Air Sea Rescue P-47 Flares

[whstlngdeath]

The P-47s assigned to the 5th ERS out of Boxted Airfield, England were fitted with wing pylon-mounted dinghies and some type of marker or drift flares on the belly. What exactly were these flares? Were they U.S. issue items or perhaps of English sources, since this squadron was put together rather quickly, and with limited resources. I'm building a 1/6 scale R/C P-47 and will finish in the markings of one of the 5th ERS mounts. I need more info on the design and dimensions of the flares, so I can make some reasonably accurate flares at 1/6 scale.

 

[Crimea_River]

I'm thinking it would be some kind of smoke marker but I've not found one that looks like that in my British or American ordnance references.

 

[whstlngdeath]

To begin with, I don't exactly know what their purpose was. Were they aerial pyrotechnic flares to mark the location of a downed airman from the air? Or were they smoke markers that would float in the water to make spotting easier from the air? The closest thing I've found to match the shape is the M22A1 ground signal, but that was designed to be rifle launched. Another possibility would be the drift signal, AN-Mk.5, Mod. 1. It's basically the same shape, but with square fins.

 

[fubar57]

These guys made markers and rafts in 1:48. There must be instructions around somewhere.

 

[P-39 Expert]

The P-47s assigned to the 5th ERS out of Boxted Airfield, England were fitted with wing pylon-mounted dinghies and some type of marker or drift flares on the belly. What exactly were these flares? Were they U.S. issue items or perhaps of English sources, since this squadron was put together rather quickly, and with limited resources. I'm building a 1/6 scale R/C P-47 and will finish in the markings of one of the 5th ERS mounts. I need more info on the design and dimensions of the flares, so I can make some reasonably accurate flares at 1/6 scale.View attachment 519892View attachment 519893

Interesting canopy in the top photo. Looks like a form of Malcolm hood that would give better visibility.