CONSTRUCTION. The flare body is an aluminum cylinder with no tail fins. (See fig. 75.) The nose is a flanged and slightly domed cap secured to body by four screws. A nose eyebolt is attached to nose cap. The interior of the nose cap is lined with a felt pad. Between this pad and the fuze pocket lies the cotton parachute. The parachute, vented at top, has a circumference of 21 feet, 4 inches and is made in 8 sections. The parachu-te shrouds are arranged in two groups of four, each group being connected to a suspen-sion cable. The two suspension cables are attached to two brackets which are bolted to the candle unit lid.

An old flat type locking ring secures the 59A fuze in the fuze pocket. The ejector cup is a sliding fit in the flare body but is prevented from movement by the indentations (until the ejector charge functions).

Retained in position at the base of the fuze pocket by a small grub screw is the quick-match holder mounted in plastic material. The bundle of quickmatch is placed centrally down this holder to connect at right angles with the quickmatch relay.

The quickmatch relay "lead-in" tube, which is for some distance of rubber and then of aluminum alloy, passes through slots in the intervening plates, and extends the length of the candle unit to the ejection charge.

The candle unit measures 22 by 4 inches diameter and bears marking similar to those found on the flare body. It is primed at the base with an ignition composition.

Placed between the candle unit ejector disc and the termination of the quickmatch relay is a further layer of ignition composition.

The ejection charge consisting of "Pebble" gun-powder is contained within a felt holder. The remaining space in the base of the flare is occupied by two packing washers, one of felt, and one of clay.

Riveted to the flare body is the domed base closing cap which is further secured by an inward turning-over of the cylindrical body to overlap the closing cap.

OPERATION. During the fall of the parachute flare, the aerial burst fuze functions and the flash is passed to ignite the quickmatch within the quickmatch holder. It is relayed via the rubber tube and the aluminum alloy tube to ignite the priming composition. This in turn initiates the gunpowder ejection charge.

The gases formed by the burning of the gun-powder force the ejector disk and with it the candle unit ejector cup, and parachute toward the nose cap. The pressure of the parachute against the interior of the nose cap shears the four screws permitting the pa-rachute and candle unit to be ejected from the flare body.

Simultaneously the flash from the burning gun-powder has ignited the priming composi-tion at the bottom of the flare to ignite the flare composition.

No information has been received regarding the burning time of the candle unit.

COLOR AND MARKINGS. Body is black over all. Stenciled on body in green paint: "Mark C 50 FA" or "Mark 50 F/A". The parachute is marked:

LETTERUNGS–NT 6
EESFELD
ANGEFERTIGT SEP. 193
B.G. TEXT 12 WERKE
K.G. S. HENKING
BERLIN – TEMPELHOF

Figure 75 – Mark C 50 FA Parachute Flare