Description
Double star signals are used as a method of emergency identification of aircraft.
The Pyrotechnic Pistol AN-M8 is used to fire the signal.
The outer case is similar to that of the Mk 3. The star charges are contained in an inner case which also houses an ejector charge and tracer element. Star color bands are the same as the bands on the Mk 3 and, in addition, a narrower band, before the star identification bands, indicates the color of the tracer. Color combinations are:
Red-red with red tracer
Green-green with red tracer
Red-red with green tracer
Red-yellow with yellow tracer
Red-green with red tracer
Red-green with green tracer
Functioning
The firing pin strikes the primer, igniting the propelling charge, which, in turn, ignites the tracer in the inner case and expels the inner case from the barrel. The tracer becomes visible after traveling about twenty feet. At approximately 250 feet altitude, the tracer ignites the ejection charge through the quick match, the stars being ignited by the ejection charge through the quick match as they are expelled from the inner case.
See Also
Source(s)
OP 1664, Volume 1 - US Explosive Ordnance (1947)
USNBD - Bombs and Fuzes, Pyrotechnics (1945)
