In World War II, a pilots first priority was his aircraft, and his likely second, was his watch.
These were the furthest objects from a fashion statement. Instead they were tools used for navigation, fuel checks, formation timing and bomb runs. Every major air force issued its own standard watch, each built with simple parts, clear dials and movements that could survive cold air, vibration and rough missions.
Here are the watches that were actually worn in combat, not modern recreations we so often see today.
Bulova A-11, United States Army Air Forces
The A-11 was the most common American pilot watch of the war. It had a black dial, white numerals, luminous hands and a hacking seconds hand so crews could synchronise missions. Brands like Bulova, Elgin and Waltham all made versions of it and more than a hundred thousand were issued.
You would find it on P-51 Mustang pilots escorting bombers over Europe, B-17 crews flying long missions from England and USAAF pilots in the Pacific. It was simple, light and easy to read which is why it became known as the watch that won the war.
Longines 6B/159, Royal Air Force
The 6B/159 was the main RAF pilot watch during the war. Longines supplied most of them, although Omega and Lemania made smaller batches. It used a clean white dial, blued hands and an accurate movement chosen by the Air Ministry.
Spitfire and Hurricane pilots wore it during the Battle of Britain and it stayed in service for years because it was reliable and easy to service. Many surviving examples still keep strong time which says a lot about how well they were built.
B-Uhr, Luftwaffe
The German B-Uhr is the most recognisable pilot watch of the war. It was huge at fifty five millimetres with a large crown that could be used with gloves. Companies like Lange, Laco, Stowa, Wempe and IWC made them under the same specification.
The watch had a hacking seconds hand and a very clear minute track which helped navigators calculate position. These were mainly issued to bomber crews, night fighter teams and long range recon pilots. Only a small number were produced which is why they are rare today.
Seikosha Tensoku, Imperial Japanese Navy and Army
Seikosha, which later became Seiko, produced the Tensoku pilot watch for Japanese aviators. It had cathedral hands, a strong luminous dial and a friction bezel for timing. The movement was basic but very tough which suited the rough conditions of carrier operations.
Zero pilots and crews flying dive bombers and torpedo planes wore these watches throughout the Pacific. Many were exposed to humidity and salt air which makes surviving pieces hard to find now.
Type 1, Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Type 1 from the First Moscow Watch Factory was the standard wristwatch for Red Air Force pilots. It had a simple dial, luminous numerals and a basic movement that could be repaired in the field. It was worn by Yak and La-5 pilots fighting on the Eastern Front.
Soviet equipment was designed for harsh weather and limited resources which is why the Type 1 was built with straightforward parts that could keep working even after heavy use.
Leonidas CP-1, Regia Aeronautica
Italian fighter and torpedo bomber crews often wore the Leonidas CP-1. It had a rotating timing bezel, large crown and bold numerals that were easy to read in the cockpit. Leonidas later merged with Heuer which is why the design looks familiar.
Italy flew many missions in North Africa and the Mediterranean where sand and heat were constant problems. The CP-1 handled these conditions better than most civilian watches of the era.
Omega CK2292, Royal Australian Air Force
The RAAF used the Omega CK2292 which was produced under a British Air Ministry contract. It ran the well known 30T2 SC movement which was considered one of the most accurate and reliable movements of the time.
Australian pilots wore these watches in Darwin, North Africa and Europe. The CK2292 looks simple today but was prized during the war for its strong performance and easy readability.