An Extremely Rare WWI RFC /RAF Hythe MKIII Lewis Camera Gun

This is an extremely rare WWI Royal Fly Corps & R.A.F. Hythe MKIII Lewis Camera Gun, circa 1915-1918. First introduced in 1915 as a way of training aircraft gunners to engage in a very realistic and yet safe dogfights with photographic evidence that would allow the trainee and his instructor to assess his performance. The Hythe camera gun was designed to very closely match the handling, balance, and weight of a Lewis Gun that was one of the most common aerial guns used during WWI with both British and US air forces. It could be fixed to the top wing of a biplane or on a flexible ring mount just like a real gun, and was maneuvered and aimed exactly like a real Lewis. The shutter was tripped by the trigger, just like a gun, and film was advanced by using a replica of the Lewis’ charging handle. This example was made by Thornton-Pickard of Altringham and is the Type G3. The brass plate shows that it was still in service with the Air Ministry in 1933 and reads " G.3 Type    Sect 14/A    REF. No.21   AM  No I.S.D.K.  Jan 1933" . It comes with an original wooden transit case and resin replica magazine. The charging handle still works and it can be cock and dry fired.