Description
These flares are used to illuminate a large area for reconnoitering and bombing, and also as a blinding effect on the operators of antiaircraft weapons.
The complete flare consists of the illuminant, a parachute, and an auxiliary parachute contained in a shellac impregnated chipboard case. The case is closed on the parachute end by several layers of chipboard discs held in place by gummed cloth tape and sealed with paraffin, and on the illuminant end by an Ensign Bickford time fuse and a metal cover. To the snap cord of the Ensign Bickford fuse is attached the rip cord, which is taped down along the side of the flare case. There are two metal steadying bands around the case, against which the steadying forks or sway braces of the bomb racks rest. The flare is issued in a waterproof metal container, and should be kept there at all times when not installed in an aircraft.
This flare also incorporates a shock absorber as used in the Navy Flare Mk 5, with either lead balls passing through a hole of smaller diameter than the lead balls, or a special connection utilizing friction to absorb shock of the parachute opening.
The Flare AN-Mk 6 Mod 5 differs from the Mk 6 and Mods in that the arming wire has swivel loops instead of an arming plate.
Functioning
When the flare is released, the arming plate is retained by the plane and the rip cord is torn from the side of the ease, flipping the metal cover off the Ensign Bickford fuse. The operation of the fuse is the same as given in the Navy Flare Mk 5.
The gases evolved when the ignition composition begin to bum, force the end out of the Hare case. Next, they expel the auxiliary parachute, the parachute in its case, and the illuminant. The flare case falls clear. The auxiliary parachute opens and retards the parachute in its case, to which it is attached, and the illuminant pulls the parachute out of its case. The auxiliary parachute and parachute case fall away, and the parachute opens.
See Also
Source(s)
OP 1664, Volume 1 - US Explosive Ordnance (1947)
USNBD - Bombs and Fuzes, Pyrotechnics (1945)
