1.   Blue magnesium flares went spiralling up into the chilly night.

2.   The world exploded in a flash, brilliant as a magnesium flare, which was followed by blackness.

3.   The plane was firing thousands of rounds of ammunition at enemy forces and dropping magnesium flares to illuminate their positions for the U.S. ground troops.

4.   The airforce is not equipped with even the basic defences such as magnesium flares to deflect heat-seeking missiles.