S3-P9427 (1940)

LEGENDS OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

The S3 watch conveys the simplicity of the classic avionic dials found in the Spitfire cockpit. Housed in a precision billet machined stainless steel brushed polished case and matching ZW DSL lugs, is a distinct black dial with period numerals and indexes, clearly defined avionics style hands, and a standout red tipped sweep seconds hand. The classic dial is framed by a simple matt black bezel ring and the hands and dial are highlighted with SuperLuminova X1 luminous pigment. The dial also references the date of Sergeant Pilot Zygmunt Klein’s dogfight above The Needles (28^th November 1940), and the longitude-latitude coordinates of Poole Bay where Spitfire P9427 was discovered. The rear of the S3 watch is laser engraved on the solid polished back with a technical illustration of MkI Spitfire P9427. The graphic encircling the legendary fighter plane represents the index detail from a P8 compass along with Winston Churchill’s famous speech: ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few.’

The watch is powered by the stellar Swiss ETA 2824 automatic movement thus ensuring it never misses a beat. Hand and date adjustment are by a brush polished locking screw crown modelled on the joystick gun platform fire button, a feature once so familiar to those brave young RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain. The watch is fitted with a ZW handmade vintage leather strap with contrasting stitching and an engraved brush polished buckle.

£2,200.00

Technical

Design Attributes

Latitude and Longitude reference the crash site in Pool Bay
Date code references Spitfire P9427 last flight
Dial design based on a airspeed indicator
Crown modelled on the joystick gun platform fire button
Spitfire technical drawing watch back engraving

Case

44mm diameter, 316L brushed stainless steel billet, with eight polished vertically cut ball-nose flutes
Match machined, polished & brushed 316L stainless steel DSL lugs
Complex watch back engraving of a Mk1 spitfire with P8 compass

Main Crown

Matt silver finished screw crown, modelled on the joystick gun platform fire button. 316L stainless steel with triple seal technology

Crystals

Custom double curved domed sapphire glass with blue AR coating on the internal surface

Movement

ETA 2824
28,800vph
25 jewels
Self-winding ball bearing rotor
Date function
Power reserve ~38 hours
Water resistance: 10ATM (100m) 100% tested

Dial

Black enamel over brass substrate with over printed vintage dial based on airspeed indicator, numerals and aviation indicators highlighted in SuperLuminova X1 luminous pigment

Hands

White avionic style hands coated in SuperLuminova X1 luminous pigment. Vintage red tipped sweep hand with inset SuperLuminova X1 luminous pigment triangle

Dimensions

44mm diameter
14.1mm thick
22mm lug width
49.6mm lug to lug pin spacing

Strap

22/22mm Custom handmade leather strap
Single wide sliding keeper loop
Brushed polished stainless steel buckle with engraved ZW logo
180mm – 220mm wrist circumference

THE STORY BEHIND THE WATCH

THE PILOT

SPITFIE P9427

THE DOGFIGHT

THE PILOT

At the tender age of 22, Polish Sergeant Pilot, ‘Ziggy’ Klein fought with skill and courage in the Battle of Britain, initially for 243 Squadron based out of Middle Wallop before transferring to 152 Squadron flying out of RAF Warmwell in Dorset.

He learned to fly at the age of 19 whilst serving in the 4^thAir Training Squadron and the Pilot School in Grudziadz, Poland. It was clear he was a skilled pilot and as the war rapidly progressed and Poland was aggressively occupied, his squadron flew to France where they became attached to the Royal Air Force. Having reached Britain’s shores by February 1940, Ziggy received further combat training before being assigned to 243 Squadron on 6^th August 1940, and thrown in to what would be forever marked in history as, ‘The Battle of Britain’.

SPITFIE P9427

Spitfire P9427 was built at the Supermarine Aviation Works in Eastleigh, Southampton and was first flown on the 19^th March 1940. The Mk1a Spitfire had a Merlin III engine powering it to a magnificent maximum speed of 367 mph, and combat range of 248 miles on internal fuel. Armed with eight 0.303 Browning machine guns firing 350 rounds each, this formidable engineering masterpiece was designed for attack and ultimate manoeuvrability in the air. It was designed to be a master of the skies and combat the Luftwaffe.

P9427 saw initial action in the historic 609 Squadron, before joining the ‘Battle of Britain’ with the 74 and 41 Squadrons. By 2^nd October 1940, P9427 found a home at 152 Squadron; a few days later, man was joined with machine when Sergeant Pilot ‘Ziggy’ Klein transferred to RAF Warmwell.

THE DOGFIGHT

On the afternoon of Thursday 28^th November 1940 152 Squadron was called to action with 609 Squadron, and intercepted twenty Messerschmitt Bf 109s flying between the Isle of Wight and Poole Bay at 22 000ft. On contact the Squadron immediately broke formation and dogfights quickly exploded into being as fighter planes combined fire power with manoeuvrability to gain air superiority. Attacking in pairs, Klein quickly descended into a dive above The Needles following a lone Messerschmitt at top speed.

The chase was on and with sights set on defending Britain, Klein teamed up with Flight Lieutenant John Dundas of 609 Squadron as their Browning machine gun bullets ripped into the enemy fuselage, the plane plummeting into the sea. It was only later, through the German Press that RAF Fighter Command realised that the Messerschmitt was piloted by legendary Luftwaffe fighter ace, Major Helmut Wick.

Sadly, the elation of this success was short-lived for Klein. Taken down by a spray of bullets in this maelstrom in the air, Spitfire P9427 spiralled out of control to plunge into the depths of Poole Bay.

What we do know is that Sergeant ‘Ziggy’ Klein, like many other young pilots of The Battle of Britain, gave the best of themselves for our freedom.

Sgt Pilot Zygmunt ‘Ziggy’ Klein: 28 Combat Sorties. 65 Operational Flights

TIME: 28/11/1940 – PLACE: 50.68°N – 1.830°W