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WW2 RAF watch identification help please

  1. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    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.
     
  2. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    Watch 01....
     
    Watch01a - Copy.jpg Watch01aneg - Copy.jpg
  3. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    Watch 02
     
    Watch02a - Copy.jpg Watch02aneg - Copy.jpg
  4. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    Watch 03
     
    Watch 03 - Copy.jpg Watch 03Neg - Copy.jpg
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  5. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    Watch 04
     
    Watch 04 - Copy.jpg Watch 04 Neg.jpg
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  6. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    Watch 5 and 6.....

    Thanks again in advance for any help and feedback....
    .
     
    IMG_6184 - Copy.JPG large_CH_000980_1 - Copy.jpg Image2 - Copy.jpg
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  7. cchen Sep 4, 2021

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    watch 3 is Longines 6B/159 - however that dial is not correct
     
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  8. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Sep 4, 2021

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

    No 2 looks like an Omega case.
     
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  9. ConElPueblo Sep 4, 2021

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    Yep, or a Tissot.
     
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  10. Omegafanman Sep 4, 2021

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    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).
    .
     
    C1C13911-BD1B-40F8-B3A2-357830A60EE6.jpeg 482492ED-924F-4A28-9948-E712CAF8D0A8.jpeg 6477A6A8-E1F3-4BBB-8D71-5D61DEFC6802.jpeg F57B63A2-15AC-4935-AA64-19AE384EC74E.jpeg D48B7FAC-B04B-4FFB-81DB-26F160360E3B.jpeg D542057D-C445-4636-9D39-F37191D830EE.jpeg
  11. cchen Sep 4, 2021

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    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.
     
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  12. w154 Sep 4, 2021

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    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.
     
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  13. Omegafanman Sep 5, 2021

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    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.
    .
     
    Pilot use - Copy.jpg
    Edited Sep 5, 2021
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  14. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Sep 5, 2021

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    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.
     
  15. gatorcpa ΩF InvestiGator Staff Member Sep 5, 2021

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    The last watch is a Weems for sure:

    upload_2021-9-5_13-10-3.png

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

    Here’s my civilian version:

    upload_2021-9-5_13-12-57.jpeg

    gatorcpa
     
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  16. Omegafanman Sep 5, 2021

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    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.
     
  17. Omegafanman Sep 5, 2021

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    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).
     
  18. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Sep 5, 2021

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    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.
     
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  19. Omegafanman Sep 6, 2021

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    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.
    .
     
    6B QUESTION - Copy.jpg 6B221 - Copy.jpg
  20. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Sep 6, 2021

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