Page:Objects Dropped From The Air p39.jpg

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and usually bears an inscription indicating the maker and date of manufacture, such as:

Ausfuhrung Nicolaus 8/1940 (i.e. Nicolaus Pattern August 1940).

Other makers are:

Eisfeld: Deleu Dr. Feistel: Berck Holtz: Deutsche Pyrotechnische Fabrik A/G: Sawie: Dr. Schmarr.

When found, some or all of the candles are likely to be burnt down to a short stump, and will be attached to the housing of the igniter unit, an aluminium pressing resembling a saucepan 5 in. deep (see Figure 57).

Other single candle flares are of the following types:-

(i) That illustrated in Figure 58 which is a small flare 1 ft. 3 in. long and a little over 3 in. diameter. Ten of this type are released from the containers type F (ii) or F (iii) (see Figure 47).

(ii) A flare with a casing similar in appearance to the one illustrated in Figure 56 but with the lower end dome-shaped. The rear end, where the parachute is housed, has four fins 1½ in. wide and is closed by an end-plate secured by six light screws. The container is 3 ft. 6 in. overall in length, about 7¾ in. diameter, and has "L.C. 50 F. Ausf." stencilled on a silver patch just forward of the fuze pocket.

(iii) A flare with a casing of about the same size as (ii) but without tail fins and with "MARK 50/F/A" or "MARK C 50FA" stencilled in yellow, green or red lengthwise on the body. It would appear that the colour of the stencilled marking indicates the burning colour of the flare composition.

(iv) Another small type enclosed in an alloy casing about 1 ft. 6 in.long and 3½ in. diameter, with a sheet steel cap at the upper end, and stamped in yellow or green lettering: "70 Eisfeld Dez" 1937 (see Figure 59).

(v) Another small type enclosed in an aluminium casing 13¼ in. long, 2.4 in. diameter with no markings. The nose is recessed 2 in. to hold a pull percussion igniter. This flare is attached to a parachute by a wire cable 36 in. long.

The container of the type illustrated in Figures 47 and 48, marked in red either "MARK 500 BODEN" or "MARK 500" or "ABB 500 M 10 " is used to carry ten of the small flares type (iv). Alternatively nine of these flares and 6 small anti-personnel bombs may be carried, in which case the outer containers are marked "MARK 500 BODEN in red followed by "6 SD 2" in white underneath.

The container illustrated in Figure 44, marked "Mark 250-LK; 41 Weiss" carries 41 flares of type (v).

The flare parachute is smaller than that used on the parachute mine, being about 10 ft. in diameter with thin cords; it is usually of silk or artificial silk, and has seven segments. With the heavier type of flare, however, the parachute may be as much as 14 ft. 3 in. in diameter, and may have twelve segments. That used with type (ii) above is 4 ft. diameter vented at the centre and is attached to the aluminium-cased candle by twelve shrouds, each 10 ft. long, arranged in two groups, each group being attached to a 4 ft. length of steel-wire rope which is connected to the end-plate of the candle. That used with type (iii) above is vented at the top; has a circumference of about 21 ft. 4 in. and is made in 8 sections. The shrouds are arranged in two groups of four, which are connected by two suspension cables to the two brackets bolted to the candle unit lid. That used with type (v) above is formed