Hunt for missing chaff canister accidentally dropped over Britain by U.S. Air Force plane

But bosses at their European HQ, in RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, have been left red-faced after a chaff canister fell off one of their aircraft.

The unit, which is designed to confuse enemy missiles and radar, plummeted to the ground from a MC-130H personnel and equipment carrier during a training mission on Monday.

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Members of the public have been warned not to approach the square cannister or to use mobile phones nearby in case they trigger explosive charges which expel bundles of metal chaff.

To add to the U.S. Air Force's discomfort, the crew have no idea where they lost it. All air chiefs could confirm was that it was somewhere 'along the greater part of the UK coastal perimeter'.

It is the second embarrassing incident this month for the USAF at their base in Mildenhall. Last week mobile phone footage posted on YouTube showed an airmen apparently taking drugs in the barracks and another brandishing a Samurai sword.

A spokesman said yesterday: 'The chaff canister does not contain flares. It does, however, contain small bundles of metallic chaff and small explosive charges.

'There are hazards associated with it. For safety reasons, do not attempt to handle or manoeuvre the canister if found.'

During its mission, the aircraft travelled west from RAF Mildenhall to Wales, north over Colwyn Bay and past the Lake District to the electronic warfare tactics range at RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria before returning to base via Leeming in North Yorkshire, and Conningsby, Lincolnshire.

It was not clear how the box-shaped chaff unit, which is just under eight inches long, became detached.

The crew reported the loss immediately upon their return and an appeal was put out by Suffolk police.

A police spokesman said: 'The aircraft course took it along the greater part of the UK coastal perimeter.

'Officials urge anyone finding objects with government markings to please report the find to their local constabulary.

'For safety reasons, do not handle the chaff module or attempt to move it. Do not use any electrical transmitting devices, such as mobile phones, within 35ft or 10 metres of the item.'

The MC-130H Combat Talon II is one of several aircraft used by the 352nd SOG in operations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

It has state-of-the-art equipment which allows it to penetrate hostile airspace at low altitudes and crews are specially trained in night and adverse weather conditions.

One-third of all airdrops in the first three weeks of Operation Desert Storm in the 1990 Gulf War were provided by the plane and another model, the MC-130E Talon I.

It was also used to drop leaflets as part of the Allies' psychological warfare and in combat search and rescue missions.