PROGRESS REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 1960 ON THE SIGNAL FLARE STUDY RD 45, TASK ORDER LL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010026-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: October 27, 1960
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010026-6
6"-4 c
PROGRESS REPORT
FOR
SEPTEMBER 1960
ON TIE
SIGNAL FLARE STUDY
RD 45t TASK ORDER LL
27 October 1960
Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010026-6
 Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010026-6
During the month of September 1960, a new shipment of Kilgore
flares was received and tested the same as the previous group.
The first test consisted of burning twenty flares of the
Kilgore red and twenty flares of the Kilgore yellow under ambient
conditions from which the following results were noted.
I. International Flare Signal Division (Kilgore) Red
A. All 20 burned to completion.
B. All these flares were easy to ignite but were chimney-
ing excessively. Three had loose plastic base plugs.
One had a cracked matchhead and one striker pulled
out of its cap.
C. Average time to full flame was 1-1/4 minutes; maximum
burning time 35 minutes; minimum burning time 33
minutes and average burning time 34.05 minutes.
II. International Flare Signal Division (Kilgore) Yellow
A. All 20 of these flares burned to completion.
B. All of these flares were easy to ignite, but were
chimneying excessively.
C. Average time to full flame was 1-1/4 minutes; maxi-
mum burning time 30 minutes; minimum burning time 27
minutes and average burning time 28.15 minutes.
The second test consisted of burning 10 flares of the
Kilgore red and 10 of the Kilgore yellow immediately after they
had been kept in an oven at 110OF for five days. The follow-
ing results were noted.
Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010026-6
 Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010026-6
I. International Flare Signal Division (Kilgore) Red
A. All 10 burned to completion. Two had loose plastic
base plugs.
B. Ease of ignition was good but chimneying was ex-
cessive.
C. Time to full flame ranged from 1 to 2-1/2 minutes;
maximum burning time 33 minutes; minimum burning
time 32 minutes and average burning time 32.2
minutes.
II. International Flare Signal Division (Kilgore) Yellow
A. All 10 flares burned to completion.
B. Ease of ignition was good but chimneying was
excessive.
C. Average time to full flame was 1-1/4 minutes;
maximum burning time 27 minutes; minimum burning
time 26 minutes and average burning time 26.4
minutes.
The third test which will consist of burning 10 flares of
the Kilgore red and 10 of the Kilgore yellow immediately after
they have been kept at -20OF for five days will be competed
next month.
Some tests were made to light flares which had been under
water for 10 minutes, but none would ignite and burn.
Another test was made to see if any of the flares could
burn under water for 2 minutes, None of the flares burned
under water for even 1/4 minute,
Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010026-6
 Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010026-6
A simulated rain storm test was made with wind velocity
of 15 mph. The Standard flare went out in 30 minutes and
one-third of the flare remained unburned. The Olin flare
burned weakly with excessive chimneying9 however9 it did
burn to completion in 42 minutes. The Bristol red flare
went out in 20 minutes with approximately one-half remaini.ng
unburnt9 but the Bristol yellow flare burned to completion
in 20 minutes. Two Kilgore red flares went out within two
minutes and one Kilgore yellow flare went out in one minute.
A second Kilgore yellow flare had excessive chimneying, but
burned to completion.
FUTURE WORK
Next month it is planned to test the brightness and
color at night making both ground and aerial observations.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Total Amount of Contract
$ 39372.00
Expenditures for September 1960
330.18
Total Expenditures to 30 September 1960
19492.79
Balance of Contract
19879.21
Expiration Dates 25 November 1960
Approved For Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010026-6