The RAF Aircrew Emergency Whistle

[deeb7]

Ha !! I'd been wanting one of these, found it this morning at a local antique/collectables fair, and the bonus is that it's RNZAF.

It came with a grouping ... I just wanted the whistle, and the two bakelite dog tags. To get them I had to buy the lot, with his badges, buttons, and even his medals, but anyway .... happy now.

 

[Andrew]

Well I... think that's very cool you lucky bugger, well done.

Fan of AM whistles, and wings- especially of one's own AF. And DT's as well. Great to keep them all together.

 

[unclegrumpy]

Very nice!

Were you able to sort out anything regarding the fellow's history from what you got?

 

[deeb7]

Were you able to sort out anything regarding the fellow's history from what you got?

Nothing much ... I have his name, and number, Sergeant stripes, and there's a Pacific Star amongst the medals.

More Googling is required ...

 

[unclegrumpy]

With what you have, I would think it should be enough to write for his service record...if that is something that the Government allows to be released.

Good luck!

 

[RudyN]

You did well getting that grouping.

 

[deeb7]

With what you have, I would think it should be enough to write for his service record...

Thanks, that's an idea ... we get one free request per annum, after that it's $28.00.

 

[unclegrumpy]

... we get one free request per annum, after that it's $28.00

And then of course there is a request for the wife, each neighbor, and all of your closest friends!

 

[helodrvr]

That is a lovely piece, David, much nicer than the one I found with a lot more background.

I have a question. I see many photos with these whistles attached in various places to A-2 jackets. Does anyone have any ideas on how they were attached? I have seen them hanging from collar snaps as well as the metal throat latches. But I don't have a clear photo showing how they were attached. I am guessing that you would want to be able to access the whistle fairly easily but would also want it securely attached so that it stayed with you in case of a bail out or crash landing. Also it would need to be out of the way of shoulder straps and harnesses. Small, hard metal objects can be very uncomfortable when pressed hard against your collar bone or the soft tissue of your neck. I would really like to hear how people have observed them attached to the jackets.

I was always taught that it is much easier to blow a whistle than to yell for help. So for the last too many years, I have always had this poor, plastic copy in my pocket...

Thanks,

Mel

 

[bristolherc]

I have a question. Does anyone have any ideas on how they were attached? I have seen them hanging from collar snaps as well as the metal throat latches. But I don't have a clear photo showing how they were attached.

Thanks,

Mel

Like this:

Bevan

 

[deeb7]

.... and I was just over at the U.S. Militaria Forum borrowing this:

 

[helodrvr]

Thanks Bevan and David. Boy, I posted then caught a flight. When I came back in there were the two photos. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge shared here!

Mel

 

[bombs away]

Hello,

This one may help :

Tim

 

[Andrew]

Geez he's a young kid. It makes you think about that often quoted line that many weren't even old enough to drive and there they were controlling dangerous high powered machinery.

 

[kiltie]

Here's a bit of thread resurrection for ya -

I picked up this whistle a few weeks back and was wondering about its "period correctness". I know the Gemsco stamp on uniform hardware is somewhat desirable, but that's about it.

I watched an Air Ministry stamped whistle go for somewhere in the neighborhood of forty US dollars the other day, and there's currently a Gemsco stamped Thunderer on eBay with a $40 BIN. I scored this one for about ten or fifteen, though.

This site http://home.comcast.net/~swarshaw/WhistleBookwABC72809.pdf makes a reference, but with no dates, and the Whistle Museum page has a Regulation whistle stamped Gemsco, but no Thunderer. In any event, I can't find a whistle with these exact markings with a reliable production era cited.
I'm not especially concerned with it's worth/value - it's serving its purpose where it is - but I would like to have the "right" whistle.