Aircrew watch

[miles offtarget]

Hello all,

I was issued an aircrew watch (the Seiko stopwatch type) at Finningley in 1989, and have worn it everyday since. To my huge annoyance, it was stolen whilst I was staying at a guesthouse last weekend.

Given that I am now a civillian and cannot simply go to stores, does anyone know where I can buy a replacement. I remember that a new design was issued in the 1990s with numerals rather than just a 12, but either design would suffice.

I have looked on the Silvermans website, but seemingly only the G10 watches are available there.

Your help would be very much appreciated, as I am pretty pi**ed off about it.

Anyway, I wish a happy and safe new year to all of you still flying in baggy green suits, many of whom I suspect have more to worry about than aircrew watches !

Cheers.

Miles Offtarget

(formerly of 24 Sqn and 230 Sqn)

[frodo_monkey]

There's one on eBay right now (not mine I hasten to add!)... Search for 'aircrew watch'

[wokkamate]

Try eBay:

RAF Aircrew Seiko Second Generation 7T27 ??? on eBay (end time 02-Jan-10 17:59:23 GMT)

Currently £114, previous one went for £397! Never knew they were worth so much, I have one kicking around in a cupboard somewhere ready to hand back in when I retire......

[Daf Hucker]

Miles,

Haven't ever dealt with this company but they may be able to help you find one.

RLT Watches


The watch model no. is 7A28 7120

Daf

[vecvechookattack]

Do you not have to return your watch when you retire? I've still got mine but its at the bottom of a cupboard somewhere.

[miles offtarget]

Just a thought, (as I cannot seem to find anything original but unused for sale on the web), do the RAF still issue aircrew with watches ?

Thanks as always,

MOT

[Impiger]

I've almost retired and when I sent my man Carruthers down to stores to check what was on my loan book I found all they wanted back was my gas mask, my tin (OK Kevlar) hat and ....... you guessed it the Aircrew watch which had been languishing (unserviceable) in my sock draw for 10 years.

They accepted the watch with thanks. Smiled at the virtually unused Kevlar lid and suggested handing the S6 respirator to the RAF museum. Who says the civvies in these MAC stores have no sense of humour.

[vecvechookattack]

suggested handing the S6 respirator to the RAF museum

Whats wrong with the S6 ? Don't tell me that they have upgraded it?


Hmmm...Must try and find my S6

[Tankertrashnav]

miles offtarget & vevveechookattack

Have forwarded link to your posts to RAF SIB. Expect a visit early in the New Year!

[vecvechookattack]

Please don't tell the SIB.... I have now found my faithful S6 respirator and it is fully serviceable and secure in its canvas pouch. Thankfully all of the conflicts I have been involved with have not required any Anti-Gas measures.

So, where do I get an S7 from then?

[barnstormer1968]

vecvechookattack
No S7, but I do have an S10 in my hallway cupboard.
Better eye pieces, and a drinking straw attached. I take it that you do at least get the newer type suits, rather than the old fashioned pull over the head type?

[The B Word]

If you don't want to pay the outrageous prices for second-hand aircrew Seikos then try this latest offering from them:


Here's a link Seiko watch SNDA57 Chronograph Watch they go for £150ish.


The latest aircrew watch is made by Pulsar (a cheap version of Seiko). Don't bother with this as it is total cr@p! I understand that it will be replaced with another Seiko offering next year (2010). Here is a picture of the Pulsar:


Here is a pic of the old Seiko version 2:



Finally, I have a Breitling Aerospace - I would not recommend anyone buy this watch if you intend to use it anywhere near water (despite its 100M claim); mine leaked in 6 inches of water whilst swimming with my 3yr old daughter in a Toddler's Pool!

Good luck with the watch hunting.

The B Word

[OHP 15M]

Tankertrashnav,

Items below also available on ebay - please forward to RAF SIB, thanks.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAF-POLICE-SHOULDER-TITLE-SLIPOVERS_W0QQitemZ250536508069QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collect ables_Militaria_LE?hash=item3a5523baa5

This hi-viz vest is a bargain at a Buy-It-Now price of only £34.95 and, judging by the carpet, I reckon the seller must to be an OIC RAFP!

ARMED FORCES RAF POLICE HIGH VISIBILITY JACKET on eBay (end time 13-Jan-10 08:37:09 GMT)

[vecvechookattack]

Which type of watch was the one recently banned from aircraft due to the knob falling off and creating a FOD hazard?

[Sven Sixtoo]

Pulsar chronograph NSN 6645-99-9954268

I think - that's why I'm not taking mine (which works perfectly) anywhere near stores for a new battery.

Sven

[Daf Hucker]

I think this is the one Miles is talking about;

[jindabyne]

I left in 1988, from MoD. Had a nice, brief letter from 'somebody' thanking me for my contribution, but would I go to Uxbridge to sign-off and return items, specifically my aircrew watch. I did so, but kept the flying suits and pencil case - which is beside me now.

Said elsewhere, but it must be the only firm that takes the watch off you, rather than giving you one.

[BEagle]

I've almost retired and when I sent my man Carruthers down to stores to check what was on my loan book I found all they wanted back was my gas mask, my tin (OK Kevlar) hat and ....... you guessed it the Aircrew watch which had been languishing (unserviceable) in my sock draw for 10 years.

Happy New Year, old chum! I hope you manage to hang on to your fightergator's tool of the trade - the F4 C/B pulling nose-picker!

My Breitling Aerospace needed a new battery not long before I punched out of the mob, so I hunted around for my 'aircrew' watch. Found it in a drawer, but its battery was tits-up. Off to stores..."New battery please, stout fellow!" "Sorry, sir, we haven't got any - you'll have to have a new watch instead".... Off to the V&A empire with suitable chit and I received something which was probably first issued to Bader. But it didn't run on batteries and kept pretty good time. Gut genug!!

A few weeks later, doing the station tour with blue card just before I left, I handed it back in. "WTF is that?" quoth the stores-wallah. "It's the same watch you beggars gave me a month ago; it works, it's yours...sign here please!"

S6 - you old so-and-so! It must be well over 20 years since the RAF got rid of those. Don't forget your button stick and collar studs!

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by vecvechookattack

Do you not have to return your watch when you retire? I've still got mine but its at the bottom of a cupboard somewhere.

This occured to me too - the watch you stole was stolen. What's the beef

[fergineer]

G'day Daf Hucker and a happy new year to you.....Still wearing them jumpers then!!!!!!! Hope all is well did you get my PM? And my old aircrew watch was also one of the things that they asked back when I left also.