US Issued Hamilton FAPD type 1 navigation wristwatch any info

[river rat]

Thought I would do a thread of this one on its own. I posted something about it in an older thread I did. Thought it would get more attention on its own. I got this incoming get it tomorrow. It's a rare one only produced for one month Sept 1970. Has a 36mm case has a grade 684 hacking movement not used in any other Hamilton watch. There was also an Australian RAAF version made the same time much rarer than the US one. There not many due to the one-month production. It was issued to the US air force during the Vietnam war. My guess for one month production was Hamilton was going through some changes.
From 1969 to 1972, all new Hamilton watches were produced in Switzerland by Hamilton's Buren subsidiary. In 1971, the Buren brand was returned to Swiss ownership. By 1972, the Buren-Hamilton partnership was dissolved, and the factory liquidated, due to decreased interest and sales of the Hamilton-Buren product. And what does FAPD stand for? Does anyone have any more info? Phots below are from the seller. This watch is the same size as the Hamilton RAF 6B, it has an antimagnetic tub and dust cover for the movement. I contacted the NAWCC they have no info on this one seems after they moved to Switzerland the NAWCC has no more info on Hamilton. Why I am asking here.

[river rat]

Well received it today.



next to a RAF 6B for comparison

[SFC]

I know very little about military watches in general.. but I will say it appears to be a quality watch.. legible, great case construction, reliable Swiss movement , hacking seconds and no spring bars. Checks the boxes. Great military watch enjoy.

[Tom Jetland]

Man, that's a very rare watch from what I can tell. Made for USAF navigators for a very short time. Not sure what FAPD stands for but if you're a military watch collector it's a grail, to my knowledge

https://chronopedia.club/Hamilton_FAPD_5101

That said if you are ever looking to move it, please PM me

It is a rare watch and worth decent money to those who are into this sort of thing. Since the Air Force is clearly the best service ( ) it goes for a premium....

[river rat]

Hey Tom
I been collecting military watches for years just wished I picked one of these some years back before the price jump. Was not cheap. If you're looking for one put a WTB ad at the MWR forum PX a member there might let one go, there. I dropped it off at my watch maker for a service. Holding on to it. They just don't show up for sale often anymore and I moved to a state that's sort of a vintage watch desert, so things are harder to find no more stuff in the wild just on the net were you some time have to pay top dollar. Only thing I miss about California is NAWCC marts and stuff in vintage watch shops and Fleamarket's.

[Nookster]

Hamilton sold a small percentage to SSIH and then completed the sale in 1974. So, in 1971, it was still run by Hamilton, but movements were no longer made by Hamilton in house in the USA, but watches were assembled in Lancaster.

[QuartzCrisis]

Uber rare grail watch. Great catch, River Rat!

I've made a YouTube review about Hamilton FAPD, lots of info there: https://youtu.be/_5deDi25swI

I owned FAPD for several years, I wear it often and love mine. Let me know if I can answer any questions not covered already in my YouTube review.