Artifact Friday: Sextant

Hey, everyone! For this week’s Artifact Friday, we’re spotlighting an amazing piece of history: the sextant. Before GPS, bombers relied on the sun, stars, and moon to guide them through the skies, and the sextant was one of the essential tools for navigation. During World War II, when precision was key, this tool played a major role in ensuring the success of countless missions. It also highlights the incredible skill pilots needed to navigate accurately in the air during such a critical time.

So, what exactly is a sextant? It’s a tool used for celestial navigation, an ancient technique that helps navigators determine their position by measuring angles between the horizon and celestial bodies like the sun. This method allows for precise distance estimation, whether you traveling over water or flying through the sky. Back in the day, it was essential for pilots flying long distances, especially when there were no modern navigation systems. Using a sextant required a lot of skill, and it became a lifesaver during the war.

The legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military pilots, were also trained to use the sextant, as seen in the photo of a cadet in training. Mastering the sextant and celestial navigation was essential for their missions, giving them the skill to navigate accurately during critical wartime flights.

[Photo Credit: Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery, a prominent exhibit at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, National Archives and Records Administration, Photo Number 3B 45420].

John R. Lindsey, an original Tuskegee Airman, trained to use the sextant. He was part of the 617th Bomber Squadron and later served in the 477th Bomber Group. After his training, he rose to the rank of Master Sergeant (MSgt) and worked with several different aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell Bomber, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang. You can see images of his sextant navigation instrument by visiting the Red Tail Virtual Museum.

The achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen like John R. Lindsey were crucial to American aviation history, and they left a lasting legacy in the world of flight. Their story is a testament to strength and determination, and their contributions continue to inspire pilots today.

This Artifact Friday post is brought to you by Samantha Deigh, a teen member of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. The chapter’s Teen Auxiliary Group has collaborated with the Arkansas Air and Military Museum to host the Black Flight: Celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen and African Americans in Aviation exhibit. Be sure to visit it today and explore the rich history of African Americans in aviation and the military!