I've been watching this series for the probably 8th time now and cant seem to figure out...
in the 2nd episode, they've been scattered during the jump and trying to regroup. Lt./Capt. Winters fumbles around with a button/thimble on his trousers and ends up looking at map under a raincoat, placing the button/thimble on the map.


What item is that and what's its purpose?

I wanna say it was a mini compass he had tucked away since he lost the rest of his gear because they were flying too fast for the jump.

Something like this

hmm, makes sense. the button just looked like it had standing water in it. thanks!

He was peeing in the cap so the needle would float. It wasn't a hidden compass, it was a field expedient compass

What TM said.

That would make sense, although I don't remember the scene that well. But where would he get a magnetized needle from?

I forget the scene, but if you don't have a magnet, I believe you can rub the needle on silk to magnetize it...maybe his parachute??