NA/NFO/Air Crew issued wrist watches?

[mad dog]

Howdy...

Just curious...I'm sort of a mechanical watch guy and have been dorking with some of my watches today...anyway...I had remembered seeing in my NATOPS Flight Personnel Training/Qualification Jacket in Section D: Flight Equipment Issue that "WATCH, WRIST" is listed (see pic below). We were never issued a wrist watch...BUT I'm curious if maybe some of you ridiculously salty dogs from several decades ago had been issued a wrist watch. If so, what make and model? Pics would be really cool! Heck, I dunno...maybe the USN/USMC/USCG is currently issuing wrist watches?

 

[brownshoe]

This was standard issue back when I was in 44 at Cecil. (Illinois Watch Co.)

 

[Renegade One]

I don't know as there's still a modern-day version, but back in the Vietnam era, there was a "Combat Watch". I finally got one in 1975. You can find replicas/look-alikes on the web today. Pretty vanilla black-faced wind-up "hack watch" with a steel casing and an olive nylon band. I think mine was made by Hamilton, but they were probably made by numerous "low bidders"… Nothing to write home about, except they were all a part of the "been there…done that" stuff. Kinda like Cubi belt buckles, etc.

 

[mad dog]

View attachment 14123



This was standard issue back when I was in 44 at Cecil. (Illinois Watch Co.)

Man, you ARE salty.

Is that a lever set or a stem set?

EDIT: I zoomed in on the watch and see that it's a lever set...very nice.

BUT, is it an Illinois?

It's difficult to read the watch face...even when employing the zoom...my zoom sucks.

Also, where's the usual Miller Lite?

 

[brownshoe]

Man, you ARE salty.

Is that a lever set or a stem set?

EDIT: I zoomed in on the watch and see that it's a lever set...very nice.

BUT, is it an Illinois?

It's difficult to read the watch face...even when employing the zoom...my zoom sucks.

Also, where's the usual Miller Lite?

That's my Grandfather's watch (lever, you're right). Thing just needs cleaning every once in a while and keeps on ticking. It is an Illinois, and the Miller Lite is on the desk behind me.

 

[mad dog]

That's my Grandfather's watch (lever, you're right). Thing just needs cleaning every once in a while and keeps on ticking. It is an Illinois, and the Miller Lite is on the desk behind me.

Got it!

And that's good news regarding what's highlighted in red above!

 

[brownshoe]

Got it!

And that's good news regarding what's highlighted in red above!

 

[mad dog]

HA!

There's the Miller Lite...sporting the retro livery!

Also, was your grandfather a railroader? From what I understand, many (if not most) railroaders utilized lever set watches so as to avoid accidental stem deployment which could reset the time...which could lead to absolute chaos regarding railroad operations.

 

[brownshoe]

HA!

There's the Miller Lite...sporting the retro livery!

Also, was your grandfather a railroader? From what I understand, many (if not most) railroaders utilized lever set watches so as to avoid accidental stem deployment which could reset the time.

Yes he was a railroader, Brunswick, Maryland, freight. I've a few photos, I'll post later (gotta find 'em.)

 

[mad dog]

Yes he was a railroader, Brunswick, Maryland, freight. I've a few photos, I'll post later (gotta find 'em.)

Cool beans.

B&O RR? C&O RR?

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

 

[brownshoe]

Cool beans.

B&O RR? C&O RR?

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

B&O, he's the fourth from the left (standing on the engine). This was taken at the Brunswick yard. They certainly are a bunch of safety violators, huh?
(John, sorry for the thread-jack(s).)

 

[brownshoe]

Man, you ARE salty.

You know... actually Ron and Hughie carried the previous model.

 

[Renegade One]

This was standard issue back when I was in 44 at Cecil. (Illinois Watch Co.)

Lying bastard…you got that from BZB…