Regarding the colours schemes this is the Signal from HQ Malta to the Air Ministry on April 7 asking for "sea camouflage" to be applied before the first delivery on USS WASP (Operation CALENDAR); and reply next day from the Director of War Organisation to Chief of Air Staff.
Apparently not complied with as the Spitfires loaded for the first delivery from Glasgow were still in Desert, then re-painted on board; second delivery (Operation BOWERY) on WASP remained in Desert.
Abbotsinch (Glasgow) was an aircraft storage facility (41 Group). "DOO" = Director of Ops (Overseas).
Nick
malta-signal by
Nicholas King, on Flickr