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Laffy Kat

(16,354 posts)
Sat Mar 5, 2016, 11:20 PM Mar 2016

WWII aviation question.

Re-watching "Twelve O'Clock High" for the umpteenth time. Can someone tell me why the ground crew at the base shoots flares into the sky as the bombers are returning. Does it have something to do with planes that may be in distress?

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WWII aviation question. (Original Post) Laffy Kat Mar 2016 OP
I'm told that it might be a signal to the planes that it's their turn to land Rhiannon12866 Mar 2016 #1
Oh. Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #2
Lots of definitive answers here Rhiannon12866 Mar 2016 #7
Carrier landings are the hairiest, not a lot of wiggle room sarge43 Mar 2016 #8
He said they used a "hook," but even then, some of them didn't make it... Rhiannon12866 Mar 2016 #9
The sweat was coming in with a damaged aircraft. They're not all that forgiving. sarge43 Mar 2016 #10
Aircraft don't land on a carriers.... Brother Buzz Mar 2016 #11
My Dad said the aim was keeping them from going over the side Rhiannon12866 Mar 2016 #12
Any crash you can walk away from is preferable to swimming Brother Buzz Mar 2016 #14
I thought only fighters landed on carriers, not bombers... CTyankee Mar 2016 #13
Doolittle Raid on Tokyo sarge43 Mar 2016 #15
Ah, Doolittle's B-25's did not land on the Hornet, they only took off from it Brother Buzz Mar 2016 #16
No, you're right to pick. :) sarge43 Mar 2016 #17
i read that the flare color BlueCollar Mar 2016 #3
Thanks! Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #4
The aircraft crew also used them. sarge43 Mar 2016 #5
Thanks. I think you're right. nt Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #19
Flares were used mostly for emergencies Major Nikon Mar 2016 #6
This makes the most sense to me. Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #18
I watched it too (what a great movie!) El Supremo Mar 2016 #20
I know. The first twenty minutes are spell-bounding, IMO. Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #23
Why was it on Encore's Western channel? El Supremo Mar 2016 #21
Can't remember the channel. Laffy Kat Mar 2016 #22

Laffy Kat

(16,354 posts)
2. Oh.
Sat Mar 5, 2016, 11:55 PM
Mar 2016

I've tried the Internet with no luck. My dad flew bombers in WWII but he's long gone. This is bugging me for some reason. Thanks.

Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
7. Lots of definitive answers here
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 11:36 AM
Mar 2016

I've always said that DUers know everything! And kudos to your Dad. Wow! Mine missed the war, was only 13 when it started, but not the draft. He served in the Navy, was the radio operator on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. He had numerous stories about planes trying to land...

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
8. Carrier landings are the hairiest, not a lot of wiggle room
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 02:03 PM
Mar 2016

"If you didn't see it done, you wouldn't believe it could be done."

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
10. The sweat was coming in with a damaged aircraft. They're not all that forgiving.
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 02:23 PM
Mar 2016

Last edited Sun Mar 6, 2016, 02:59 PM - Edit history (1)

Anyone's guess how that would end.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
11. Aircraft don't land on a carriers....
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 03:23 PM
Mar 2016

They attempt 'Controlled Crashes'. Some are more controlled crashes than others.

Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
12. My Dad said the aim was keeping them from going over the side
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 03:30 PM
Mar 2016

Which happened in spite of the hooks, dangerous business.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
14. Any crash you can walk away from is preferable to swimming
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 05:59 PM
Mar 2016

Any landing you can walk away from is a good one! — Gerald R. Massie, U.S. Army Air Forces photographer.

Brother Buzz

(36,212 posts)
16. Ah, Doolittle's B-25's did not land on the Hornet, they only took off from it
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 06:49 PM
Mar 2016

I know, Picky, picky, picky.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
17. No, you're right to pick. :)
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 06:56 PM
Mar 2016

Still a ballsy thing to do. Not much distance to get to air speed carrying that much weight. I imagine it was a moment watching one of those brutes dip below line of sight off the deck and wondering if the next thing you hear is "splash". The engines must have been wound up to the max.

BlueCollar

(3,859 posts)
3. i read that the flare color
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 04:09 AM
Mar 2016

Was important.

Green flare = safe to land

Red flare = abort landing, runway fouled

White flare = go around

Not sure though...ill look into it at work today. Lots of aviation history buffs.

sarge43

(28,939 posts)
5. The aircraft crew also used them.
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 09:20 AM
Mar 2016

Signaling "casualities onboard" to "bingo fuel" (just enough left for one landing pass) and much more.

Everyone could see them, especially important on a wave off. Radios could be out or radio silence ordered.

The green, red, white signals was fairly standard, but depending upon the situation there was countless variations.

The US pistol model number was AN-M8 (Army/Navy Model 8). They're still around and in use. They have the kick of a .45.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
6. Flares were used mostly for emergencies
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 09:47 AM
Mar 2016

Air Traffic Control normally used a system of signaling lights and radio calls, but it was common for radios to be knocked out by enemy fire or simply broke, and many smaller aircraft didn't have radios at all. The normal communication for NORDO aircraft was via light gun signals. A red flare from the tower meant all aircraft should cease landing operations and await further instructions. Green flares meant landing operations could resume. Although virtually the same system of light gun signals is still in use today at every control tower in the world, flares fell out of favor several years after WWII.

El Supremo

(20,365 posts)
20. I watched it too (what a great movie!)
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 08:39 PM
Mar 2016

If you pay attention, the flares were fired in front of bombers who were following too close to the plane landing in front of them. So they were wave-offs.

It is so refreshing to see a movie that isn't total 'blow 'em up, shoot 'em up' and actually has good dialog and acting.

Laffy Kat

(16,354 posts)
22. Can't remember the channel.
Sun Mar 6, 2016, 09:48 PM
Mar 2016

I have Direct TV and it was on one of the premium channels, I think. Isn't "High Noon" a western?

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