USAAC Longines -Wittnauer Weems 1940 issue A-11
One of the earliest watches made for issue to pilots and navigators. It was manufactured to the original MIL-27834 specification. (WWII USAAF A-ll watches were made to revised specs starting in 1943 -- MIL-27834B). The USAAC Type A-11 was approved for issue on August 8, 1937.
The Weems Patent second setting watch allowed the wearer to synchronize their timepiece to a correct time source. This was accomplished via the locking 60-minute bezel. To set the watch to the exact second of GCT (Greenwich Civil Time), the seconds bezel was rotated, keeping the 60-second graduation continuously under the sweep second hand. When the Greenwich radio time "tick" or signal which breaks at the 59th second and resumes on the 60th second was heard, the turning of the bezel was stopped. The watch then indicated the exact second of GCT (from Whitney's Military Timepieces).
Lieutenant Commander Phillip Van Horn Weems taught Aerial Navigation at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. His system of navigation was used not only by the military but also by Charles Lindbergh, Admiral Richard Byrd and many other noted flyers and explorers.
This Longines USAAC watch has full military markings [click here] -- even the movement is marked [click here]. Unmarked Longines Weems watches that one typically finds were sold for civilian use. The contract date on the back is 1940. Another view [click here].
The Longines Weems is a small watch by today's standards.The case is 27.5 mm in diameter and made of plated base metal. Blued steel hands. The strap is a NOS WWII vintage green canvas issue strap -- almost as rare as the watch [click here]. The 10L movement with gold jewel settings has been fully serviced and keeps good time [click here]. The overall condition is excellent.