WW2 USAAF Type A-8 Navigation Watch (Ground Speed) 1943

Scarce WW2 USAAF Type A-8 Navigation Watch (Ground Speed) 1943.

Authentic 1943 manufacture dated aircraft navigator’s Watch, Navigation (Ground Speed) Stopwatch, Type A-8, 15 jewel, black dial, made by Elgin for the U.S. Army Air Force. Presents in excellent condition – with minor surface wear (most notable on the reverse of the watch). Watch is in functional condition and runs*. Comes with cotton storage sleeve and box (note that box is included as found but is for an Elgin manufactured Type A-13).

Marked:

TYPE A-8
SPEC. NO. 94-27749
SER. NO. AF43-8135 (denoting a 1943 manufacture date)
MFRS. PART. NO. 1778
ORD. NO. W535AC-34898
ELGIN

*Watch is sold as-is. While this piece has been tested and functions at the time of this description, Magi Militaria makes no warranty or guarantee of functionality upon shipping and subsequent receipt by the purchaser.

Per the book “Combat Flying Equipment” by C.G. Sweeting: “The Type A-8 was a navigation stopwatch designed for timing ground speed meters for determining the velocity of aircraft relative to the ground. One revolution of the Type A-8 hand was equivalent to ten seconds….Elgin produced a Type A-8, 15 jewel, black dial stopwatch under military specification no. 27749….”

Commonly known as the “jitterbug” due to the loud, fast ticking of 144,000 beats per hour, the outer ring of the watch dial counts up to 10 seconds and the inner dial located at the standard 12:00 position counts up to 10 minutes of the 10-second revolutions.

WW2-era Elgin manufactured Type A-8 watches in functioning condition are tremendously few and far between. An opportunity not to be missed!