Dictionary

flareship en · NOUN

Etymology

From flare + ship.

Meanings

1. A military aircraft that drops illumination flares.
   • Originally, the phrase Blind Bat was just the call sign for C-130s on forward air controller/flareship duty over southern Laos. 1989 july, Sam McGowan, “Blind Bat”, in AIR FORCE Magazine, volume 72, page 82:
   • The Rangers held on tenaciously throughout the night supported by gunships and flareships. 2024 October 13, Wikipedia contributors, “Dennis Fujii”, in English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation:
   • Once the flareship reached the range, an orbit would be established to take the aircraft across the drop zone every 2 minutes 45 seconds. Depending on the type of ordnance to be delivered by the F-100 students, between two and four flares would be dropped on each pass. 1968 January, Lou Stalsworth, “Night Owl”, in The Airman, volume XII, number 1, page 10:

Forms