2nd Lt. Moses Hanna
Lt. Hanna navigated using a combination of dead reckoning
(using airspeed and time elapsed between checkpoints to compute position),
pilotage (using visible landmarks), radio usage, and celestial navigation.
The B-24 had a small Plexiglas dome just forward of the cockpit through which
the navigator could shoot his fixes, however celestial navigation was only used
when delivering the aircraft to theater. In combat, bombing targets were
approached by pilotage.
Lt. Hanna had to always know where they were, because if
they had to leave the formation, it would be his job to find the best route to
get back to Allied territory without going over enemy flak areas. Lt.
Hanna always knew where they were. He was an excellent navigator right
from the start—navigating down to Brazil, across the Atlantic, and over Africa
to Italy before they even flew their first mission.