Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition WWII direct reading, reflector, magnetic compass, Type 2 Kai, made by Tokyo Aero Indicator Co. The compass retains approximately 95% of it's original factory black paint, with scattered freckling throughout. All parts we can see are still mechanically functioning. The needle is intact and balanced on stem, with functional balancing / shock absorbing springs. The housing for the side light is present, with visible glass, but the light is missing. The compass looks to be for a bomb sight, and not navigation.

The KAI compass originally had a reflector assembly with a mirror to permit viewing horizontally, as this compass was mounted glass-up. The markings within the compass are reversed so they would read correctly when reflected in the mirror. Unfortunately this example no longer has the reflector, which may not have ever been installed. THe compass has a stem protruding from the bottom, which was used to mount it inside the aircraft. We have unfortunately not been able to find any pictures of the proper mounting.

The compass measures approximately 6 1/2" wide and 6" tall, with an intact nomenclature date plate still present, showing serial number 34058. Unfortunately there is no date stamped, so we do not know when it was issued, but this serial number is lower than others we have seen.

According to the online Funatsu Aviation Instruments Museum, this compass was used in the following aircraft:

- Mitsubishi G4M Type 1 Bomber Betty
- Nakajima B6N Tenzan Torpedo Bomber Kate
- Type94 Recon Kawanishi E7K
- Type 95 Model 2 Recon
- Nakajima C6N Saiun Myrt

Offered in very good condition and ready to display!

More on the "Betty" Bomber:

The Mitsubishi G4M was a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designation is Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bomber (一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikukō) and was commonly referred to by Japanese Navy pilots as Hamaki (葉巻, "cigar", lit. "leaf roll") due to the cylindrical shape of its fuselage. The Allied reporting name was "Betty".

Designed to a strict specification to succeed the Mitsubishi G3M already in service, the G4M boasted very good performance and excellent range and was considered the best land-based naval bomber at the time. This was achieved by its structural lightness and an almost total lack of protection for the crew, with no armor plating or self-sealing fuel tanks. The G4M was officially adopted on 2 April 1941 but the aforementioned problems would prove to be a severe drawback, often suffering heavy losses; Allied fighter pilots nicknamed the G4M "The Flying Lighter" as it was extremely prone to ignition after a few hits. It was not until later variants of the G4M2 and G4M3 that self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection for the crew and better defensive armament was installed.

Nevertheless, the G4M would become the Navy's primary land-based bomber. It is the most widely produced and most famous bomber operated by the Japanese during World War II and it served in nearly all battles during the Pacific War. The aircraft is also known for being the mothership that carried the Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, a purpose-built anti-ship suicide weapon during the final years of the war. Of the 2400 G4Ms produced, no intact aircraft have survived.