Malta's Hurricanes camo scheme (1941)

[VoyTech]

I believe the scheme of early 1941 was Sky underneath with just the port wing black, unlike the pre-war scheme which called for half white/half black, divided along the centreline.
AFAIK Sky Blue is just a hypothesis of some researchers, not confirmed by any RAF documents, which used the names of Sky or Duck Egg Blue (Duck Egg Green?).

[Graham Boak]

I presume you doubt the use of Sky Blue in the Mediterranean, rather than its existence. Evidence for the latter can be found in many places, not least on relics from the BoB – though there were no Air Ministry Orders covering its use. It has been recorded on the undersides of aircraft delivered to Australia (Pentland), described on Spitfires destined for the Mediterranean (Barbic), and recorded (by noted artist Ron Belling) on the undersides of earlier aircraft in South Africa. No AMOs cover those, either. I’m afraid that the AMOs do not provide a fully comprehensive description of camouflage on overseas aircraft. (Or, arguably, home-based ones either.)

It appears to be accepted that ME Command rejected the use of Sky as too light – presumably they first saw it on Blenheims. This particular despatch has not been published, to my knowledge, but many sources (e.g. Huntley) either refer to it or act as if it existed. Actual documentation on any particular colour on ME undersides appears to be thin, at best. So Sky can be ruled out, or at least discounted. Given that a light blue colour is mentioned, what could it be if not Sky Blue? It may have been the very similar Azure Blue, although I think that the date of introduction of this colour would rule it out for at least the 1940 deliveries. Even so, this is but another hypothesis, with perhaps even less in its favour. If not Sky Blue, then what?

There has been considerable confusion over the various underside options. Sky Blue (1930), Sky Blue (RAE), Sky, Azure (another 1930 colour), Azure Blue, Light Mediterranean Blue, duck egg blue, duck egg green, etc. Until recent research proved otherwise, anecdotal evidence for other colours than Sky in the Battle of Britain was regularly dismissed. It was Sky or, well, Sky. That Sky Blue was widely used on undersurfaces of RAF aircraft in tropical areas is only a suggestion (or, if you like, a hypothesis). It cannot be otherwise, given the level of evidence. Occam’s Razor suggests we adopt the simplest solution that best describes the situation: to my mind this means Sky Blue. This does not mean that every, or even any particular, Hurricane on Malta had this colour. It does suggest that Sky Blue is the likeliest colour, at least for the later 1940 deliveries.

We do need more, and harder, evidence. Or at least CJE does.

[VoyTech]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

I presume you doubt the use of Sky Blue in the Mediterranean, rather than its existence.

Exactly

Evidence for the latter can be found in many places, not least on relics from the BoB – though there were no Air Ministry Orders covering its use. It has been recorded on the undersides of aircraft delivered to Australia (Pentland), described on Spitfires destined for the Mediterranean (Barbic), and recorded (by noted artist Ron Belling) on the undersides of earlier aircraft in South Africa.

I hope you will not mind if I point it out that you have listed three different categories of arguments: 'relics' (very strong argument, but refers to BoB so has little to do with Malta), 'recorded' (whatever that means; refers to Australia and South Africa), and merely 'described' when it refers to the topic we discuss here.

It appears to be accepted that ME Command rejected the use of Sky as too light – presumably they first saw it on Blenheims.

I find it a bit amusing that those authors/researchers who say: "ME Command rejected the use of Sky as too light, so another colour must have been introduced soon" usually also claim that "although Malta Command rejected the use of Desert Scheme as unsuited on the island, fighters continued to be delivered and used in this scheme for many months". Isn't it a case of dual standards, so to speak?

Given that a light blue colour is mentioned, what could it be if not Sky Blue? It may have been the very similar Azure Blue, although I think that the date of introduction of this colour would rule it out for at least the 1940 deliveries. Even so, this is but another hypothesis, with perhaps even less in its favour.

Much more in its favour, because Azure blue was eventually introduced in AMOs as one of the prescribed undersurface colurs, while Sky Blue was not.

Occam’s Razor suggests we adopt the simplest solution that best describes the situation: to my mind this means Sky Blue.

