RAF Aircrew Wrist Watch 70's ?

[GLIDER 90]

What make was the wrist watch issued to RAF aircrew in the late 70's & 80's ?.

[BEagle]

CWC

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[dook]

Yes - but the issue straps were uninspiring.

[Blacksheep]

Among all the other stuff I was responsible for, I used to service aircrew watches in the General Instrument Laboratory at Changi during 1969-1971. They were mostly Hamiltons and they were mostly scrapped. Too time consuming to do anything but a calibration check and sometimes clean and regulate, but if anything needed replacement they went in the bin.

...after first being worked over with a hammer of course....

[Fareastdriver]

Mine disappeared when XD183 was Struck off Charge after its force landing during Basatu Padu 1970. Together with an enormous amount of aircraft components that had gone astray on the Changi squadrons.

[NRU74]

Originally Posted by Fareastdriver

Mine disappeared when XD183 was Struck off Charge after its force landing during Basatu Padu 1970. Together with an enormous amount of aircraft components that had gone astray on the Changi squadrons.

I was on Bersata Padu - or however it was spelled -albeit mainly on detachment at Tengah.
Would you give a bit more info please ?

[dook]

The RAF - the only organisation whereby when you leave after years of service you give them a watch !

I immediately bought a Rolex.

[WB627]

My Dad RAF VR(T) AEF Chipmunk Pilot, had an Omega at that time. Finally grounded (medical) in 1981 after 40 years flying for the RAF, I think having to hand back the Omega upset him more than the grounding!

[Sleeve Wing]

RAF Aircrew wrist watch

I think that the Omega issue was actually from the 60s to early 70s. I remember being very loath to hand mine back on leaving and then having to buy an equivalent to replace it.
Its weakness was the vulnerability of the buttons which were prone to being bent, knocked off or just failing to work after a period.
I also remember the very reliable Bonclip strap which had the most efficient g resistant quick release I have come across before or since !

The Japanese finally prevailed with the replacement issue of Seikos for a period, the ones with a fabric strap.

[Shackman]

So it's all Blacksheep's fault that my extremely accurate issue Omega 'disappeared' into stores when being serviced at Changi and I got a cheap inaccurate Hamilton in return. Kept in a drawer until I went rotary and was issued with one of the new Seiko's which was again very accurate (almost as accurate as the Seiko I bought in Changi Village).

Of note I remember a callout to a downed Whirlwind up country (yours FED?) during BP, but we were recalled before getting airborne.

[teeteringhead]

There were various at that sort of time, althoiugh may have been "old new stock" wich had lived in stores for some time.

I remember Omega, Hamilton and (quite a bit later - late 70searly 80s??) Seiko.

It was said that the Seikos actually had a "date dial" but this was covered up (no doubt at extra cost) for the military as being unnecessary.
Rather like paying extra to have the radios taken out of service Minis. Sometimes the Fun Police really do rule!

[Wander00]

I had an aircrew Omega the blanket stackers took off me when I lost my medical cat in 1969. I reckoned that if an Omega was good enough for Aunty Betty to buy me that's what I would buy for myself. Black faced Omega, and it still works fine. I think about £50 then. Love it

[Fareastdriver]

Of note I remember a callout to a downed Whirlwind up country (yours FED?) during BP, but we were recalled before getting airborne.

That was the one.

It landed after an engine failure in between some palm trees with very little damage. It was recovered to the MU at Seletar and there we lost trace of it. I held the inventory for all the aircraft on the squadron so after a month or so I made enquiries as to when we were getting it back.

It had been presented to the Singaporean Air Force as a instructional metal fabrication repair jig.

I then had to go to stores to have the inventory made up for disposal.

The gleam in the Suppliers' eyes could be seen as far as Temple Hill Mess. In no time at all I was signing conversion forms, taking on all sorts of aircraft components; nothing serious apart from an odd Griffon. It must have weighed about thirty tons when we had finished. There then followed a period where ALL my flying clothing and Service equipment was written off with the aircraft therebye ensuring my permanent silence about the whole thing.

Changi closed about a year later and with it the evidence.

[Blacksheep]

So it's all Blacksheep's fault that my extremely accurate issue Omega 'disappeared' into stores when being serviced at Changi

Possibly. If it passed the "Standard Serviceability Test" which consisted of a three position calibration check, then it would not have been opened for internal clean/regulation. I'd just fit a new crystal give it a polish and return it to stores with a nice green label. What happened to it before or afterwards was none of my business. If it failed the incoming test it would have been opened, cleaned and lubricated before being adjusted and released. If it could not be got into calibration limits in all three positions it would normally be sent back to stores with a "Repairable at Depot" (RD) Label to be sent away for repair at an MU. Towards the end at Changi, with the closure of Seletar and 390 MU, anything categorised as "RD" would have been scrapped - and V&A items like Omegas would first be rendered unusable.

I wore a personal Rolex "Daytona" chronograph at the time and did not pay too much attention to the watches that came our way in between all the aircraft instruments. The Rolex died after about 17 years and was replaced with the Omega Seamaster that I wear to this day. I have found my Omega to be far superior to the Rolex.

[GLIDER 90]

Thanks all, will take a look on e-bay to see if they have got any bargains.

[Blacksheep]

..to see if they have got any bargains.

Be sure to check for evidence of hammers.

[teeteringhead]

Be sure to check for evidence of hammers.

Or playing conkers......

[Fareastdriver]

The Rolex died after about 17 years

The Rolex I bought in Shekou that I paid the equivalent of £17 for in 1997 started losing badly last year. I tried to regulate it but there was no consistency, probably the escapement bearings.

It's in a drawer, still immaculate, awaiting a magic wand. I could buy an identical replacement for $60 including postage.

[Warmtoast]

Interesting to read that if you have a 1960's Rolex c/w box and receipt etc it could be worth up to $45,000 - see here:
https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv...nes-estimation

[ian16th]

Originally Posted by Warmtoast

Interesting to read that if you have a 1960's Rolex c/w box and receipt etc it could be worth up to $45,000 - see here:
https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv...nes-estimation

Not just any Rolex, but a GMT Master.