Chichester Sun Compass by Francis Chichester

WWII 1944 Sun Compass by Francis Chichester – Complete with Original Rotary Instrument (George Allen & Unwin) An exceptionally scarce piece of World War II air navigation and military history. Written and devised in 1944 by legendary aviator, navigator, and author Sir Francis Chichester (famed for solo navigation and later knighted for single-handed circumnavigation). During WWII, Chichester served as a navigation specialist for the Air Ministry, developing essential astro-navigation pocket guides and sun compass systems for RAF pilots, reconnaissance units, and desert operations where magnetic compasses were unreliable or affected by cockpit metal. What’s Included: Original blue cloth hardcover instruction manual (George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, 1944) Original celluloid / plastic rotating The Chichester Sun Compass instrument (stored in the front board pocket) Original pictorial dust jacket (partial) Condition Notes: Sun Compass Instrument: In very good vintage condition. The celluloid is clean, clear, and unwarped with legible calendar months, degree markings, and direction indicators. The center grommet/pivot turns smoothly. Hardcover Book: Very good condition. Clean blue cloth boards with crisp black cover titling. The interior pages and staple binding remain clean and intact with minor age toning. Dust Jacket: Fair condition. Shows a large diagonal tear/loss across the upper right front quadrant, with edge wear and small chips along the margins. A complete, historically significant surviving example ready for any RAF, aviation, or cartographic collection.