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Re: Blue or Blue-Gray Camouflage on Bf 109E
The main reason for discounting 74/75 is that these colours are not known (add emphasis here perhaps?) to have been in existence before 1941. Given the references to blues and various greys, it does seem more likely that 74/75 evolved from experimental hues, rather than being continually (and varyingly) misreported. On the other hand, ruling them out completely may be going too far, given that a 109 in dark grey was reported shot down in Belgium in May 1940.
I do feel, and Ken Merrick posted something similar on one site, that any greenness in 74 has been grossly exaggerated. (Particularly in those *** In Action specials, with Luftwaffe fighters in RAF Day Fighter scheme!) I don't think that the title of the colour would prevent it appearing blue on period colour film taken under a clear sky, though whether it would look blue to an RAF Intelligence officer is clearly another matter.
It has been suggested, rather desperately perhaps, that French paint stocks were used. Well, there was a rather natty blue-grey, was there not?
My conclusion, for what it is worth, is that these 109s were not painted in 74/75, but in colours remarkably like them. Maybe a little bit bluer.
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