Zippo is releasing a new limited edition D-Day 70th Anniversary commemorative lighter. Presented in a special gift box and accompanied by a wartime replica brass Acme clicker, also known as a “Cricket, this set is a tribute to the courage and ingenuity of those who served on June 6, 1944.
The 101st Airborne Division, also known as the “Screaming Eagles,” were the first troops to drop behind enemy lines. The paratroopers utilized Acme Crickets as a secret communication tool, and many carried Zippo windproof lighters in addition to their standard battle gear. This special commemorative gift set is a reminder of those who served in a key historical conflict. MSRP for this product is $80.
About the commemorative lighter
The D-Day 70th Anniversary Zippo lighter has a brushed brass finish with a design which utilizes the company’s colour imaging process. Code names of the landing beaches are revealed and highlighted in the brushed brass finish. The artwork depicts the welded iron girders, often referred to as “Czech hedgehogs,” that were half-buried along the Normandy coastline as an anti-tank defense measure and were visible in so many of the gripping images taken by journalists during the invasion. Each lighter is consecutively numbered and production is limited to 7,000 pieces worldwide.
About the Acme Cricket
The accompanying Acme Cricket, so called because of the “click-clack” sound it makes, was a vital tool for paratroopers to be able to identify each other, and these replicas have been made in the very same factory as the original – J Hudson & Company in Birmingham, England. For the first 24 hours of D-Day, “Operation Overlord”, soldiers identified friends from foes with the cricket. They were to press the toy once “click-clack,” or say “Flash” and the other person was to immediately respond with “click-clack, click-clack” or say “Thunder.” If they didn’t respond, the order was to fire.
For more information, visit www.Zippo.com
