WW2 airbase in England - January 2010 visit

[Paul B]

Pre-war Ever Ready fisheye pocket torch, one of many similar patterns of the time:


(Source: Flashlight Museum)

And the microphone:


(Source: chez-alice.fr)

All the best,
PB

[Paul B]

Forgot to add:
The jack-plug isn't the same as that off the RAF flying helmet I'm afraid.
I've seen one very similar though, whether it's on a telephone switchboard I'll have to check.

TTFN,
PB

[navyman]

Haha
Are we talking off something like this?

Hello Bikerboy,
That's a batteryless hand generating torch, keep squeezing and keep getting light. I believe they were made by Phillips. I wish I'd kept one of the three I found in my Uncle's anderson shelter, converted to a shed, post war.
Cheers,
navyman.

[Paul B]

From the length and arrangement the jack plug appears to be a PL-55 type.
This was used by both the US and British for a number of tasks, but notably for connecting US hand-held microphones to the intercom box.
It's too long to be a PL-54 or PL-354 as also used in AAF flying helmets.

Hope that's of use,
PB

[Bart]

Cool finds you got there! The oxygen mask part is in great shape. Your messtin lid is a US WW1 model which were reissued in WW2. I found one in the Hürtgen Forest a few months ago but without a name sadly.

[Steve T]

Paul B - Superb information mate....I owe you one ! The base a USAAF one so that does sit nicely with the jack plug.

Bart - Great stuff ! I thought it was

Cheers guys

Steve T

[m3bobby]

The blanks are I think, Grenade launching blanks.

[OKW]

The round black thing is a pulley seal used to allow a shaft to emerge from an engine and still keep the oil in, used on cars alot.

[Steve T]

m3bobby - Interesting thought. One question though.....why on earth would they have those on an airfield in the middle of England !

OKW - Thanks

Steve T

[Dave Alexander]

The fish eye lense is indeed part of a flashlight (torch). The metal part attached would be the "shoulders" and slipped over the case which stood about 4" from top to bottom so that this lense was actually on top. The on/off switch was on the side (the narrow dimension) and the battery was inserted by removing the top with the lense and sliding it in. If they haven't been corroded off there should be two thin brass terminals under the lense on either side. These flashlight were still in common usage well into the '50s and cost at that time about 3 shillings at the Army surplus stores.