Military Advisor On 'Godzilla' Explains Why Red Flares Are Used To Combat The Monster
<span><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5374cdfcecad04f431916710-1200-600/godzilla-roaring-2.png" border="0" alt="Godzilla roaring" />"Godzilla" opens in theaters late Thursday evening.</span>
If you've seen the trailers, you know one of the coolest parts is a skydiving sequence, showing members of the military paratrooping from a plane in order to engage the monster.
Check it out:
<iframe width="620" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QjKO10hKtYw?list=PL-6xnRfbU-1kB3pEHHoo6_v4O_7P4w0V7"></iframe>
You may have also noticed something that struck you as odd.
After the jump, you see these red streaks of smoke follow the paratroopers on the way down.
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5374d14069bedd075a91670e-/godzilla-skydive.gif" border="0" alt="godzilla skydive" />
<img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5374d14069bedd6d5c91670d-/paratroopers-godzilla-.gif" border="0" alt="paratroopers godzilla " />
<img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5374d140eab8eaba1c360e29-/paratroops-godzilla.gif" border="0" alt="paratroops godzilla" />
It doesn't only appear in the trailers.
The smoke was also a big part of one of the film's promotional posters.<img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/52a7778c69beddda7d8e91af-865-1280/godzilla-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="godzilla poster" style="line-height: 1.5em;" /><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Then i</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">n the film's</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span>main trailer<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, while the U.S. military is attacking Godzilla with its standard weaponery like giant aircraft carriers, </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">one of the scenes shows soldiers shooting tiny red flares towards the massive monster.</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5374d2eaeab8eae523360e27-/godzilla-flares.gif" border="0" alt="godzilla flares" />
</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Obviously, red flares and smoke are no match for Godzilla, so why are they so prominent? What is their purpose?</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When we spoke with the film's Military Technical Advisor, retired Sgt. Maj. James Dever, he explained how something as small as red flares could be effective against something as big as Godzilla.</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"The use of the red flares was never to attack the creature," said Dever. "It was used to divert the creature ... to distract him."</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The flares - and red smoke - divert the monster's attention l</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ong enough for the military to use its more powerful artillery or even clear the area.</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In real life, the military uses smoke and flares in similar ways. </span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Smoke can be used to create smoke screens for cover and the different colors of the smoke can signify enemy targets and identify landing areas for aircraft.</span>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">While flares can be defensive countermeasures, which can be seen in the clip below of a CV-22 Osprey military helicopter testing their flare defense system.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span>
<iframe width="620" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IeDMipBdC-o"></iframe>
<b>See Also:</b>
<ul><li>Why ‘Godzilla' Cut A Cameo Of The Star From The Original 1954 Movie</li><li>Here's How The Military Would Actually Fight Godzilla</li><li>Bryan Cranston Fans Will Be Disappointed With 'Godzilla'</li><li>'Godzilla' Is Bogged Down By A Bunch Of Boring Characters</li><li>25 Photos That Show What It Would Be Like If 'Godzilla' Tore Through The US Today</li></ul>
SEE ALSO: Here's How The Military Would Actually Fight Godzilla