“FIREWORKS"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 211, 22 June 1950, Page 4

“FIREWORKS"

AIR FORCE DISPLAY CROWD VISITS AERODROME Regarded no doubt by the boys present as a thrilling display of fireworks, the demonstration of Air Force signalling and illumination , methods last evening at the Ashburton airport was more than' just a spectacle.

Officers from Wigram were in charge of the demonstration, their object being the familiarising of local A.T.C. personnel with the varied types of apparatus in use for many nightflying operations. Among those demonstrated were Very lights fired as cartridges from special pistols, and designed for signalling from air to ground and viceversa. Among these were red lights,, which, when shown from a landing ground, indicate “don’t land,” green for “land,” and various colours for identification purposes. Signal rockets were also shown, as was a parachute flare, used in operations to illuminate the countrywide for observation* for bombing and for emergency landing. How effectively such a flare turns night into day may be realised from the fact, that it generates 750,000 candle-power. The three-inch signalling mortar 1 was perhaps the most impressive unit of apparatus the use of which was shown. It was electrically detonated, and threw a brilliant rocket to a height of some 600 to 700 feet into the air; its limit on operations is 900 feet. It made a bang loud enough to be somewhat startling, and was most spectacular. . Officers and cadets of the St. John Ambulance were present as part of their training course, but there were no casualties, needing their attention. In spite of the bitter northerly wind, unrestricted in its searching qualities in the wide open space of the aerodrome, there were hundreds of spectators, including a good proportion of boys, the latter ending the proceedings with a wild rush for souvenirs. It would not be surprising to learp that certain morning talks, at school to-day had as their visual talkingpoint cartridges from Verey signal pistols, burnt out rockets and the like interesting momentoes of a thrilling evening's experience. The officers in charge of the demonstration were Flight-Sergeant C. Thomas and Sergeant H. Richmond.