1550 RARE AND DESIRABLE US WWII VINTAGE M9 NORDEN BOMB

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This item SOLD at 2023 Nov 03 @ 18:20UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,250.00 USD
Estimated at 2,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
SIGHT HEAD & STABILIZER WITH US NAVY ACCEPTANCE MARKS. The WWII American Norden Bombsight is rarely offered & this example is made more desirable as it is accompanied by the stabilizer. These bomb sights were standard on such famous military aircraft as the B17 Flying Fortress, the B24 Liberator & the B29 Super Fortress. The Norden bomb sight was America's top secret weapon in the bombing campaigns of WWII. It was so important that men utilizing the bomb sight were made to take an oath of secrecy never to discuss it. The accuracy of this sight was a legend in WWII & pilots joked they could drop bombs in a pickle barrel. The Norden Bombsight was apparently procured under a US Army Air Force contract for both the Army & Navy. The sight head which has a black crackle finish has a nomenclature plate which is marked "US ARMY AIRFORCES BOMB SIGHT LUKAS - HAROLD CORP. TYPE M9 SERIAL NO. L6773 ORDER NO. 44-4237P SPEC. NO. WEG." plus a "US" & anchor Navy acceptance mark. The sight head also has a white stencil "V 4864" marking on the right side. The sight head has a shaft which mounts into the top of the stabilizer unit. The stabilizer unit has the black crackle finish. The nomenclature plate on top which is worn but the markings are "U.S. ARMY AIRFORCES BOMB SIGHT CARL L NORDEN, INC. TYPE M9 SERIAL # 13481" plus "U.S." with anchor Naval acceptance mark. "ORDER NO. 44-5107. SPEC. NO." is blank. There is a plate on the side which is marked "MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR COMPANY. MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA". The sight head & stabilizer operate on 24 volts direct current. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: very lg. amount of information copied from various technical manuals relating to the nomenclature, operation, service & overhaul of these complex precision instruments. CONDITION: sight head & stabilizer appear in generally very good condition. The optics appear functional though obviously have not been tested. The controls appear to work freely & both units appear complete although the electrical wiring & connections may need attention. Switches move freely. Bubble cross levels in sight head are intact. Rubber eye cup in sight head has become hardened & deteriorated from age. Black finish has light wear & spots of flaking & missing finish. Reprinted paperwork is in generally good condition & overall legible throughout. The sight head & stabilizer would make a very nice appearing addition to any historic aviation collection. (02-19780/RW). $2,500-3,000.