Returning crews first used the carrier's radio beacon to find their way toward Illustrious. Flare-bearing buoys dropped at intervals then marked the carrier's course and guided aircraft toward its stern. Only on the final approach did the carrier switch on hooded lights visible from above and behind. The batsman had a light on his chest and one on each bat, giving the pilot reference points for height and landing guidance. These aids helped recover the aircraft but also risked revealing the carrier to submarines, torpedo boats or other warships. Night operations also cost the crew rest, so maintaining the skill did not mean using it whenever a daylight operation would suffice.
Notable Point · 1:03:39-1:06:02
How Illustrious recovered aircraft in darkness
Illustrious used radio cues, flare markers, hooded lights, and a batsman to guide returning Swordfish onto the carrier at night.