I bought some 130gr FMJ factory loads cheap for practice. They are pretty. I also was given a couple of boxes of 158g lead round nose police reloads (Star Reloading Co.) that were in the personal effects of a deceased relative retired from law enforcement. They were ugly by comparison, recoil was stiffer and cleanup was dirtier.
To my knowledge we never issued tracer for aircrews. Might have happened. Better was the pen launcher for small flares. They were issued.
As a kid I raised a question about a injured airman firing his revolver in the air in a 1953 movie on the late show (wondering what good that would do in a high wind) and got an answer that during World War II .38 Spl tracers were issued as signalling devices. Later found a source: Edwards Brown Jr., "DCM Shopper's Guide", The American Rifleman, Apr 1946, p. 18.
Then other sources claimed .38 tracer rounds were included in aircrew survival vest kits about 1960, 1961, described as re-issue, so by 1961 not standard issue, limited times, limited theaters of operation is my guess.
I have no doubt that standard issue of proper pen gun flare launchers made the use of .38 tracers, well, useless in comparison and made the .38 tracer obsolete for signalling purposes.
They are described as a collectible item with painted tips indicating color.