TESTING OF FLARES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A002400010030-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: November 4, 1960
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010030-1 ,
uuINI N UL \1 TIAL
J/ L?. JS 7
4 November 1960
~14
SUBJECT: Testing of Flares
C G ~--t Cc +-c
44
1. During the evening of 24 October tests were conducted to observe
the appearance of commercially available red and yellow signal flares after
dark. The conditions under which the flares were placed for test varied
so as to simulate conditions for which they might be used in the field.
The following persons were present at the test:
UMC
UMC
TSD/EB
TSD/EB
UMC
UMC
2. A helicopter (Bell Trooper) was used as the test vehicle for flying
over the emplaced burning flares. This hel copter was flying at an altitude
of 750 feet and a speed of 85 mph. Six fly overs were made with the flares
emplaced under different conditions for each pass. These conditions were
as follows:
A. Fly over with Red Flares on top of ground.
B. Fly over with Yellow Flares on top of ground.
C. Fly over with Red Flares in Pits.
D. Fly over with Yellow Flares in Pits.
E. Fly over with Red Flares in Pits with Foil.
F. Fly over with Yellow Flares in Pits with Foil.
3. The flares being tested were the Standard Red, Olin Mathieson Red,
Bristol Red, Kilgore Red, Bristol Yellow, and Kilgore Yellow. The results
of the tests were as follows:
Test #1
The Standard Red, Bristol Red, and Kilgore Red were very much the
same in appearance. The Olin Mathieson Red did not give off the amount of
flow as the other three.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010030-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010030-1
Test #2
The Kilgore Yellow-was very easy to spot and gave off a good -low.
The Bristol Yellow was very poor in appearance and had a reddish tint.
Test k3
In this test the flares were very difficult to spot until the
helicopter was almost directly over top of the flares. In this position the
Standard Red and the Kilgore Red appeared to be best.
Test ;j4
These flares were not detectable until the helicopter was directly
over the pits. There didn't appear to be too much difference in the two flares.
Test #5
Usirg the foil in the pits made the flares much easier to see, but
not quite as visible as the flares on the surface. The Olin Mathieson Red
and Bristol Red appeared to be the most visible in this test while the
Kilgore Red was the poorest.
Test -b
The results in this test were the same as the previous fly over.
In this test the Kilgore Yellow appeared to be much better than the Bristol
Yellow.
4. At the same time as the aerial observation tests ground observations
were also made. In all cases for either observations the yellow flares were
less distinguishable than the red flares. The ground observation results
were as follows:
Test !~'l
The order of best appearance was Standard Red, Bristol Red, Kilgore
Red, Olin Mathieson Red.
Test 1-2
The Kilgore Yellow was much better than the Bristol Yellow. Once
again the Bristol Yellow had a reddish tint to it.
Test #3
All the flares appeared good from the ground with a vague glow
over each of the pits. Any uprights nearby were illuminated and should be
eliminated wherever possible.
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010030-1
Test jr4
The yellow flares were inconspicuous from the ground.
Test J-5
There was some reflection from the smoke and the flow was a little
more conspicuous than the pits without foil.
Test #r6
About the same as Test #5, perhaps a little more inconspicuous.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78-03642AO02400010030-1