Al Dykes wrote:
As an armchair admiral, I've always wondered how A/C in WWII knew how
to find the carrier after being away for a couple hours on a mission.
I assume the pilots were told, roughly, where the carrier plans to be,
but sh*t happens. I always assume the carrier doesn't broadcast any
radio signals.

How do they do it, today ?

Couple of methods
1. Follow the trail of non-classifed floating trash behind ship
2. Follow your nose to that double cheeseburger with fried egg on top
waiting for you in dirty shirt
3. Look for Russians, follow them
4. Don't find it, and go to beach. Break something, and spend weekend
drinking beer in exotic foreign port.