SHORT STIRLING TYPE B, 5c/372 AIR MINISTRY & CROWN STAMPED MORSE CODE SENDER KEY

The Short Stirling carried two Type B 5c/372 Morse Code Sender Keys mounted on the pilot's port cockpit wall aircraft’s flying panel with one just to the right of the pilot’s control column and other within reach of the Lancaster’s Flight Engineer on the panel’s starboard side.

One activated the upper fuselage communication light and the over, the downward identification lights on the posrt wing's underside.

Unlike the ‘Bathtub’ Morse Code Sender Key used by the aircraft’s Navigator to communicate with Bomber Command’s network of wireless transmitters across Southern Britain, the cockpit Morse Sender Keys were directly linked to a small white, tear-drop glass communication lamp just forward of the Top Gunners Turret.

The Morse Code Lamp was used for air to air communication with other bombers nearby when radio silence was required. 

It was particularly useful at the bomber assembly point as the main bomber group began to form up behind the lead bomber before heading for the target. It was also used over the target and during the dash home to signal aircraft identification or distress.

The original Morse Code Sender Keys were all metal, produced in Britain or Canada but by mid 1940, the more easily produced bakelite models were being fitted into all most of the RAF’s heavy bombers as well as the Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. This model is one of the first runs of the new bakelite moulded units. The cockpit image displayed above shows an early Short Stirling with teh all metal version installed. These were swapped out in all aircraft produced after 1942 to the bakerlite versions shown here.

This is an extremely rare example of an early Short Stirling, Morse Code Sender Key and would make a fantastic and totally unique and treasured, original  aircraft collectable from a bygone era of one of the world’s most iconic fighter aircraft.

As far as can be determined, this Morse Code Sender Key seems to have all its components and appears in full working order.  

Mounted in its 100yr old, hand-crafted Mango Wood display stand with engraved plaque and highly detailed scale model of a Short Stirling perched atop its magnetic display arm, plus a detailed laminated Fact Sheet featuring a photo of the instrument in the Short Stirling cockpit, this Recovery Curios Aircraft Collectable would make a perfect gift for the pilot or aviation enthusiast in your life.

* Please note that this original Recovery Curios Aircraft Display is also available in a Super Detailed, Large Scale 1/48 version with some astounding and simply awesome detail. Click on the ‘1/48 Scale Model Option' at the top of this page to order.

This Short Stirling Instrument comes complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.