[Charles Bavarois]

Hello Marc,

the color 78 is a hypothesis based on color fotos taken at the same time and now in the possession of the Stiftung Preussischer Staatsbesitz. I have no other docmented proof for this color. Rasmussen may have some information on the amount of paint available at Erla storages.

Please have a look at the attached foto (source: online-catalogue of Preussischer Kulturbesitz). It shows a Bf 109 from the 33.0xx Werknummernblock with the fuselage in a rich blue color. The hue of the blue ist quite different to even fresh Farbton 65 and not as pale as Farbton 76. Also interesting is the sand-colored filler to the taiplane fin.

I don't think, that the aircraft were delivered to Luftwaffe showing this color. In fall 1943 Bf 109s at Erla Leipzig obviously left the final-assembly line with semi-finished paintwork and after that were taken to the paint-shop. Please have a look at the foto on page 118 of Jochen Priens "Bf 109 F, G & K Series" showing such an aircraft prior to applying a neat full 74/75/76 camoflage scheme. This is quite different to the situation later in 1944/45, when already pepainted subassemblies were attached to the airframe without much care for blening the diffent colors.

HTH

Carl