Pundit light

This is a PUNDIT LIGHT - with generator, switch gear and a lantern (stowed on the back of the trailer during transit). The 8 tesla coils seen bottom right drive the 8 * 400 watt neon tubes that  flashed two letters in Morse code. The letters were the I.D. code of the airfield. Once deployed the ID code was set on the control disk  and when required ground staff would start up the engine and then activate the beacon in accordance to the instructions of Air Traffic Control or flying control. The lights were powered by a Coventry-Climax 16.9hp engine.

There are two of these of the SS Thistlegorm - usually misidentified as armoured cars on a Rolls Royce chassis. Leaning against one of the Pundit Lights is a stack of Westland Lysander wings.

The picture to the left of this text shows the Pundit light itself in it’s stowed position on the back of the trailer. When in use, this was mounted on the top of the trailer.Pundit lights were not always located on airfields. Sometimes they were located at a distance from the airfield - for example, ten miles due south. Pilots would locate the beacon and then fly ten miles north to find the airfield.

Many thanks to Red Sea Water World and Ted Angus for the photographs which were so much better than mine.