Really?

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collec...dnumber=451517

Catalogue number:
AF*59057-N
Inscriptions:
"U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS / AIRCRAFT OCTANT / TYPE NO. A-7 SERIAL NO. A0-42-132 /
SPECIFICATION NO. 94-27747A / ORDER NO. AC-17520 / MFR'S ASSY. DWG. NO.
3003-B / BENDIX AVIATION CORPORATION / PIONEER INSTRUMENT DIVISION / BENDIX,
NEW JERSEY, U.S.A." and "MFR'D UNDER ONE OR MORE OF THE /FOLLOWING PATENT
NOS. / 1556994 1674550 1970543 / 2221152 DES. 85912 / BENDIX AVIATION
CORPORATION / PIONEER INSTRUMENT DIVISION / BENDIX, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A."



Another aircraft octant:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collec...dnumber=123408

There are a number of aircraft octants for sale he

http://www.paxp.com/mac/navtrak/sextants.html#used_m

And another octant:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collec...dnumber=451519



Are you certain they were really sextants on those naval aircraft? We used
an octant aboard a P-2.

In maritime history octants were the predecessor of sextants. Octants have
several distinct advantages over the sextant for use in aircraft. If you are
experienced in the use of both you can really understand why.

Perhaps your memory is not reliable.