You have seen these in WWII navy movies. The air plot has provenance since it has its original 1944 brass Navy Nomenclature plate, attached. This Air Plot came off of CVE-55, USS Casablanca, a WWII escort aircraft carrier, also known as a jeep carrier. I have restored the lighting and frame, and mounted it on a hydraulic table with wheels, so that it can be raised to the correct height when displayed and can be moved. When I display it, I invite the public to try to write in reverse using grease pencils on the back as the plotters did. The 360 degree numbers are displayed on the back written in opposite counter-clockwise order for the plotter writing from the back. The only places I have seen these are on WWII ships on display in various cities and many of these have updated boards from the 1950’s or 1960’s. This plotter, as stated above, is dated 1944. (I used, “Uship. Com”). The Summary Air Plot holds holds an important place in history by helping to win the air war, in both the Atlantic and especially the Pacific theaters of WWII. And Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) had advanced much since 1940 and a wealth of information was now available to those officers. In charge of evaluating and planning both defensive and offensive air operations. A method was needed to provide that information visually to them in real time, so they could see the whole picture visually as the events evolved. The air summary plot is one of the evaluators most valuable tools. When this plot is updated properly by the plotter, the officer/evaluator does not need to look at a radar scope and should never lose the picture of the battle. The vertical plotting board is a 60 inch plastic (Lucite or Plexiglas) board, edge lighted for use in the Combat. Information Center (CIC), located on the island of aircraft carriers. Plotting is done from the back of the board to provide a summary of combat information which is visible from all parts of the CIC. Position information in range and bearing is transmitted through sound-powered phones from the air-search radar operator to the plotter personnel located in the back. The plotters have been trained to write in reverse on the board and plot with a grease pencil. This is so the vision of officers in front is not impeded. The Cartesian grid is also used to plot position information on contacts that are being reported by other ships within the force. I will provide a copy of the manual to the winner. This would look great mounted in a museum, themed restaurant or as a great conversation piece in someone’s home. It has drawn much interest from the public when displayed and looks even better when lit in a dim lighted room. The informational signage shown in the photo is also included. The item “Ultra Rare WWII USN Navy Aircraft Carrier Summary Air Plot CVE-55 USS Casablanca” is in sale since Saturday, May 8, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\United States\Other US WWII Original Items”. The seller is “jteach123″ and is located in Royersford, Pennsylvania. This item can’t be shipped, the buyer must pick up the item.
- Region of Origin: United States
- Conflict: WW II (1939-45)
- Original/Reproduction: Original