Heritage League Artifact

Sunday April 6th, The Heritage League of the 2nd Air Division (USAAF) represented by Chris Clark and Beverly Tomb loaned the Freedom Museum a compass used by the Bombardier Navigator on a B-24 to guide the aircraft to the target area during the daylight bombing campaign during WWII.

The US Army Air force Type -12 direct reading compass was used at the Navigators station on the nav-table of the aircraft. It was a key tool the Navigator used on B-17, B-24, B-29 and transports including C-46, C-47, and C-54. The compass was made by the Bendix Corp. in 1942 and was actually used on missions. It was entrusted to the League by the lawyer in charge of disbanding the Second Air division.

The Freedom Museum is grateful to the Heritage League for adding an artifact that further tells the story of the Bombardiere and his task to navigate the aircraft and then to aim the bombs during the daylight bombing campaign in Europe. This valuable compass will join the Norden Bomb Sight, the Loop Antenna, and its control box, and the Fairchild F-56 high altitude camera, all artifacts used on the Liberator. Two of our local heroes, Sgt Monaghan (Top Gunner) and Capt. Baker (Bombardier Navigator), were B-24 aircrew who lived in Manassas. They are local men who joined the 8th Airforce to fight the Germans during WWII.

Drop by the museum and see this new artifact.