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Re: Me 262 B-1a/U1 ‘Red 8’
I had some correspondence with Captain R.R. Belling (SAAF Retired) who had a chance to inspect the aircraft in question after it arrived in South Africa in the late 40's, and before it had been repainted. His recollection was that it was in RLM 76, oversprayed with RLM 02. His explanation for claiming an overspray, as opposed to a new and different color, was that the coverage was not even, so that the RLM 76 base coat was more evident in some areas, while the 02 aplication appeared heavier in spots. He actually advised the SANMMH when the aircraft was repainted to its current appearance, and while he said it wasn't 100% right, he said they managed to get it pretty close to what he remembered of the original finish.
Now, this was one man's remembrance of a brief encounter 40+ years earlier in a dark hangar. On the other hand, he had devoted himself to a study of aircraft camouflage, and even published a book or two on the subject, as I recall. Take it with a grain of salt.
Paul
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