Escape Compasses

RAF Fly Button Compass

This 'escape compass' button is believed to have been from the World War II era. These buttons were sewn as a pair into the uniform of a soldier. One part has a small sharp pin point (easily hidden within the uniform garment) which is used to balance the other button which had two magnetic elements (the dots). The two dots on the compass button freely point North. When this pair of buttons was sewn into a soldier uniform, there would have been no distinguishing marks to betray the secret of its value.



RAF Star


Waltham