Item: ONJR23PAC024
Original U.S. WWII Army Air Force A-12 Aircraft Bubble Sextant in Case
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Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very rare navigational instrument used on American bombers and fighters during WWII. The data plate which has entirely fallen off of the sextant but is still included reads:ARMY AIR FORCESEXTANT BUBBLETYPE A-12 SERIAL AFA3-9123ORDER NO W535AC32789MFR'S DRAWING NO. 11734LINK AVIATION DEVICES INCBINGHAMTON, N.Y., U.S.A.This is an excellent World War II sextant manufactured by the Link Aviation Co. It was used by the Military before and after the war and was the last of a line of aircraft sextants whose design was influenced by use in open cockpit airplanes. This example is stamped on both the sextant and case with serial number 248, making this a matching set! We aren’t sure if there are pieces missing, but it’s in fair condition minus the data plate having come off. The case measures roughly 13 x 9 x 5”.Celestial altitudes are measured by reference to an artificial bubble horizon. The bubble is electrically lighted for night use by standard C size batteries. The sextant is very unique in that it has two different optical paths that can be used. In one, the observer looks down into the sextant and sees the reflected image of the star overhead. We suspect this is the mode designed for open cockpits. In the other mode, the observer holds the sextant at arm’s length and sees the bubble reflected on a glass surface as an illuminated ring against the night sky. Readings are taken from a vernier scale.Comes ready for further research and display.
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