Autopilot Flight Controller USAF E-4, C-130 F4U Corsair which appears to have deformed

which appears to have deformed from heat or sunlight

It is very similar to I-65 compass indicators used in aircraft of the Air Corps US Army during WW2 (the primary difference in appearance being the centerpoint of direction

hydraulics

just on the other side

copyrighted in 1943

Autopilot Flight Controller USAF E-4, C-130 F4U Corsair which appears to have deformedThis is an example of the Flight Controller, Type A 6, for the USAF Autopilot Type E 4 (aka as the Sperry A 12 Gyrosyn Automatic Pilot System). The E 4 System was used in the late 1940 1950's and was still in use in some 1960's aircraft. Early Lockheed C 130 Hercules transports used this system, as well as civilian aircraft such as DC 3 and DC 6. This item has a serial number prefix of AF 52, evidence of manufacturing year of 1952 for a USAF order.