Horological Meandering

a Government Abroad military issued RAF Czechoslovakian squadrons pilot insignia. There are relatively easy to find brass issued insignia, but the silver issued ones, especially the Praha issued ones are extremely rare. Pilots by the dozens died wearing them so few exist. If you have a Majetek Longines worn at the Battle Of Britain and Dunkirk, this is a must have. These pilots saved Europe.

Here’s my civilian version as confirmed by Longines

Is that basically the first reissue that Longines made for commercial/public sales?

although I don’t know what years the different watches are from.

On the dial and no engraving on the caseback. I was told it’s actually rarer than the military edition, but rarer (as we know) does not necessarily mean more desirable. I don’t know if it’s more desirable because I’ve never seen another civilian version. I was given the information by Longines after many emails and conversations.


The archive shows it was delivered to Czechoslovakia which is where the military examples were also delivered 👍

Czechoslovakia did not get involved in WW2 until around March of 1939 ( I believe) which is after my watch was delivered to the dealer who sold it in December of 1935.

ago promoting the civilian version. Unfortunately I can’t read the language 😂 and am too lazy to do the research to interpret it 😂.


Notice there is no “anti magnetic “ on the dial in this ad.

Name from 😂🤣

Thanks for highlighting these additional historical points and dates. For some reason I always assumed that the military version watches came first, and then in some cases inspired watches for purchase by the public. Your piece has a fascinating story.

I’m always happy to share the small amount of knowledge I can share in this wonderful community. I always enjoy the learning part more though, and I learn something new everyday it seems here👍

Absolutely tip top, so well preserved!

Is that radium?

The hands and index color are different for the 2. Is the brown one just somehow age more than the right?

I thought it would be more, but researchers in Praha (Prague) indicate that official documents from the Government in Exile in the UK officially issued for just the pilots, 82 and 19 pilot insignia on two different occasions for a total of 101. So the total is actually very rare! And there were no other officially made from other makers listed in the Czech research sites. So that's it for the issued ones. There are many more cast bronze ones that were made in the field which are crude and hollow. But these are the official RAF/Czechoslovak ones.

first generation Majetek sold to Guth. Guth had exclusive rights to sell to the Army. If your extract doesn't say delivered to Guth for 15.94 from 1935 to 1939, it definitely wasn't for the Czechoslovakian First Republic Army. The second generation 15.26 is the rarest, but it is also not for the Czechoslovakian Army. 15.26 are not marked Majetek because they were Nazi Slovak issues to occupied formerly Czechoslovakia. To me these are the less desirable. The final version was the 15.68z which also is not anything to do with the RAF Czechoslovakian pilots of 310,311,312, and 313 who saved Western Europe from the invasion of Hitler. The 15.68z is CSA issued to the Czech Socialist Army. Basically satellite state of the Soviet Union. These are again marked with Majetek.

For the military collectors, only the confirmed issued to the First Republic Army is the one true legendary Spitefire and Hurricane fighter pilot watches that downed the BE109s over Britain and Dunkirk and later cleared the skies for D-Day Normandy. The 15.94 Guth watches lead to VE day.

Original WW2 Battle of France and Battle of Great Britain issued medals . Squadron patch is reproduction.









The medal on the right was produced by the city of Dunkirk and presented to veterans who served at the Battle for Dunkirk. It features the Crest of the City. It was not a British medal, however soldiers serving in WW2 were permitted to wear the Dunkirk medal at official ceremonies.

only 88 pilots existed at Battle of Britain




These are original field mission reports for clearance of air space missions prior to Normandy which involved the Spitefire Mark 9 squadrons of the RAF-Czechoslovakian fighter pilots 310 and 312 over France. Typed and hand signed. (from London rare book store)

This was written by a Czech Republic watch retailer that traces family operations back to the original Longines distribution to the First Republic.