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WWII US Army Air Force B-17 Bomber Compass -
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps
(USAAC). Competing against Douglas and Martin for a contract to build 200 bombers, the Boeing entry outperformed both the
other competitors and more than met the Air Corps' expectations. Although Boeing lost the contract due to the prototype's
crash, the Air Corps was so impressed with Boeing's design that they ordered 13 B-17s. The B-17 Flying Fortress went on to
enter full-scale production and was considered the first truly mass-produced large aircraft, eventually evolving through
numerous design advancements, from B-17A to G.
This is the compass used in the famous B-17 bomber. The Army Air Corps flew countless
missions over enemy territory during WWII.
The main body of the compass is made of metal. The movement floats on a oil-like
liquid. A graduated circle has multiple markers to indicate direction. A metal
tag rivetted to the body of the structure contains basic information about the
apparatus.
Manufactured by the Bendix Aviation Corporation in the year 1941. A silver metal tag is riveted to the
side of the body. The tag has the following information written on it:
Order No. AC-20667
MFR's Part No. 1801
AN NO
Spec No. 94-27825
Ser No. AC-41-1203
Bendix Aviation Corporation
Pioneer Instrument
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for US AAF collectibles. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined
points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my set of AAF item worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the AAF collectibles
is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of US militaria in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This US AAF gear and uniforms may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other US AAF items, you can do so by going to our
US AAF Collectibles Price Guide.
Where we cover gear, uniform, insignia, etc. employed by the US Army Air Force.
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