On most early bombers and flying boats, such as this 1920s U.S. Navy Douglas PD-1, the navigator made sightings from the nose, where his view would not be obstructed by the biplane’s wings and struts. He had no protection from the elements. The force of the wind made his sextant difficult to handle.
Caption:
A navigator making sightings from the nose of a U.S. Navy Douglas PD-1.
Type: Photograph
Credit: National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
