Malta's Hurricanes camo scheme (1941)

[Graham Boak]

I simply reverse the bias in your comments 1 and 3. I know of no direct evidence that Sky was used in the theatre, in 1940/1, although I would not exclude it. There are several references to a light blue, which would be very early for Azure Blue. However, I would not rule out confusion between the known prewar Sky Blue and the new Azure Blue, as the two colours are quite close.

Please do not use the term Azure: this is a different, earlier, colour, which may well have been used in the ME but where you actually mean Azure Blue. I find it interesting that you suggest that the phrase "Sky, Azure and Mediterranean Light Blue" in the AMO cannot mean Sky Blue but does mean Azure Blue. Consistency suggests otherwise. Whether we can expect the AMOs to be always consistent and unambiguous is perhaps relevant.

Re RAAF Spitfires: I was not referring to RAAF Sky Blue, which would indeed be irrelevant. I was referring to Pentland's comment in the Kookaburra Spitfire Mk.V booklet, that Spitfires were received in a number of colours including Sky Blue. As the early deliveries to Australia include aircraft diverted from the ME/Malta, the relevance seems apparent.

Feel free to exclude any comment in correspondence that you are not privy to, but do not expect me to ignore statements that I know have come from a normally reliable source.