Visual Messages
Have you ever wondered how pilots know what the guys on the ground with cones is saying?
Or how about people trying to talk to one another when they are different ships
that have not phones? Visual messages and enciphered visual messages have been used
during the war time efforts for years and can be a great way to communicate silently
or across long distances.
You've probably heard about the smoke signals that Indians used to communicate with
one another across long distances. All visual ciphers work in a similar way. Certain
patterns that can be seen represent letters or words. In the case of the military
flagging system two flags are used to spell out individual words. Use the key below
to figure out how to signal a friend afar.
Note: It is important to recognize that the shapes below are what it looks like when
the flag man is facing you! Check your orientation in a mirror or have someone watch
you.
Use the chart above to practice positioning your arms or flags to represent letters
in a visual message. After you're done practicing identify patterns that can be
found from letter to letter that can be used to help you memorize each of the positions.
When you are ready, fill in the positions to spell out the word "Code" in the box below.
C O D E
Can you think of a situation where a visual message could help you? Does the military
still use visual messages today? Why or why not? What is the name of the flagging
method used by the United States Military? What are some other well known visual
messaging systems? How do they work?
Answer any of the questions in the above paragraph for 5 points extra credit each.
See your instructor for more information.