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Old 9th January 2011, 13:11
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Re: Brewster Buffalo on Crete

Rick what bothers me is the appearance of the 2 wrecked Buffalos on Crete ( there's a photo of a second, AS419 overturned in the Osprey book on Royal Navy aces). The very low contrast between the top colours would suggest the FAA scheme of Dark Slate Grey-Extra Dark Sea Grey which often looks like a single colour as opposed to the Dark Green-Dark Earth where the divisions are visible.
But I can't imagine why they would be re-painted in the Sea Scheme when they were land-based in Egypt and then on Crete; apart from the time required to do so bearing in mind the urgency of the situation in the Med. in early 1941. I think it's more a case of weathering and dust hiding the 2 colours; it's unlikely that a colour photo will ever turn up.
FAA codes were normally in white on the Sea Scheme as black didn't show up well but this has a black one which contrasts with the background ( green-brown ?)
If you want a Crete Buffalo model I think you need to make a few assumptions; a Fulmar or Sea Gladiator (or even a Hurricane) would be more definite.
Nick
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