CONSTRUCTION. The body of the white flare is of aluminum with a sheet steel cap at the top secured by adhesive tape. The flare is fitted with two pull igniters, one in the side of the case and one in the top of the flare candle. (See fig. 79.) There are two black powder charges in each flare, one to blow out the parachute, housed in the top of the case, and the other to ignite the candle. When the airburst fuze causes the contai-ner to open mid-air, each flare falls away and in so doing operates the side pull igniter which fires a black powder charge blowing out the parachute. As the parachute opens, the pull igniter at the top of hte candle operates. This fires a short length of safety fuze which burns for about 16 seconds, before initiating the second black powder charge which ignites the candle. This flare burns with a white light.

A flare has been recovered which is similar in construction except that the case has been cut 1/4 inch above the metal ring washer and turned over the washer to secure it in position. The over-all length is thereby reduced and only one igniter remains. On relea-se from the container, the parachute opens and operates the friction igniter. The flash ignites the safety fuze and after a predertermined delay the igniter and ejection charges force off the nose cap and eject the candle which simultaneously is ignited by the prim-ing layer composition. There is no ballast in the nose of this flare. It burns for approxima-tely 6 minutes with a red light.

SUSPENSION. Ten of the white flares are fitted into the ABB 500 M10 container or nine flares plus six SD 2 bombs are fitted into the Mark 500 Boden 6 SD 2 container. The red flare was found in close proximity to a 250 BK container. Each flare is attached to the container by a short length of wire cable, secured at one end to a bracket in the contai-ner and at the other to the pull igniter in the side of the flare.

Figure 79 – Parachute Flare (Red) – Single Unit