Historical information

This Gear box universal, with its Cone assembly ( inc lens) in conjunction with Magazine 500 exposures unit ( see CAT 5561) is part of the F22 aerial camera assembly. As an assembly, the type F22 aerial camera came into RAF and RAAF service c1942. It was used by the RAF over Europe and by the RAAF extensively through the Sth. West Pacific area of operations, during WW2. This type of camera was used through the Vietnam war up to the early 1980's. The F22 camera assembly when mounted in the reliable Canberra aircraft, did aerial survey work in PNG, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sumatra and the Australian mainland. This type of camera was used in Spitfires, Mosquitos, Avro Lincolns and Canberra aircraft.

Physical description

Heavy, metal construction. The base is a rectangular box shape and mounted to that is a funnel shaped tube. Inside the tube are numerous small baffles around the sides painted matte black. The box has a 7 pin electrical connector. The box section can be opened by releasing catches. It has a timber base. Near the mouth of the tube, outside, is a panel with a slot and indentations F5.6 F8 F11 F16.

Inscriptions & markings

There is a tape label near mouth if tube with writing embossed "LENS S/NO 2767849"
The box has a label "GEARBOX/UNIVERSAL. MODEL 14A/4249 SERIAL No. 1685"