Re: 805 Sqdn Wildcats in the desert - Color?
Hi Paul & Graham,
Am I correct in that for "Wildcat" you mean "Martlet"?
For reference to colours used there is Scale Aircraft Modelling Volume 6 number 8 , article on American Aircraft in the FAA.
This gives profiles and colour descriptions of four .
BJ561 of 804 Sqdn 1941.
3876 of RNFU N. Africa 1941 (ex-Greek)
AX736 of 805 Sqdn 1941-42
AM978 of 888 Sqdn HMS Formidable Madagascar , May 1942.
From FAA Aircraft 39-45 by Sturtivant & Burrow (Air Britain)
30 F4F-3A Martlet III with Bu nos 3875 - 3904 ordered by Greek Purchasing Commision and delivered reached Port Suez in April of 41 and were diverted to the FAA.
It looks as though these a/c wore the Bu number as a serial number under the words "Royal Navy" and were in a "non-specular light grey overall colour with black codes , type A1 roundels on fuselage while upper wings carried type B, under wings type A, prop hub in natural metal.
Later on some of 805's a/c in the AX serial range were marked as "Upper surfaces mid stone lower surfaces azure blue serials etc were black and roundels were A1, B and A .
Hope this is a help.
Alex
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