{"product_id":"the-chichester-sun-compass-1944-copy","title":"The Chichester Sun Compass (1944)","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTHE CHICHESTER SUN COMPASS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrancis Chichester\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGEORGE ALLEN \u0026amp; UNWIN LTD, London, 1944\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn original WW2 sun compass manual, written by Francis Chichester, and published in 1944 by Allen \u0026amp; Unwin. This is a practical manual covering the information that an officer or NCO would need to know to navigate using the sun. It was intended to be a 'simple but scientifically accurate device which enables the user to tell his direction by the sun, provided the date and local time are known. It is designed for use anywhere in the world within 200 miles north and south of a line from Birmingham to Berlin.' According to Chichester, the greatest value in using the sun compass  was the cultivation of a sense of direction, 'A sense of direction is vital to all navigators and pilots; especially to a fighter pilot in an air-fight; and to a yachtsman, and to any sort of traveller'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book comes complete with its original dust jacket, and includes full instructions in the use of the sun compass (which is in a pocket at the front of the book). The sun compass itself has a transparent graticule superimposed on a circular disc with a serrated edge and a thick card base.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSir Francis Charles Chichester\u003c\/b\u003e (1901 – 1972) was a British pioneering aviator and solo sailor. He was knighted by for becoming the first person to sail single-handed around the world by the clipper route, and the fastest circumnavigator, taking just nine months and one day to complete the voyage in 1966–67.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of WW2 Chichester applied to join the RAF, but due to his age and poor eyesight he was not granted a commission until 14 March 1941, when he joined the RAFVR for the duration of hostilities. His civil occupation was listed as Air Navigation Specialist. His first posting was to the Air Ministry in the Navigation section of the Directorate of Air Member Training, where he served until August 1942. In July 1943 he was sent to the Empire Central Flying School where he instructed in navigation until released in September 1945.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-5\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francis_Chichester#cite_note-5\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003eHe wrote the navigation manual that allowed the pilots of single-handed fighter aircraft to navigate across Europe and back using kneeboard navigation similar to that which he had used in the Pacific.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn good condition. The boards are in very good condition, with minor signs of use. The dust jacket is in fair to good condition, with some marks, wear at the edges and spine, and some archival paper tape repairs. The binding is secure. The text is in good condition, with some marks. The sun compass in the pocket at the front of the book is in good condition, with a few marks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePublished: 1944\u003cbr\u003eBlue boards with black titling, with original dust jacket\u003cbr\u003eWith sun compass in a pocket at the front\u003cbr\u003eDimensions : 135mm x 155mm\u003cbr\u003ePages: 10 (plus Sun Compass)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Compass Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48198726418583,"sku":null,"price":163.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/6131\/files\/Chichester_Sun_Compass_-_37_e66fc983-24a5-4224-9da0-80e1c8fac2f8.jpg?v=1788788231","url":"https:\/\/www.compasslibrary.com\/en-au\/products\/the-chichester-sun-compass-1944-copy","provider":"Compass Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}