Longines
a-11 weems pilot army aircorp - US Army Air Corps

Vintage military pilot’s watch Longines Wittnauer Navigation Hack Watch A-11 Weems issued to the USAAC in 1943. The watch worn by B-17 and P-51 Mustang pilots during World War II. This aviation navigation watch was produced in approximately 1,000 units in 1943 and is now nearly impossible to find, as many surviving examples are kept by veterans’ families or acquired by American air museums for their historical significance. Sadly, many of these pieces were lost along with their owners during missions over Europe. Part of this batch of watches was also assigned to American pilots during Operation Torch in 1943, targeting the Afrika Korps and Italian expeditionary forces in Tunisia.

The A. Wittnauer Co. was an American company founded in 1880 in New York by a Swiss immigrant, Albert Wittnauer. Initially importing Swiss watches for the North American market, the brand quickly evolved into producing watches, compasses, and cockpit instruments for the military. According to official statements from the U.S. Navy, no company was ever more involved in designing military-use timepieces and instruments than Wittnauer Co. throughout its existence.

This watch, created in response to the U.S. Army Air Corps' specifications for its pilots, represents a typical example of WWII military watches: small size, rugged construction, ease of maintenance, shock resistance, and reliable, precise operation. The Longines-Wittnauer 10L mechanical hand-wound movement, 17 jewels, was specially adapted by Wittnauer to meet the Army’s standards. It features an inline lever escapement and a bi-metallic screw balance with Breguet hairspring (the screw threads were treated with anti-abrasion compounds). The Longines-Wittnauer 10L caliber operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour and includes a hacking feature for precise time synchronization with onboard instruments or reference clocks. It has a power reserve of 41 hours after full winding. Like most watches of its era, the caseback is engraved with serial numbers, identification codes, and military issue markings. On this model—rightfully considered a true navigation instrument—the movement is specially marked “US Army Air Corps” to ensure enhanced preventive maintenance and top-grade components during service, just like any aircraft-standard cockpit instrument.

You’ll find expert insights, advice, and stories about vintage, modern, and collectible watches on our "Watch History" page.