Can anyone throw any light on this gunsight, such as its correct designation (type XYZ), the period it was in use, and the aircraft types it was used in?
I’m afraid there’s no information as to provenance, as it was found in a box of bits at a boot sale, the seller having been clearing out the contents of her Grandfather’s shed.
Geoff.
By: HP57 - 10th January 2005 at 18:28
Makes you wonder where all those gunsights have gone to.
Cees
By: 682al - 10th January 2005 at 16:27
I used to buy them from that Optical firm in the Southend area (Rayleigh? Leigh-On-Sea?) a long time ago.
They used to advertise them in Exchange and Mart (now there was a source of all things military surplus in it’s heyday!) £9 boxed inc postage, if I recall.
I heard that Lance Corke bought the remainder and was flogging them for considerably more than that!
By: HP57 - 10th January 2005 at 14:01
A friend of mine here in Holland also has quite a number of these Typhoon gunsights available complete in their transit cases.
Cheers
Cees
By: Mark12 - 10th January 2005 at 13:53
Just for info, what Mark 12 has illustrated is the Mk. II version modified to allow for the sighting of rockets. The dial on the right hand side varied the angle of the reflector plate by 5 degrees (from memory). This allows for the more rapid drop of the rockets.
Think Typhoon etc.
A standard mid-war Mk. II* sight without this mod but with the square reflector plate is an 8B/2361.
It all helps.
682al
Thanks for that.
And to think back in the 1970’s you could pick up both the square and oval reflector variants, new and unused in their boxes, for just a few dollars a pop, at a surplus store in Toronto. I think I had about 20 shipped over for trading.
Mark
By: 682al - 10th January 2005 at 13:08
Just for info, what Mark 12 has illustrated is the Mk. II version modified to allow for the sighting of rockets. The dial on the right hand side varied the angle of the reflector plate by 5 degrees (from memory). This allows for the more rapid drop of the rockets.
Think Typhoon etc.
A standard mid-war Mk. II* sight without this mod but with the square reflector plate is an 8B/2361.
It all helps.
By: von Perthes - 10th January 2005 at 12:19
New image safely received, and very nicely photographed too.
Cheers Mark.
Geoff.
By: von Perthes - 10th January 2005 at 11:51
PM on it’s way Mark, Cheers.
Geoff.
By: Mark12 - 10th January 2005 at 11:38
Thanks for that guys, much appreciated.
Mark, is it okay if I use your photo above in the next issue of the museum newsletter, credit will of course be given.
Geoff.
Geoff,
Be my geust.
I just shoved it on the floor and popped a shot. If you want a high res shot, posed, on disc or email just pm your details.
Mark
By: von Perthes - 10th January 2005 at 11:21
Thanks for that guys, much appreciated.
Mark, is it okay if I use your photo above in the next issue of the museum newsletter, credit will of course be given.
Geoff.
By: Mark12 - 10th January 2005 at 10:33
Geoff,
Yes, the standard gunsight 8B/2483.
Incomplete as you can see here.
Mark
By: Swiss Mustangs - 10th January 2005 at 10:28
It is a standard Mark II Reflector Gunsight – no doubt about that.
Martin
By: von Perthes - 10th January 2005 at 10:17
I don’t have access to the relic itself, so I’m afraid the photo is all you’re going to get to base your deductions on, but anything you can tell me will be helpful.
Geoff.
By: 682al - 10th January 2005 at 09:44
At first glance it looks like a commom or garden Mk. II reflector site, minus the reflector glass and bracketry, and the base containing the lamp unit.
Wartime use, in most british fighter types, until the advent of the G.G.S. in 1944 ->
By: JonathanF - 10th January 2005 at 09:40
If you could give the AM serial no., I or somebody else (our indicies are not complete, places like Hendon have full sets) could look up the section reference for it.
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January 10, 2005 at 9:19 am