condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white
discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

glasses, dark

human history
  • Other Name

    glasses, dark (descriptive name)

    Squadron Leader Basil Watkin, 487 Squadron, RAF (associated name)

  • Description

    RAF dark glasses, WW2

    Belonged to Squadron leader Basil L Watkin, Royal Air Force

    dark glasses, blue painted aluminium yin, velvet glued to inside of lid and base

    scratched inside case: W/CDR B. L. WATKIN

    stamped inside case: SPECTACLES MK11 22C/1370 LARGE

    glasses stamped o brown support "MKII 220/1309

  • Accession Number
    1979.118
  • Accession Date
    1979
  • Other Id

    U169.6 (uniform)

  • Department
glasses, dark, 1979.118, U169.6, © Auckland Museum CC BY

Images and documents

Images

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, 1979.118, U169.6
  • Public Access Text

    Dark Glasses, Royal Air Force, WW2

    Part of uniform belonging to Squadron Leader Basil L Watkin, RAF, RNZAF [1937-1958]

    WW2: 487 NZ Squadron, Bomber Command

    In May 1944 the squadron was transferred to Second Tactical Air Force and flew in night and day operations. Their main target was enemy airfields in Europe but they also attacked rail and other military targets including flying bomb sites. At this time Flight Lieutenant Basil Watkin was noted as one of the “experienced pilots… who had been in Coastal Command in the early months of the war and then in Canada and New Zealand. [ref p261-2 New Zealanders with the RAF]

  • Associated Notes

    Dark Glasses, Royal Air Force, WW2

    Part of uniform belonging to Squadron Leader Basil L Watkin, RAF, RNZAF [1937-1958]

    WW2: 487 NZ Squadron, Bomber Command

    In May 1944 the squadron was transferred to Second Tactical Air Force and flew in night and day operations. Their main target was enemy airfields in Europe but they also attacked rail and other military targets including flying bomb sites. At this time Flight Lieutenant Basil Watkin was noted as one of the “experienced pilots… who had been in Coastal Command in the early months of the war and then in Canada and New Zealand. [ref p261-2 New Zealanders with the RAF]

  • Associated Event
    WW2; 1939-1945
    Post WW2
  • Associated Person
  • Associated Date
    1937-1958
  • Period
  • Measurement Description
    143 x60 x23mm closed
  • Classification
  • Last Update
    27 Jul 2023
The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity