US AN M-8 Flare Pistol Used in USAAF Aircraft

[Aragorn243]

Newest addition to my flare gun collection. These were used by the USAAF and may have been used by the British as well. I've seen some comments to that effect but have no actual proof. They screwed into a port in the bombers generally just behind the Pilot's seat area. They would be fired when signals would be needed to the rest of the flight and no other option was available and they didn't want to use the radios but more commonly when returning to base. Different colors let the ground crew know if ambulance or fire control needed to be prepared for this particular aircraft.

The four protrusions near the muzzle would lock into the port, the top hook pulled back releases it from the port and the bottom/rear hook pushed up opens the gun to insert the flare.

This one was made by the Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company.

Serial number on the back of the grip, an additional number/code there RIAL No. E- which might be a unit inventory mark of some sort. Two marks on the bottom of the grip, probably inspector marks.

Most of these seem to be undated but this one is clearly marked 1943, so was made in plenty of time to see the bulk of the bomber raids over Germany.