Elimination of Camouflage on Undersides of FW190 & Bf109, Summer 1944

[INM@RLM]

A bit more of the jigsaw has surfaced.

Michael Ullmann in his Luftwaffe Colours (Hikoki Revised 2008) presented across pages 258 to 261 the correspondence with FoWu regarding trialing leaving unpainted the undersides of 50 FW190s from Sorau.

The BA-MA has now digitized RL16-5-22 - Technische Mitteilungen and hidden within that morass are these two items which now provide the full context and background to the correspondence that Ullmann found, as well as evidencing the specific instruction that was issued by he Gen der TT after completion of these trials.

First, this from Heft 20 of the 1944 Technische Mitteilungen issued by the General der Truppentechnik on 14-Jul-44:

FW 190 und Bf 109 - Fortfall der Tarnanstrichtes an der Flugzeug-Unterseite

Es ist beabsichtigt, den Tarnanstrich an der Rumpfunterseite von Flugzeugen in Zukunft fortfallen zu lassen. Zwecks Sammlung von Erfahrungen werden je 50 Bf 109 - und 50 FW 190-Flugzeuge in diesem Zustand geliefert. Beanstandungen, die auf diese Maßnahme zurückzuführen sind, sind sofort zu melden. Nach 25 Betriebsstunden bzw. bei Ausfall in jedem Fall ein kurzer Bericht über das Verhalten der Flugzeuge an Gen.TT, Abt. G, I B abzugeben.
Gen.TT, Abt. G - I B 44 20 033 (=item 33 from Heft 20 of 1944)

FW 190 and Bf 109 - Elimination of camouflage paint on the underside of aircraft

It is intended to eliminate the camouflage paint on the underside of aircraft fuselages in the future. To gather experience, 50 Bf 109 and 50 FW 190 aircraft will be delivered in this condition. Complaints attributable to this measure must be reported immediately. After 25 hours of operation, or in the event of a failure, a brief report on the aircraft's behavior must be submitted to General TT, Dept. G, IB.
General TT, Dept. G - IB 44 20 033

That is followed in Heft 25 issued 28-Aug-44 by this:

Fortfall der Tarnanstrichtes an der Flugzeug-Unterseite

Im Nachgang zur TMGTT Ziffer 44 20 033 wird mitgeteilt, daß der Tarnanstrich an der Flugzeug-Unterseite am sämtliche Jagd- und Schlachtflugzeugen ab sofort entfällt. Über der Verhalten deser Flugzeuge, insbesondere über Beanstandungen, die auf diese Maßnahme zurückzuführen sind, ist zu berichten.
Gen.TT, Abt. G-1 B 44 25 021

Elimination of camouflage paint on the underside of aircraft

Following TMGTT item 44 20 033, it is announced that the camouflage paint on the underside of all fighter and attack aircraft is being eliminated with immediate effect. Reports will be sent on the performance of these aircraft, particularly on any complaints attributable to this measure.
Gen.TT, Dept. G-1 B 44 25 021

Note that it is only the undersides of the fuselage that were to be left unpainted in the trials of 50 each, but the subsequent general instruction is that all undersurfaces of at least all FW190s & Bf109s should now be left unpainted.

In the BA-MA download the images are respectively:
RL_16_5_22_0178
and
RL_16_5_22_0064

[Milos Gazdic]

Fascinating info!
It would be interesting to know which parts of the fuselage are to be left unpainted and how this translates into the actual application of the camouflage if this was really ever implemented. I don't remember seeing any machines with a fully unpainted undersurface.