Nancy Hanks' lineage

[SSlater]

This Post is a story about using the name "Nancy Hanks".
Back in WWII, the Navy had a Secret Signal System. It was "Black Light" - meaning I could turn on a Signal Light, no light would show. If you had the right Glasses, you could see the light, and read the signals.
If we wanted to alert you to put on the Glasses, we would say "Nancy Hanks" on the radio. No explanation, just "Nancy Hanks". And we could send signals that only the USN could see.

When we were preparing for an invasion. and were fairly close to the Island, we cold turn on those lights, and we could see to Launch, but anyone on the island could not see you.

I've never heard a word about that system in 70 years.

---

(11-27-2015 04:33 PM)SSlater Wrote:  This Post is a story about using the name "Nancy Hanks".
Back in WWII, the Navy had a Secret Signal System. It was "Black Light" - meaning I could turn on a Signal Light, no light would show. If you had the right Glasses, you could see the light, and read the signals.
If we wanted to alert you to put on the Glasses, we would say "Nancy Hanks" on the radio. No explanation, just "Nancy Hanks". And we could send signals that only the USN could see.

When we were preparing for an invasion. and were fairly close to the Island, we cold turn on those lights, and we could see to Launch, but anyone on the island could not see you.

I've never heard a word about that system in 70 years.

PS I just Googled "Nancy Hanks Signal Lights" and found a story. I was concerned that it might be still Secret. The system is still in use.