Spitfire Gun Camera
Item
Title
Spitfire Gun Camera
Description
Spitfire Gun Camera Type G45 B 12 volts, Ref. No. 14A/1389 AM SERIAL NO.13166 Camera stored and protected in a painted grey wooden box with metal fasteners and a brown leather handle with a white stenciled printing on the lid which reads, CAMERA AIRCRAFT-G45B (STANDARD LENS) -12 VOLT REF.NO. 14A/1577 CASE STORAGE- REF.NO. 14A/1381 Short lens type G45 has a green band painted on the base of the lens REF NO.14A/1398, AM SERIAL NO. 4194 Magazine Type G45 REF. No. 14A/1393 SERIAL NO. 55234 WILLIAMSON MFG. CO.LTD., LONDON READING.
Date
Identifier
001.032.020
Medium
Provenance
RAF WWII SPITFIRE AIRCRAFT G45 GUN CAMERA. The G45 gun camera was used throughout WWII by British fighter units and armament schools from 1939 onwards (including by the RNZAF). It was designed and manufactured by the Williamson company of London and Reading and was developed from the G42B. It used 16 mm orthochromatic film supplied in 25 ft lengths with a frame speed of 16, 18 or 20 per second, these corresponding to the rates of fire of the Lewis, Vickers K and Browning machine guns. The G45 was fitted as standard on Fighter Command aircraft (Spitfire and Hurricanes). It was controlled by an electrical switch operated by the gun-firing pneumatic system.