. Also not sure if this will show any communication between Mitscher and Weems. The Air Navigation book acknowledgements suggest that there was never any direct contact between them around 1937-1943.
I found the records but I can't access them or at least read them through google translate. I have finally found out Joseph Raczkowski was the full name of the son of Zophia Raczkowski, the daughter of Nahum Sokolow that met with Krystyna Skarbek in Cairo in 1944. And this could have belonged to what I imagine was a 20 year old Joseph Raczkowski, a soldier in the Palestine Jewish Army or PAL. If that is correct then I finally have an understanding of what was mentioned by Clare Mulley in her book talking about the interaction between Skarbek and Zofia's son and the bombings. The bracelet is dated October 19th, 1944. I do not know who is the girl Zosia Henry. Zosia is another form of Zofia/Zophie/Sophia/Sophie and Zofia Raczkowski changed her last name a few times (to evade detection?) so not sure. Henri was Zofia brother but died in 1929. Joseph's father also used the name Henri on occasions. I have to search through notes to see if Jochanan ever used Henry as an alias. The most direct search method is just not working for me through Google Translate. The Hebrew translator causes PAL / 38060 to not come up correctly or I get search results of 16,000 personnel records. There is a remote possibility that Zosia Henry is actually two names. Zosia is Zofia and Henry is Henri Raczkowski the parents of Joseph Raczkowski. 1944 the correct Joseph (Yosef) Raczkowski is 20 years old.
From the previous post, we finally know who was the son and have a military id for someone about the same age, name and location.
Found confirming data. Joseph Y Raczkowski was born in 1924 at Hampstead England. These birth registries use the maiden name of the mother. Nahum Sokolow's home is located in Hampstead England.
I found where Zophia and Joseph lived. Below is Joseph's fathers full name Henry Elhanan Zvi Raziel Raczkowski. Henry filed legal papers at District of Jaffa in Mandate Palestine (pre-Israel). 1937-1924 = Joseph is 13 years old. Bar Mitzva is performed at 13. 1944 Joseph will be 20.
Found an example of Zofia using the name Zosia The below becomes more interesting due to the possibilities. Below describes the PAL/XXXXX numbers as being British Army Palestine id numbers. It should be possible to find the military records somewhere to confirm if it is the same Joseph and also what type of Jewish Brigade he was in. Example of a record I am searching for. Some of the Jewish Brigades like No. 3 were in fact commando brigades so the possibilities are interesting. It's going to be interesting to see if the bracelet and the grandson of Nahum Sokolow are the same person.
Some interesting events happening in 1944. Source is Ministry of Defense. https://archives.mod.gov.il/sites/Hahagana/Pages/default.aspx
Here is my little lonely, but historically significant Australian Longines c.1951 RAAF G6B/158. G6b/158. #125 Possible Numbers 103-190 Title [Instruments - Watches, Clocks, Chronometers] - AMTS [Australian Mechanical Transport Service] - DRM [Director of Repairs and Maintenance] - Watches, wrist (Aircrew type) - Reconditioning, etc - Air Board Agendum [0.25cm], Series number A705, Control symbol 113/3/95, Contents date range 1951 - 1951, Access status Not yet examined, Location National Office, Barcode no 3414912 Summary of Minute Sheet 2nd October 1951: "As a result of conference on Aircrew Wrist Watches (enclosure 5A refers) D.E.A. have allotted ident Number G6B/158 to "Longines" and "Le Coultre" type Wrist Watches previously identified as G6B/159-B and C respectively, also D.E.A. is taking action to re-identify "Omega" Wrist Watches as G6B/159."
This was one of the more important presentations given during the London Longines GTG 2023. We now know the very first COSD serial number. Nicholas C. is on the Longines Heritage team and he has been working with BigBug1964 to compile information for the COSD. 6,772,155 was invoiced on February 6, 1945.
I found something interesting and hope it arrives sometime next month. In the meantime, here's the start of some background on the Imperial Japanese Navy Aviation early years. Below is what a typical 1914-1918 era bi-plane looked like from the cockpit. One of the primary navigational instruments was of course the Mark IV chronometer or the later Mark V. More to come later once the Mark V arrives. This one is rather unique. Issue number 166 maybe one or is the earliest issued Imperial Japanese Navy pilot watch still in existence.
Interesting update to this piece. The Majeteks where delivered to the Check AF when they where in Britain during this time period. So why was this one delivered to Bratislava? Why was there a group of watches with the high end movement and more military hands delivered to an occupied civilian market? The military issued ones have cathedral hands. This came up at a Longines Event where these watches were showcased along with other historical aviation watches a few months back. I was chatting with the head of branding and heritage and he was surprised to see mine. Turns out they don’t know either…