Wwii Aaf B-17, B-24, B-29, C47 Navigator Observation Dome, Astrodome-vg, Rare

NAVIGATOR'S PLEXIGLASS ASTRODOME AS USED ON THE WWII BOEING B-17, B-29, CONSOLIDATED B-24 LIBERATOR, NORTH AMERICAN B-25, DOUGLAS C-47 AND OTHERS. THIS DOME WAS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE AIRCRAFT. ON THE B-17 AND THE B-24 IT WAS FORWARD OF THE FLIGHT DECK, IN FRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON SOME MODELS OF THE B-25 AND THE C-47 IT WAS AFT OF THE COCKPIT AND ON THE B-29 IT WAS AFT OF THE COCKPIT JUST BEHIND THE TOP GUN TURRET.

THE ASTRODOME WAS USED BY THE NAVIGATOR TO TAKE SEXTANT AND ASTROCOMPASS SIGHTINGS, TO AID WITH PLOTTING COURSE, FINDING POSITION AND IN AN EMERGENCY, COULD BE POPPED OUT SO THE OPENING COULD BE USED AS AN EXIT. IF YOU HAVE A WWII SEXTANT, ASTROCOMPASS OR OTHER NAVIGATION ITEMS OR MEMORABILIA, THIS IS AN ALMOST ESSENTIAL ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION. VERY NICE EXAMPLE, NEW OLD STOCK FROM LONG TERM STORAGE. TOP OF THE CENTER PLATE AND UNDERSIDE OF SAME PLUS HANDLE, SHOW LOSS OF PAINT AND MINOR RUST (SEE PICTURES). (MUST HAVE SEEN SOME MOISTURE DURING STORAGE, METAL IS VERY SOLID, JUST NEEDS REPAINTING) OR LEAVE FOR ORIGINAL AGE PATINA. THE LAST TWO PICTURES ARE OF THE TOP AND UNDERSIDE OF A CENTER PLATE FROM A RESTORED ASTRODOME-THIS IS NOT THE ONE FROM THE DOME IN THIS LISTING, IT IS INCLUDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY. OVERALL, THE DOME IS VERY CLEAR, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. A WONDERFUL SURVIVOR AND A TRULY INTERESTING DISPLAY ITEM USED ON SEVERAL OF THE MOST ICONIC AMERICAN AIRCRAFT OF WWII.