https://united-states-air-force.org Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:33:53 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://united-states-air-force.org/2026/04/usaf-sperry-me-3a-true-airspeed-indicator-cold-war-b-47-b-52-bomber-cockpit/ https://united-states-air-force.org/2026/04/usaf-sperry-me-3a-true-airspeed-indicator-cold-war-b-47-b-52-bomber-cockpit/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:26:53 +0000 https://united-states-air-force.org/2026/04/usaf-sperry-me-3a-true-airspeed-indicator-cold-war-b-47-b-52-bomber-cockpit/




















DESCRIPTION: Sperry Gyroscope Company. Great Neck, New York. That’s the provenance in three lines. This is a USAF ME-3A True Airspeed Indicator – a component of the bombing navigational computer system used on early Cold War strategic jet bombers. The B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress carried this class of instrument into the most dangerous decade in American military history. Sperry Gyroscope, a division of Sperry Rand Corporation, was one of the premier defense electronics contractors of the era. This is not commercial surplus. This is the real thing. The March 1962 Stamp The chalk marking on the body reads “3-62 WRAMA MFP” – a depot maintenance stamp from Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. WRAMA was one of SAC’s primary depot-level overhaul facilities for B-47 and B-52 avionics throughout the Cold War. This instrument was certified operational in March 1962. Nine months later, SAC bombers were placed on DEFCON 2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis – one step from nuclear war. B-52s under Operation Chrome Dome were already flying continuous airborne alert missions carrying nuclear weapons around the clock. This wasn’t a peacetime instrument. It was Cold War infrastructure. Condition – What You’re Getting – Face reads “TRUE AIR SPEED / KNOTS” – range 150 to 650 knots – Face glass clean, no cracks, original needle intact – Needle moves freely when instrument is tilted – mechanism is not seized. AF-14787, Spec MIL-I-9466A, USAF Stock No. Bendix Aviation was itself a premier Cold War defense contractor – this is the standard Army-Navy specification connector used across USAF aircraft of the era – Original red Caplugs EC-16 dust cap on rear Bendix connector – intact. Many surplus instruments have been stripped of these protective caps over the decades. This one has not been touched – Original safety wire intact through the rear housing screws – the instrument has not been opened or tampered with since its last military service certification. This is exactly the condition warbird restorers and museum curators require – Chalk depot markings: “3-62 WRAMA MFP” – March 1962 certification, Warner Robins Air Materiel Area – Cold War service patina throughout – honest operational wear consistent with active flight line use Who Buys This Warbird restorers recreating accurate B-47 or B-52 cockpit instrument panels. Museum curators documenting Cold War strategic aviation. Serious militaria collectors who know what WRAMA means and why intact safety wire matters. If you’re reading this listing and you already know what you’re looking at – this is the one. Untested – airworthiness cannot be confirmed without proper pitot system connection and calibration. The physical condition, provenance markings, and documentation integrity are exceptional for a 70-year-old Cold War flight instrument. This is a precision instrument and it will arrive intact.

]]> https://united-states-air-force.org/2026/04/usaf-sperry-me-3a-true-airspeed-indicator-cold-war-b-47-b-52-bomber-cockpit/feed/ 0 https://united-states-air-force.org/2023/07/vintage-usaf-fuel-pressure-indicator-type-c-33-us-air-force/ https://united-states-air-force.org/2023/07/vintage-usaf-fuel-pressure-indicator-type-c-33-us-air-force/#comments Sun, 02 Jul 2023 00:21:08 +0000 https://united-states-air-force.org/2023/07/vintage-usaf-fuel-pressure-indicator-type-c-33-us-air-force/








Vintage USAF Fuel Pressure Indicator, Type C-33 US Air Force.

]]> https://united-states-air-force.org/2023/07/vintage-usaf-fuel-pressure-indicator-type-c-33-us-air-force/feed/ 0 https://united-states-air-force.org/2020/03/usaf-usn-f-4-phantom-ii-pilots-airspeed-mach-indicator-gauge-instrument/ https://united-states-air-force.org/2020/03/usaf-usn-f-4-phantom-ii-pilots-airspeed-mach-indicator-gauge-instrument/#comments Thu, 12 Mar 2020 22:30:11 +0000 http://united-states-air-force.org/2020/03/usaf-usn-f-4-phantom-ii-pilots-airspeed-mach-indicator-gauge-instrument/



This is an original USN or USAF Phantom II Fighter Aircraft Carrier Jet Airspeed MACH indicator gauge instrument. The gauge is in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. This type of airspeed mach gauge may have been used in many other aircraft. It is 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 7 inches. I don’t believe there are any more of these aircraft flying. Thank you for your interest in my auctions. The item “USAF USN F-4 Phantom II Pilot’s Airspeed & MACH Indicator Gauge Instrument” is in sale since Tuesday, October 1, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Other Vietnam War Orig. Items”. The seller is “dauntlessaviation” and is located in Apache Junction, Arizona. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country: USA
• Time Period, War: Vietnam War
• Subject: Airspeed mach gauge
• Original or Reproduction: Original

]]> https://united-states-air-force.org/2020/03/usaf-usn-f-4-phantom-ii-pilots-airspeed-mach-indicator-gauge-instrument/feed/ 0 https://united-states-air-force.org/2017/09/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument-2/ https://united-states-air-force.org/2017/09/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument-2/#comments Wed, 06 Sep 2017 00:35:21 +0000 http://united-states-air-force.org/2017/09/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument-2/





This is an Vietnam War era USAF F-104 Starfighter and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird look alike type Mach Airspeed indicator gauge instrument. The SR-71 was a very high altitude reconnaissance aircraft that flew very fast. Today all the SR-71’s are in museums. This gauge looks like the one used in the SR-71 but I do not think it actually was. The F-104 was used be several countries as a fighter. Today a few are still flying in civilian hands. Thank you for your interest in my auctions. The item “USAF F-104 & SR-71 Look Alike Type MACH Airspeed Indicator Gauge Instrument” is in sale since Saturday, December 24, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Other Vietnam War Orig. Items”. The seller is “dauntlessaviation” and is located in Apache Junction, Arizona. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Type: Mach Airpseed Indicator
• Country: USA
• Time Period, War: Vietnam War
• Original or Reproduction: original
• Subject: Instrument gauge

]]> https://united-states-air-force.org/2017/09/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument-2/feed/ 0 https://united-states-air-force.org/2016/08/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument/ https://united-states-air-force.org/2016/08/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument/#comments Sat, 13 Aug 2016 20:04:03 +0000 http://united-states-air-force.org/2016/08/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument/



This is an Vietnam War era USAF F-104 Starfighter and Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird look alike type Mach Airspeed indicator gauge instrument. The SR-71 was a very high altitude reconnaissance aircraft that flew very fast. Today all the SR-71’s are in museums. This gauge looks like the one used in the SR-71 but I do not think it actually was. The F-104 was used be several countries as a fighter. Today a few are still flying in civilian hands. Thank you for your interest in my auctions. The item “USAF F-104 & SR-71 Look Alike Type MACH Airspeed Indicator Gauge Instrument” is in sale since Sunday, May 18, 2014. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Militaria\Vietnam (1961-75)\Original Period Items\Other Vietnam War Orig. Items”. The seller is “dauntlessaviation” and is located in Apache Junction, Arizona. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Type: Mach Airpseed Indicator
• Country: USA
• Time Period, War: Vietnam War
• Original or Reproduction: original
• Subject: Instrument gauge

]]> https://united-states-air-force.org/2016/08/usaf-f-104-sr-71-look-alike-type-mach-airspeed-indicator-gauge-instrument/feed/ 0