Re: USS Ranger air wing camo scheme during and prior to Op. Leader, September/October 1943
 

Chris. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the patchy appearance. Spec. SR-2c (Feb. 1 1943) laid out instructions for the new Basic Design, the mixes were only approximate. The scheme could be either a shading of the Sea Blue into white below, or Sea Blue shaded into Intermediate Blue into white.
Non-Specular Sea Blue could be a mix of Blue Gray, Insignia White and Black, or Dark Blue, Insignia Blue and Black. For Intermediate Blue, Blue Gray, Insignia White, Dark Blue and Insignia Blue.

A Directive ( A-N Spec. AN-1-9) March 1 1943 confirmed the above ie. a mixing of existing colours to use up stocks. This probably explains the variations in tones.
Nick