[aviatorsneah]

i know that US bombers would also drop different colored flares to aid in forming up in formation after takeoff. it was mass confusion with hundreds of b17s or b24s taking off for a morning mission as numerous lancasters were returning from a night raid. each segment of the formation dropped a different color flare. if u were supposed to be in that segment, you followed that color. i'll have to find the link again to where i read this. it was pretty interesting. the skies would be so full of airplanes, returning lancasters would be literally flying through the 17 or 24 formation as they departed and tried to form up.