From 1943 to 1945 Larry De Haan served as the chief technician in the instrument shop at Wright Field and at the satellite field at Vandalia as part of the Army Air Forces Material Command's Service Test Branch. One of his responsibilities was to refit foreign combat aircraft brought in for evaluation with suitable American instruments. After the end of the war, he asked his supervisor Francis Gabreski (the famed P-47 ace) what he should do with the surplus foreign instruments and Gebreski informed him that he could do with them as he saw fit.
A number of the aircraft that serviced by Mr. De Haan have come into the NASM collection. The instruments that he removed from the Macchi MC.202 and Supermarine Spitfire VIIc are almost certainly from the NASM examples as they were the only ones of their type brought to the U.S. The instruments removed from the Fw 190 may or may not be from NASM's example. Regardless, these instruments are important for returning some of the historical integrity to NASM's aircraft.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
Italy
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Flight Management
Manufacturer
Filotecnica S.A.
Physical Description
Airspeed indicator with black coated body and missing glass face
Dimensions
3-D: 11.4 × 10.8 × 9.8cm (4 1/2 × 4 1/4 × 3 7/8 in.)
Materials
Coating
Synthetic
Aluminum
Copper Alloy
Inventory Number
A20060290000
Credit Line
Gift of Larry De Haan.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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