Well, I'm thinking they "shot the stars". Every see those little bubbles on the top of aircraft in WWII? Those were for checking the position of the stars to determine where you were. Of course that doesn't help when it's overcast so they used ADF or RDF. In the early days of the airlines before they set up VOR stations they actually had lights set up at intervals every few miles on the airline routes. Of course transatlantic routes would be radio direction and compass plus stars.
Sextants, compasses, lights on hills (Like lighthouses)...it seems like such a distant time in the past, compared to what is used today.
I know I'm amazed everytime I shove off in my 31 footer and head right to the latest and greatest fishing hole. And navigate precisely to it.