Plomb handle/crank/ratchet thing

[Jwitt]

I bought and sold this while we were in exile. The number is 5450 the same as a long 1/2” ratchet. The handle is extendable and it only ratchets in one direction. I took it apart and there are no signs of there being a pawl and spring on one side. There are signs of olive drab paint so I’m thinking aircraft emergency landing gear.

[J.A.F.E.]

I believe it was used to wind up a spring starter motor on an aircraft engine. If the batteries were dead you could wind up the spring and get the engine running with a spring motor.

[DeadNutz]

I believe it is a landing gear crank handle. The inertia starter handles have a different end on them so they disconnect easily. You could get hurt trying to slide a square drive handle off of it. Fortunately the electric motor used to wind up the inertia starters always worked for me on the planes I flew.
Here is an example of the crank handle in use.