Can anyone help me out with some info on how the pathfinders of the 21 independent parachute company signalled the gliders in by use of panels/smoke on the Arnhem landings as I want to create a dio showing them in action. I keep reading that they used coloured smoke but cant find what they used to generate it and that they set out coloured nylon panels but I cant find any images of them to get an idea of size/colour. ive been at this for a while now and google isnt helping. I did consider scratchbuilding a Eureka homing beacon but after a few attempts decided that it was far too fiddly

The panels came in sets (they were the air recognition panels used on vehicles) and were snapped/fitted together to form letters, etc. I have a pic somewhere of an example of the panels in use. I'll look for it and post it later today. The link has pictures of a US marker set both British and Americans used them.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=26512&hl=marker

For colored smoke, I would think that it would probably be from smoke grenades since it needed to show wind direction and be of short duration.

Thanks for this. Ive seen these markers before but they were only referred to as US panels so I didnt know if British forces used something else.

Never seen this page before. Thanks for this.

Im still struggling to find info on the smoke grenades. I know the smoke was yellow and purple. Im guessing it wasnt the 77 or 80 as they were WP.

I think it was the No. 83, I have a .pdf on it with all the specs and colors PM me with an address and I'll send it to you.

Ive been going through various references again and in "Glider Pilots at Arnhem" -great book by the way, it says the pathfinders used panels, vary flares and smoke generators rather than grenades. Im almost sure I've seen a photo of one but nothing is coming up on google.

You might find the info you're looking for here:

http://www.bocn.co.uk/vbforum/threads/4319-Smoke-generator-no-8/page3

Thanks. The search continues.