ACME 470 Clicker Nickle Plated

ACME 470 CLICKER

• Made from solid brass.
• High quality sprung steel.
• Loud and reliable sound for more responsive commands.
• Hand made in the UK using the original tooling and presses.
• Various surface finishes available.

The ACME No. 470 Clicker, commonly known as the “D-Day Cricket,” was a small hand-held signalling device used by American paratroopers during the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. Manufactured by J. Hudson & Co. (ACME) in Birmingham, England, the clickers were issued particularly to soldiers of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, who were dropped behind German lines during the night before the main amphibious landings.

With paratroopers scattered across the Normandy countryside in darkness, the clicker provided a simple way of identifying friendly troops without calling out and potentially revealing their position. A soldier would give one click as a challenge, with another Allied soldier responding with two clicks to confirm their identity. Small, simple and easily carried, the ACME Clicker became one of the distinctive pieces of equipment associated with the airborne operations on D-Day and remains an enduring symbol of the ingenuity used to overcome the difficulties of night operations behind enemy lines.