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Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

6. Flares were used mostly for emergencies

Reply to Laffy Kat (Original post)

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.

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23 replies

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WWII aviation question. [View all] 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