INTRODUCTION. This section describes German aircarft pyrotechnics. It includes flares, photographic flash bombs, markers, smoke generators, etc.

Basically, German flares consists of a cylindrical container housing an illuminating ele-ment, which upon being ignited by a pull friction igniter or time fuze, burns vigorously producing great illumination and intense heat. The flare may or may not have a para-chute, depending upon the use for which it is intended. The illuminating element consists either of a single or a multiple candle unit which varies in intensity of illumination and co-lor, according to its purpose. Methods of carrying flares vary with the individual sizes. Large flares may be suspended horzontally while small flares may be carried in containers.

German photographic flash bombs are similar in external appearance to conventional 50-kg bombs and parachute flare cases. Their fillings may be either flare composition or in-cendiary mixture, ignited by electrical or mechanical aerial burst fuzes.

Markers used by the Germans consists principally of cylindrical cardboard containers, fil-led with a colored flare composition which is ignited by an impact type fuze. A few indivi-dual markers do not follow this pattern of construction. Some are merely containers of brightly colored powder, which are dumped into the sea from low altitudes to mark posi-tions. Others are modified parachute flares of various colors.

Fundamentally, German smoke generators are smoke pots modified for dropping from air-carft. Each consists of a cylindrical aluminum case, containing a smoke producing compo-sition which is ignited by a pull friction igniter. A parachute is used in some cases to re-tard the fall of the generator. Large smoke generators may be suspended from racks while small ones, known as smoke pots, are carried in containers.