WWII-era Elgin Bombardier Stopwatch

 

The WWII-era Elgin Bombardier Stopwatch was a precision timing instrument produced by the Elgin National Watch Company for the U.S. military during World War II. Designed for aviation use, it played an important role in navigation and bomb timing, helping bomber crews carry out missions with greater accuracy.

Historical Background

During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces relied heavily on accurate timekeeping for long-range bombing missions. Before the widespread use of sophisticated electronic navigation systems, navigators and bombardiers calculated their positions using elapsed time, airspeed, and headings. Elgin was one of several American manufacturers contracted to produce highly reliable stopwatches and timing devices for military service.

Purpose

The Bombardier Stopwatch was used to:

• Time bombing runs.
• Measure elapsed flight time between navigation checkpoints.
• Assist in dead reckoning navigation.
• Coordinate synchronized bombing operations.
• Time engine performance and fuel consumption during flight.

These stopwatches were carried by bombardiers and navigators aboard aircraft such as the:

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator
• North American B-25 Mitchell
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Design Features

Typical features included:

• Nickel- or chrome-plated brass case.
• Large, easy-to-read white enamel dial.
• Bold black Arabic numerals.
• Central sweep seconds hand.
• 30-minute elapsed-time register.
• Large crown for winding.
• Oversized start/stop/reset pusher for operation while wearing gloves.
• Mechanical hand-wound movement.
• Accuracy measured to one-fifth of a second on many examples.

The robust design allowed operation in cold temperatures, vibration, and the demanding environment of military aircraft.

Movement

Most Elgin military stopwatches used high-quality jeweled mechanical movements designed for dependable timing under combat conditions. They were engineered for durability and ease of maintenance by military technicians.

Military Markings

Authentic WWII examples often bear military property markings such as:

• U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) or AAF designations.
• Ordnance or Signal Corps inventory numbers.
• Government stock or contract numbers.
• Elgin manufacturer markings and serial numbers.

Exact markings vary depending on the production contract and intended service branch.

Collectibility

Original Elgin Bombardier Stopwatches are sought after because they represent:

• American wartime manufacturing.
• Aviation and military history.
• Elgin's reputation for precision instruments.
• Relatively limited surviving examples compared with civilian Elgin watches.

Collectors value examples that retain:

• Original military engravings.
• Clean enamel dials.
• Functioning movements.
• Original boxes or military documentation.
• Verified wartime provenance.

1918 WW1 / Trench Watch Elgin Rare White Star Dial "Foch"

 

The 1918 Elgin "Foch" Trench Watch with the rare White Star dial is one of the more desirable American military-style wristwatches from the World War I era. While not an official U.S. Army-issued model, it is closely associated with the trench watches worn by American and Allied soldiers during the final year of the war.

Elgin "Foch" Trench Watch (c. 1918)

• Manufacturer: Elgin National Watch Company
• Year: 1918
• Nickname: "Foch"
• Type: Trench wristwatch
• Movement: Typically an Elgin manual-wind movement with 15 jewels (specifications vary by example)
• Case Size: Approximately 33–35 mm
• Case Material: Usually sterling silver, nickel, or gold-filled, depending on the model
• Crystal: Mineral glass
• Dial: Rare White Star enamel dial with luminous Arabic numerals
• Hands: Cathedral-style luminous hands
• Lugs: Fixed wire lugs designed for leather military straps

Why It Is Called the "Foch"

The watch is commonly known by collectors as the "Foch", a name inspired by Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929), the French military commander who served as the Supreme Allied Commander during the final offensives of World War I. Many watch companies of the era named models after prominent Allied leaders or wartime themes to capitalize on patriotic sentiment. The nickname is a marketing name rather than an official military designation.

The Rare White Star Dial

The White Star dial is prized because:

• It is much less common than the standard black military-style dial.
• The white enamel dial provides excellent legibility with bold black Arabic numerals.
• Many examples feature radium-filled numerals and hands, which originally glowed in low light (collectors should be aware that original radium paint remains radioactive and should be handled appropriately).

Historical Significance

By 1918, trench warfare had demonstrated the practicality of wristwatches over pocket watches. Elgin responded by producing rugged wristwatches with wire lugs, luminous dials, and reliable manual movements. Although many Elgin trench watches were purchased privately by soldiers rather than issued by the military, they became closely associated with American servicemen during the war.

Collectibility

The Elgin "Foch" is highly collectible because of its:

• Connection to the World War I era.
• Rare White Star dial variant.
• Attractive cathedral hands and enamel dial.
• Historical association with the transition from pocket watches to military wristwatches.