4.5-in. Reconnaissance Flare Mks I, II, III, IV, and VII, and Target Flare Mk I (Service)

Description: The Flare Mk IV has a tubular body containing the candle unit, and the parachute, which is made of cotton. The tail end of the body is closed by a closing dome, and has four tail fins.

The body is closed at the nose end by a diaphragm having a bush into which is scre-wed a nose plug of the fuze. The flare composition is contained in a candle case toget-her with some priming composition and a primed cambric disc at the nose end, a quantity of clay held between millboard discs, and a felt washer at the tail end. A lid is riveted to the tail end of the candle case. A shackle attached to the lid connects the candle unit with the suspension rope of the parachute.

Functioning: When the fuzed flare is released from the plane, the fuze is set in ope-ration and the flare drops freely until the flash from the magazine charge of the fuze passes through the flash hole in the diaphragm and ignites the powder puff. The gases formed by the burning of the gunpowder in the puff force the candle unit towards the closing dome. The wooden slats push off the dome, thus permitting the candle unit and the parachute to be ejected from the flare body. The flash from the puff ignites the pri-med cambric discs and the priming composition at the nose of the candle, and the prim-ing composition ignites the flare composition. The candle, which is now suspended on its parachute, continues to burn from the nose end unitl the flare composition is expended.

Suspension: A suspension band having two removable suspension lugs, one for atta-ching the flare to a Universal bomb carrier, and the other for attaching it to a Light Series bomb carrier, is secured to the flare body. Seven flares may be carried in Cluster, No. 1 Mk I, and four in S.B.C. 250-lb.

Remarks: The 4.5-in. Reconnaissance Flare Mk I is similar to the Flare Mk IV, but has larger tail fins, a Silk Parachute Mk II, a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and a candle case which is not strengthened in the region through which the lid rivets pass. The Reconnaissance Flare Mk II is similar to the Flare Mk IV, but has larger teil fins, a Silk Parachute Mk IV, a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and a candle case which is not strengthened in the region through which the lid rivets pass. The Re-connaissance Flare Mk III is similar to the Flare Mk IV, but it has larger tail fins and a brass disc over the flash hole in the diaphragm, and its candle is not  strengthened in the region through which the lid rivets pass. The Reconnaissance Flare Mk VII is similar to the Flare Mk IV, but has a modified parachute known as the Parachute Mk VF.

The details of the Target Flare No. 1 Mk I are generally the same as in the 4.5-in. Re-connaissance Flare Mk IV, except for the stencilled markings. This flare is manufactured to give two types of steady colors, red or green, or four combinations of colors and stars; green with red stars, red with green stars, red with yellow stars, or green with yellow stars. The red flare has a candlepower of approximately 250,000 while the green flare is rated at approximately 175,000 candlepower. The flares themselve burn for ap-proximately three minutes. The stars, which burn for about 10 seconds, are ejected at intervals of approximately 20 seconds.

Figure 84 – 4.5-in. Reconnaissance Flare Mk IV