Flare gun: Difference between revisions
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A '''flare gun''' is a gun that fires [[Flare (pyrotechnic)|flares]]. They are typically used as a distress signal as well as other signaling purposes at sea and between aircraft and people on the ground. |
A '''flare gun''' is a gun that fires [[Flare (pyrotechnic)|flares]]. They are typically used as a distress signal as well as other signaling purposes at sea and between aircraft and people on the ground. |
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==Types== |
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The most common type of flare gun is a [[Very flare|Very pistol]] (often misspelled as Verey pistol), which was named after [[Edward Wilson Very]] (1847–1910), an American naval officer who developed and popularized a single-shot breech-loading snub-nosed pistol that fired [[Flare (pyrotechnic)|flare]]s. Modern varieties are frequently made out of brightly-colored, durable [[plastic]]. |
The most common type of flare gun is a [[Very flare|Very pistol]] (often misspelled as Verey pistol), which was named after [[Edward Wilson Very]] (1847–1910), an American naval officer who developed and popularized a single-shot breech-loading snub-nosed pistol that fired [[Flare (pyrotechnic)|flare]]s. Modern varieties are frequently made out of brightly-colored, durable [[plastic]]. |
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Flare guns may be used whenever someone needs to send a [[distress signal]]. The flares must be shot directly above, making the signal visible for a longer period of time and revealing the position of whoever is in need of help. |
Flare guns may be used whenever someone needs to send a [[distress signal]]. The flares must be shot directly above, making the signal visible for a longer period of time and revealing the position of whoever is in need of help. |
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==Use as Weapons== |
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While not intended as a weapon, |
While not intended as a weapon, flare guns have been used as such in some situations. In 1942, at [[Pembrey Airport|Pembrey Airfield]] in Wales, a German pilot mistakenly landed at the field. The duty pilot, Sgt. Jeffreys, did not have a conventional weapon; he grabbed a Very pistol and used that to capture the German pilot, [[Oberleutnant]] Arnim Faber.<ref>[http://www.pembreyairport.com/history.htm Pembrey Airport: History]</ref> |
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In [[World War II]], Germany manufactured grenades designed to be fired from some models of signal pistol. |
In [[World War II]], Germany manufactured grenades designed to be fired from some models of signal pistol. |
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Revision as of 00:52, 20 April 2009
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A flare gun is a gun that fires flares. They are typically used as a distress signal as well as other signaling purposes at sea and between aircraft and people on the ground.
Types
The most common type of flare gun is a Very pistol (often misspelled as Verey pistol), which was named after Edward Wilson Very (1847–1910), an American naval officer who developed and popularized a single-shot breech-loading snub-nosed pistol that fired flares. Modern varieties are frequently made out of brightly-colored, durable plastic.
The older type of Very pistol, typical of the type used in the Second World War, are of one inch bore. Newer models fire smaller 12-gauge flares. In countries where possession of firearms is strictly controlled, such as the United Kingdom, the use of Very pistols as emergency equipment on boats is less common than, for example, the United States.
Flare guns may be used whenever someone needs to send a distress signal. The flares must be shot directly above, making the signal visible for a longer period of time and revealing the position of whoever is in need of help.
Use as Weapons
While not intended as a weapon, flare guns have been used as such in some situations. In 1942, at Pembrey Airfield in Wales, a German pilot mistakenly landed at the field. The duty pilot, Sgt. Jeffreys, did not have a conventional weapon; he grabbed a Very pistol and used that to capture the German pilot, Oberleutnant Arnim Faber.[1]
In World War II, Germany manufactured grenades designed to be fired from some models of signal pistol.
In his autobiographical Think Like a Bird, U.S. Army pilot Alex Kimball describes shooting at an armed attacker with a Very pistol, following a forced landing in Aden during the Radfan conflict. The man's clothes caught fire, causing his death.
The following demonstrates how a flare gun has been used in self defense. Hollywood actor Brian Keith served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II as a radioman-gunner in the rear cockpit of a two-man Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bomber. During an air attack on Japanese pacific headquarters in Rabaul, New Guinea, enemy ground fire badly damaged his plane. The pilot struggled to keep the plane airborne. It was unable to keep up with the other aircraft and fell out of formation. Two Japanese A6M Zero fighter planes attacked the lone crippled plane from the rear. Both of Keith's machine guns jammed as he fired to protect his plane. He fired red tracer ammunition from his pistol. The Japanese pilots broke off the attack, but resumed it again minutes later. Now completely out of ammunition, Brian reached for the Very (flare) pistol and fired a red flare at the fighters which immediately pulled up to figure out what that was. This bought the plane needed time, because minutes later Keith heard a New Zealand pilot saying over the radio, "Dont sweat it, Yank, I've got them surrounded up here!"
On December 4, 1971 at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland an audience member ("some stupid with a flare gun") fired a flare during a performance by Frank Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention. The flare ignited the ceiling of the entertainment complex of the Montreux Casino at Lake Geneva. Zappa shouted "Fire!" but initially the audience thought it was all part of the show. The resulting fire burned down the entire casino. The band Deep Purple witnessed the event and wrote about it in their song "Smoke on the Water," released on their 1972 LP "Machine Head."
Capsaicin or pepper filled cartridges for self defense use are available at specialty ammunition stores for use in standard flare guns[citation needed].
Models
References
See also
External links
- History of the Very pistol with many examples
- WW German signal-pistol grenades and their use by tank crews.