Bomb Sight, Course Setting, Mk VIIC British RAF 1940, "Wimperis"

The Course Setting Bomb Sight, Mk VIIC was used in British RAF and Royal Navy and RCAF bombers during WW2, such as the Short Stirling, Fairey Battle, Bristol Beaufort, and Avro Lancaster.  It is a complete kit - the drawer in the wooden case contains the metal scales with different ranges of True Air Speed and Altitude which were planned for the bombing run.  These had to be selected and installed on the sight well before the final approach.  This particular sight has a serial number which indicates its date of manufacture: 1940.  Wikipedia has a comprehensive description and history of the Course Setting Sight.  A pdf file of the manual is available at the website of the Canadian Museum of Flight. Included in the kit are the bombardier's lanyard, a spare compass body, and a bomb release switch.

This example is from the personal collection of RAF Wing Commander William James Hunter via his son, Dr. Allan Hunter. Wg. Cdr. Hunter (see photo) was trained as an RAF Observer, and responsible as a bomb-aimer, navigator, gunner, and radio operator. Wg. Cdr. Hunter and the crew of their Bristol Beaufort bomber were shot into the sea during an attack on the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst in July 1941, and was a POW for the duration of the war. His exploits can be read in his autobiographical account From Coastal Command to Captivity.