12 Squadron - Colour scheme 1941~42

[Rick47]

Another question on Wellington W5395.
I'm making a model and although I have the camouflage scheme colours OK I'm having problems with the squadron lettering. PH- appears to be light grey for airframes in this W---- series of numbers but I can't find anything that confirms this other than this illustration http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark012B.htm . Anyone out there able to help with this and the placement of the number W5395 - not shown on the illustration but possibly in line with the tail plane.
Thanks in advance.

Rick

[Larry]

I seem to remember that codes changed to red in May 1942, so you should be OK with grey codes

[Rick47]

Thanks Larry - now all I need is someone with a very steady hand to paint the nice even wavy line between upper and lower camouflage on the Wellington! :-)

Rick

[Buckeye30]

Rick the code letter and serial colour was ordered changed from Medium Sea Grey to "Dull Red" on April 30 1942 for all operational aircraft except Fighter and Coastal Command and confirmed in AMO A.664/42 July 2 1942; applied to night bombers at home and also abroad. Serials in line with tail plane.
Regards
Nick

[Rick47]

Thanks Nick - particularly with the serials as most old photos just aren't clear enough to be definitive. Looks like the only thing I probably won't be able to get is the actual aircraft code letter :-(

Rick

[Buckeye30]

Rick I wouldn't be too fussy about the neat colour division, they didn't use masks for this; there are several variations even in a squadron. Note that where the plane had the triangular beam window on the RIGHT side the cocarde and squadron codes were behind it so the serial was usually re-located above the tailplane. As always with markings there were no doubt exceptions.
Don't know your letter but W4366 was a Mk.II PH--R.
Nick

[Larry]

This might help - a 12 Sqn Aircraft shot down in Holland on 20th Jan 1942

[Larry]

And this shot of W5379 - which later served with 12 Sqn

[Rick47]

Thanks - this has all been a great help.

Rick

[Buckeye30]

Rick you can see on Larry's first photos what I meant about the RIGHT side serial being moved up and aft when the other markings had to be grouped at the fuselage rear.
Nick