Its not the flares the AI are reacting to, its the command.

Issue the 'Return to Base command' and you fire a white flare and your flight goes home. Now reload the mission, and fire white flares for as long as you like and your flight won't react.

Its the same with the 'Rejoin Command'. It fires a green flare and the AI rejoin but if you just fire a green flare by itself, they do nothing.

Spoon

Exactly

Thinking out loud here. If I assign a macro to a key press to fire a flare AND issue the appropriate command, it should have the desired effect.

Will try later and report back.

WB.

Except that a flare is already fired by default when you issue a command. Again, the AI is responding to the command, NOT the flare.

Ooops should have thought about it a bit more. I'll get my coat!

WB.