WW2 RAF watch identification help please

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Hello team forum,
I am still digging into WW2 RAF watch and clock history (I suspect ground some of you have already well covered). I am pulling together a fair bit of information. From the posts below any thoughts to ID the actual watches (some are tough) will be appreciated - also any feedback on what the pilot has written on his hand.
Thanks in advance for any feedback on this.

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Watch 01....

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Watch 02

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Watch 03

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Watch 04

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

Watch 5 and 6.....

Thanks again in advance for any help and feedback....
.

cchen · Sep 4, 2021

watch 3 is Longines 6B/159 - however that dial is not correct

size11s · Sep 4, 2021

cchen
watch 3 is Longines 6B/159 - however that dial is not correct

That dial, interestingly, has been seen before on the Longines 6B/159.

No 2 looks like an Omega case.

ConElPueblo · Sep 4, 2021

size11s
No 2 looks like an Omega case.

Yep, or a Tissot.

Omegafanman · Sep 4, 2021

ConElPueblo
Yep, or a Tissot.

size11s
That dial, interestingly, has been seen before on the Longines 6B/159.

No 2 looks like an Omega case.

Thanks so much for the replies which led me to a quick google (always dangerous). I can see watch 2 case and font looks a good match for Tissot and Omega 1940s (but not an official military issue?). Could watch 1 also be an Omega (I found the picture below just now). For watch 3 it does not look like the standard spec 6B/159 but I take the point others have been seen with that layout, Also I read some watches were updated in the fifties by the RAF (black dial). Ref watches 5 and 6 I though 5 looked like it could be a 6B/159 from the lugs and 6 might be a weems bezel? For watch 6 I also wonder what he has written on his had (bit of a side issue).
.

cchen · Sep 4, 2021

The Longines with older, cursive scripted logos are redials. Possibly by MOD but there isn't definitive evidence. The last one pictured seems correct although that swiss made looks odd, could be the angle or crystal distortion.

w154 · Sep 4, 2021

cchen
The Longines with older, cursive scripted logos are redials. Possibly by MOD but there isn't definitive evidence. The last one pictured seems correct although that swiss made looks odd, could be the angle or crystal distortion.

I thought this was pretty interesting at the time…

https://omegaforums.net/threads/sixties-uk-raf-v-bomber-watches-id.133987/#post-1819010

It’s obviously not the cursive type, but the origins of this dial were also often questioned (i.e. MOD or civilian redial). The fact it seems to appear in this video looks like pretty strong evidence that it’s a MOD redial.

Omegafanman · Sep 5, 2021

I suspect watch 3 is an MOD redial and the strap looks a match. It is diplayed as a1940's watch (which to a degree it still is I suppose)

Any info / thoughts on Watch 1 (Tank) would be appreciated - the font, sub seconds, case style etc are still broadley visable.

Likwise for the pocket watch 4.

In the meatime I think this rare colour photo from early in WW2 is probably a 6B/159?

@w154 - I saw the V bomber video link was broken so I updated that for the other thread. Also I have come across a lot more documents (not for my target era / more fifties) - I will look to wade through that and report back in due course.
.

size11s · Sep 5, 2021

Where are the images from?
No idea on no 1.
no 2 could be a ref 2384 or a 2179 I suppose, which were US army issued.
There was a thread on MWR several years ago that discussed these cursive font Longines and if I remember a member had a black dial one identical to this one.
The pocket watch should be searchable under GSTP pocket watch, there were a couple with open 9's I think.

gatorcpa · Sep 5, 2021

The last watch is a Weems for sure:

Couldn’t tell you which brand, as both Longines and Omega (among others) made them.

Here’s my civilian version:

gatorcpa

Omegafanman · Sep 5, 2021

gatorcpa
The last watch is a Weems for sure:

Couldn’t tell you which brand, as both Longines and Omega (among others) made them.

Here’s my civilian version:

gatorcpa

Thanks and a nice watch. It’s a picture from early in the war as well so I think that is a 99.9% ID based on all data.

Omegafanman · Sep 5, 2021

size11s
Where are the images from?
No idea on no 1.
no 2 could be a ref 2384 or a 2179 I suppose, which were US army issued.
There was a thread on MWR several years ago that discussed these cursive font Longines and if I remember a member had a black dial one identical to this one.
The pocket watch should be searchable under GSTP pocket watch, there were a couple with open 9's I think.

Thanks for the reply. I was not familiar with the 2384/2179 so pleased to read up on that. Looking at the case it is similar but the 10 font and crown still pushes me towards the Omega or Tissot. It is a shame no one has a clue of the Tank (watch 1) as that has more font/dial + case to consider. I will follow up on then pocket watch Search.
These images are mostly from RAF East Kirkby (UK) Museums. Watches 1 and 2 (sadly) are RAF crash recovery items (watch 1 was retrieved from inside a radio set). They are strong evidence of what RAF aircrew we’re using (as are the photos when there is a lucky wrist shot).

size11s · Sep 5, 2021

Ok, so they are RAF watches, that helps. The 2384 and 2179 are Omega watches, but for the US army so it won't be one of those.

No 2 could easily be a Dennison 12322 case that was used to house what are called 'economy 6B' watches, several manufacturers Waltham, Ebel etc. Either 6B/159 or 6B/234. It looks like the dial on no 2 had lumed numerals though.

If RAF the pocket watch won't be a GSTP but a 6E/50 or similar.

Regarding the tank watch I don't know of an issued tank style watch, others will know more, so it was probably a privately purchased watch.

Omegafanman · Sep 6, 2021

size11s
Ok, so they are RAF watches, that helps. The 2384 and 2179 are Omega watches, but for the US army so it won't be one of those.

No 2 could easily be a Dennison 12322 case that was used to house what are called 'economy 6B' watches, several manufacturers Waltham, Ebel etc. Either 6B/159 or 6B/234. It looks like the dial on no 2 had lumed numerals though.

If RAF the pocket watch won't be a GSTP but a 6E/50 or similar.

Regarding the tank watch I don't know of an issued tank style watch, others will know more, so it was probably a privately purchased watch.

Thanks for the reply - hopefully somone might pick up on the tank or I may post it again with a different thread title. I am sure somone will know it as enough survived (I think). I will dig into the 6B/234 story - I am not so familiar with them. Case wise it did look very different to a standard 6B/159 (see photo) - I was wearing mine on the day. For the pocket watch the hands look different to a lot of air ministry watches I have seen (I have a 6B/221 - photo attached). I wondered if the pocket watch in photo 4 could be a Tissot? - I may go back and see if I can get access to the case backs.
.

size11s · Sep 6, 2021

It's definitely not the Omega 2292 case, the lugs are too heavy, to my eye. I think it might be this case, different dial obviously.
https://www.historicflyingclothing....ry-pilot-s-wristwatch/prod_17124#.YTXZrC1Q3aY

Your stopwatch is a SmithS VC.2530 1/5th sec, circa 1942/3 issued to artillery, I think. Nice stop watch, also in a Dennison Cuprel case.

WW2 RAF watch identification help please

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

cchen

size11s

ConElPueblo

Omegafanman

cchen

w154

Omegafanman

size11s

gatorcpa

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

size11s

Omegafanman

size11s

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