Flying Goggles
(click on pictures to enlarge)
Bauch and Lomb sunglasses owned and worn by Battle of Britain ace Harold Bird-Wilson together with his dog tag.
Battle of Britain Ace Harold Bird-Wilson enjoyed a long and illustrious career in the RAF. Besides being an ace fighter pilot, he was also one of the earliest "Guinea Pigs" of Dr. Achibald McIndoe and later in the war became one of the first jet pilots. In September 1940 his partrait was drawn by Cuthbert Orde a few days before being shot down by Adolf Galland! In 1944 he was sent to Leavenworth in the USA for command training, returning to lead his wing during the D-Day operations. Undoubtedly he acquired these early Bauch and Lomb anti-glare "aviator" sunglasses from his US connections. Still in their leather case in which he has written his name (first in red ink then in blue) the case also contains one of his dog tags named to Bird-Wilson and dated 1938. The glasses have a small chip in one lens but are otherwise in good, used condition. These items were auctioned by his family several years ago together with some other personal items (not available) and a copy of the auction invoice is included for provenance.
ON HOLD
 Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |  Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |
|---|---|
 Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |  Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |
 Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |  Battle of Britain pilot sunglasses and dog tag |
 Harold Bird-Wilson by Cuthbert Orde |
Scarce RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles by Polaroid.
Excellent pair of Mk VI anti-glare spectacles, still with their original cardboard box with its paper insert sheet. Issued primarily to Coastal Command pilots and crews – which included a number of fighter squadrons – the spectacles provided enhanced visibility through haze over water. This pair is in remarkable condition, with perfect frames, clean chamois at the nose, elastic that still stretches perfectly and showing only the lightest delamination around the edges of the glass lenses. Box has been written on with a name which may be period or may be later, but does not detract. A fine pair of what were never common spectacles and are becoming much harder to find these days.
$650 / £525 / €580
 RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |  RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles5 |
|---|---|
 RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |  RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |
 RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |  RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |
 RAF Mk VI anti-glare spectacles |
WWII replacement lenses for the AAF B-6, B-7, AN6530 + USN Mk II and Mk IV flying goggles.
Various available. Email to ask about green, amber or clear:
USN contract American Optical lenses clear (paper wrapped, unopened):
Per pair $35 / £30 /3€30
A few loose (unwrapped) pairs and a few singles. email your needs.
 AAF / USN AN6530 goggle lenses |
|---|
 AAF / USN AO clear lenses for AN6530 |