Illustrious transmitted a rotating beacon synchronized with the aircrews' watches. The second hand's position when the signal was heard gave a bearing toward the moving carrier. Closer to the fleet, lighted buoys and screened deck lights marked the approach. Those lights were visible only from above and astern, helping pilots recover without exposing the ship broadly across the night sea.
Notable Point · 3:12:28-3:13:38
Finding Illustrious without revealing her
Timed beacons and directionally visible lights guided returning aircraft without advertising the carrier's position in every direction.