Scientists and historians do not know for certain when and by whom the principle of operation of magnetic compasses was discovered. But it is known that the earliest compasses appeared in China around 300-200 BC, during the reign of the Han Dynasty. The earliest compasses were a magnetized metal needle attached to a piece of wood (most often in the shape of a fish) and placed in a container of water. Since the needle was magnetized, its end (the head of the fish) always pointed north. These were the so-called "wet compasses".
In Europe and the Middle East, these navigational instruments began to appear only by the 1200s. Although it is very common in Europe that they themselves created compasses several centuries after the Chinese, many scientists and historians do not agree with this. It is most likely that the Chinese shared their navigational tool technology with the Muslims, who later shared this knowledge with the Europeans.
Despite the fact that such technologies as GPS, GLONASS, etc. have appeared today, they cannot completely replace the compass. Yes, they are more accurate and allow you to find out not only the direction, but also to study the area, but they have a significant drawback - they are dependent on power sources. That is why, in the same aircraft, in addition to GPS, a magnetic compass (gyroinduction) is used.
Many underestimate the historical role of this amazing and simple navigational tool. But in vain, because it was he who played an important role in many of the greatest discoveries of mankind. For example, the first crossing of the ocean or a trip around the world would be simply impossible without it.
The fleur-de-lis or Fleur-de-lis is a symbol that the North is very often marked on the dial of this navigational device. The use of the fleur-de-lis as a mark of north was introduced by the Portuguese cartographer Pedro Reinel and soon became very common throughout the world.
During World War II, unique buttons appeared on the uniforms of British pilots. The uniform, in general, remained standard and did not stand out from the uniforms of other countries of the world - with the exception of buttons. The fact is that the buttons on their uniforms were with a surprise. If you remove one button and connect it to another, then you get a real compass. Such buttons were sewn to the uniforms only of pilots and saboteurs, since it was they who most often found themselves behind enemy lines and needed navigation devices that could lead them to their own.