4.5-in. Reconnaissance Flare Mks V, VI, and VIII (Service)

Description: The Flare Mk V has a tubular body containing the candle unit and the Cotton Parachute Mk IVF. The tail end 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 screws the nose fuze. The flare composition is contained in a candle case, and at the nose end of the case is a quantity of priming composition. The filling of the candle is held in place at the nose end by a primed cambric disc and a millboard washer, and at the tail end by a felt washer and a lid secured to the candle case. The lid is riveted to the candle case, and the rivets pass through a hessian or cotton canvas strengthening band around the candle case. At the nose of the candle unit is a container in which is coiled a length of safety fuse, the ends of which are clamped and set in cement. During manufacture, the end of the safety fuse which is ignited by the powder puff is cut square, dipped in moist powder, and dusted with dry sulphuries mealed powder. The other or inner end of the safety fuse terminates in a small quantity of igniter composition, and is covered by a shellacked paper tube and two shellacked paper discs.

Functioning: When the fuzed flare is released from a plane, the fuze is set in opera-tion, and the flare drops freely until the magazine charge of the fuze bursts the paper disc covering the flash hole in the diaphragm. The flash from the magazine charge passes through the flash hole and ignites the primed fabric of the powder puff and the strands of quickmatch, which in turn ignite the gunpowder in the powder puff. The gases formed by the burning of the gunpowder in the powder puff force the candle unit toward the closing dome. The wooden slats push off the closing dome, thus permitting the candle unit and parachute to be ejected from the flare body. The safety fuse is ignited by the flash from the gunpowder in the powder puff, and after a delay of two minutes, during which time the flare has fallen 2,000 ft. supported by the parachute, the safety fuse ig-nites the igniter composition at its inner end. The flash from the igniter composition is conveyed by the primed cambric disc to the candle primings, which are ignited and in turn ignite the flare composition.

Suspension: A suspension band around the body has two removable suspension lugs for attaching to a Unversial bomb carrier, or a Light Series bomb carrier. Seven flares may be contained in Cluster No. 1 Mk I, and four in the 250-lb. S.B.C.

Remarks: The 4.5-in. Flare Mk VI is similar to the Flare Mk V, but is provided with a 4-minute internal delay, so that the flare falls 4,000 ft. suspended on its parachute, be-fore the candle is ignited. The Flare Mk VIII differs from the Flare Mk V in that it has a modified parachute known as the 11-ft. Parachute Mk VF.

The period of delay of these flares enables the aircraft which has released the flare to get into position for its bombing run and to make the best use of the three- to four-mi-nute period of illumination given by the flare.

Figure 85 – 4.5-in. Reconnaissance Flare Mk V