Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting original WWII aircraft recognition model grouping consisting of two Cruver cellulose-acetate identification models and one substantially larger unmarked wooden aircraft model. The Cruver examples represent a German Dornier Do 17Z, dated September 1942, and a Japanese aircraft identified by the Allied reporting name “Nick,” dated August 1944. The third model is constructed from thin lightweight wood, possibly balsa, and remains unidentified. All three show varying degrees of age, warping, and damage.

During WWII, aircraft recognition became an essential part of military training. Gunners, aircrews, observers, and ground personnel had to distinguish friendly and enemy aircraft rapidly from different angles and under difficult conditions. To support this training, the U.S. military used a wide range of recognition materials including silhouette charts, photographs, films, flash cards, and three-dimensional models. The National Air and Space Museum preserves extensive wartime aircraft-recognition training material dating from 1942–1943, illustrating how seriously aircraft identification was treated throughout the armed forces.

Plastic recognition models were commonly made to approximately 1:72 scale, allowing students to study an aircraft’s outline from above, below, and from the side. Many were finished entirely in black so that shape and silhouette, rather than camouflage or national markings, became the focus of instruction. Two important wartime manufacturers were Cruver Manufacturing Company and Design Center, both of which produced large numbers of molded aircraft identification models.

Cruver produced two of these beautiful, original (cellulose acetate) models, and the third is a large and unmarked example, likely a German Heinkel 111 but we cannot say for sure. The lot is offered in good condition with some warping and damage.

The underbody of the Dornier reads:

GERMAN
DORNIER 17z
©
9-42

The Jap Nick reads:

JAP NICK
8-44
©

The third example is very large, measuring 17 ¾ x 12 ½ x 3 ½”. It is made from a thin wood, maybe Balsa. The other two are by Cruver and have warping and damage as shown.

This grouping is particularly interesting because it combines two dated Cruver recognition models from different stages of the war with a substantially larger wooden training aircraft. The September 1942 Dornier Do 17Z and August 1944 Japanese “Nick” preserve their original molded identification markings, while the unmarked wooden model illustrates another form of aircraft-recognition training aid. Together they provide a useful cross-section of the visual training equipment used to teach American servicemen rapid aircraft identification during WWII.