BOAC version of IWC 6B/346

Has anyone seen one up for sale? Tempted, Bob.

Like this one? :-)

yes

Like this one? :)

[](s281.photobucket.com/user/scfong/media/IWC/L1010173.jpg.html)

Cheers,
sc

Hi again.
The BOAC Mark 11 is arguably the rarest of all Mark 11s. There is precious little information about her, but we have testimonies of retired BOAC cockpit crews confirming she was used for celestial navigation.
If you are interested in knowing the little we know about her, I suggest a forum search.

Yes, They are lovely and I suspect all are and will remain family heirlooms Oh well, Bob.

They are indeed excellent tool watches and with a perfect design, with form following function, without gimmicks.
I don't think that there are many, if any, BOAC Mark 11s in the hands of former BOAC cockpit crews. At the end of her operational life, the BOAC Mark 11 was considered unfit for purpose, and BOAC pilots/navigators preferred using personal watches with more accurate quartz or tune fork movements, leaving the Mark 11 in the navigation bag.
It is not clear how some (very few) BOAC mark 11s survived to this date, and reached the vintage market. BOAC was very protective of the brand, and its policy was to detroy all equipment with the BOAC logo when decommissioned.

Can somebody tell me what watch strap was issued with the BOAC 6b/346.

As far as I know, probably the IWC Mk 11 B.O.A.C had a Bonklip bracelet just as the military RAF and RAAF variants. I got this information from a UK navigator who worked first for RAF and later as a navigator instructor for B.O.A.C. From B.O.A.C there are no documents left about this watch, nor in their archives or the B.O.A.C. museum. There are also few B.O.A.C. pilots and navigators alive to confirm. Please see the article : The B.O.A.C. IWC Mark 11 Wristwatch by Adrian v d Meijden and David SEYFFER, published in Horological Journal February 2016, pp 77-81.
Adrian
(alwaysiwc).

Thanks for the input. I wondered about a Bonklip but had my doubts as I knew it was intended to be worn over a flight jacket.

Just to clarify. Military pilots/navigators usually wear flight suits and flight jackets. It is more practical attire in the cockpits of military airplanes.
B.O.A.C. flight deck crews, like all other airlines at the time, wore smart uniforms with golden stripes on the sleeves to indicate rank (just like the military) to instill confidence into the passengers.
In the case of B.O.A.C. the Bonklip bracelet did not offer any advantage over the nylon strap, because the flight deck member in charge of celestial navigation would have to wear the Mark 11 on the wrist, and the Bonklip bracelet is very uncomfortable to wear, over several hours.

I concur with Antonio, the Bonklip is uncomfortable and looks ugly and puny. But it can be adjusted to virtually any length, meaning that it can be worn on the bare wrist, thin sleeve or thick flight jacket. One of the stories that RAF preferred the Bonklip over a canvas strap after WW II was that a few flight crashes had been reported in which the cockpit had been set on fire. A canvas strap then could melt on the wrist, causing serious burning wounds. There is no valid evidence for this statement.
In my view wearing a Bonklip on the B.O.A.C. is only of historical importance.
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).

But the history makes it so much more interesting.

Fire aboard a bomber aircraft, in flight, while engaged in a mission over enemy territory is a real possibility, as the result of enemy defensive actions. In this case the Bonklip bracelet makes sense.
A badly burned wrist, albeit something to be prevented, is the least of the concerns of a crew on a crash.
Fire in the flight deck of an airliner in flight, is, fortunately, an extremely unlikely event. BOAC's choice to use the Bonklip on the Mark 11 appears to have been an abundance of caution, resulting from the flight deck crews having been virtually all former RAF, who brought to BOAC the RAF "culture"."

I don't want to sound petty, but, since when does canvas melt?
The nylon Natos would melt, but canvas...really?

Dear all!

There were no CANVAS straps for the Mk. 11 at all (CANVAS at the time we talk about was only made of natural fabrics like linen or cotton). The RAF issued NYLON straps (6B/2617). That NYLON in an aircraft on fire can melt and cause serious wounds to the skin should be no question. The Bonklip (6B/2763) was in use up to 1954 and was introduced again in 1956 (what is a clear hint, that the Nylon strap caused some problems).

Besides that: There is no spec for BOAC Mk. 11 known and so as well no spec. regarding straps. I personally would guess the BOAC used leather straps (But as we have no documents this is a mere guess).

A Happy New Year to all forumers!

Th. Koenig

And a Happy New Year to you Mr. Koenig. As to the leather strap, I bet you are right. But what do I know Bob Gordon (Graduate).

Happy New Year
BOAC Mark 11 on leather strap.

That is my idea of a lovely watch.