Well, I think it suggests the reverse: we should accept Azure, which eventually made it into official regulations, rather than Sky Blue which didn't.

[Graham Boak]

Given that there is proof that Sky Blue was used on RAF aircraft, you can't declare that it wasn't on the grounds of a lack in an AMO, and therefore rule it out where other evidence suggest its presence. As it is recorded as being used in South Africa, use elsewhere overseas is a reasonable assumption.

I don't know who "these researchers" are, nor of any evidence that Malta declared Desert Scheme as undesirable on their Hurricanes, although I can well understand it. The statement that is normally referred to was made after the arrival of the Spitfire, and only one later delivery can be seen to be affected by this. It has been suggested, on what grounds I know not, that Malta was not governed by rules made by ME Command, but Temperate Land Hurricanes were delivered into the ME apart from their use on Malta.

I was merely avoiding excessive repetition: however for "recorded" you may go to the appropriate book and see for yourself. Kookaburra's booklet on RAAF Spitifres in one case, and Ron Bellings collection of paintings of South African subjects for the other. For "described": the Vasco Barbic comment came from unpublished correspondence.

[CJE]

Gentlemen,
I read your posts with considerable attention, though I can hardly make my mind up.
Now, one more question: what colour should the spinner be?

Thanks.

Chris

[VoyTech]

Chris, I cannot comment on the spinner colour of Malta Hurricanes. Desole.

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

Given that there is proof that Sky Blue was used on RAF aircraft, you can't declare that it wasn't on the grounds of a lack in an AMO

Indeed, there is proof that Sky Blue was used on RAF aircraft around mid-1940 in Britain. The most authoritative and in-depth publication on the subject: SAM Camouflage & Markings No. 2 "The Battle for Britain - RAF May to December 1940" by Paul Lucas explains that lack of stocks of the correct Sky paint and unclear wording of the regulations that introduced the new paint led to variations in the actual colour used. It lists Eau-de-Nil, Sky Blue, and Sky Grey as substitute colours used during the transition period in place of the temporarily unavailable Sky proper. It also says that "The correct shade of Sky [...] by November/December 1940 was becoming well established". By 1941 there was no shortage of Sky proper, and the actual hue of Sky was no longer unknown or subject to confusion, so I see no connection between the BoB period relics and the Malta related discussion here.

you may go to the appropriate book and see for yourself.

I did. Geoffrey Pentland, Frank Smith, Peter Malone and Gary Byk in their publications about RAAF camouflage colours make it pretty clear that Sky Blue was a standard RAAF colour used when painting aircraft in Australia, just like Foliage Green (instead of RAF's Dark Green) or Earth Brown (instead of RAF's Dark Earth). Again, I see no connection between RAAF-specified colours of 1942 onwards and this Malta-related discussion.

Ron Bellings collection of paintings of South African subjects

I am ashamed to say that I do not know the collection of Ron Belling's paintings, so cannot comment on these.

the Vasco Barbic comment came from unpublished correspondence.

Again, I cannot comment on comments in unpublished correspondence.

I don't know any evidence that Malta declared Desert Scheme as undesirable on their Hurricanes, although I can well understand it. The statement that is normally referred to was made after the arrival of the Spitfire, and only one later delivery can be seen to be affected by this.

This opinion of yours is exactly what I meant. Earlier in this thread you seemed adamant that once "ME Command rejected the use of Sky as too light" Sky must have been dropped and another colour substituted for good. But you also think that when Malta Command rejected the use of Desert Scheme on Spitfires "only one later delivery was affected by this". If you do believe that Malta Command's request to discontinue delivering Spitfires in Desert Scheme was ignored and the scheme continued to be applied to aircraft for later deliveries then what makes you so sure that ME Command's request to discontinue delivering aircraft with Sky undersurfaces was not ignored just as well?

I think the current knowledge of undersurface colours used in the Med can be summed up as follows:
1) aircraft with Sky undersurfaces were certainly used in the theatre,
2) aircraft with Azure undersurfaces were certainly used in the theatre,
3) it is possible that aircraft with Sky Blue undersurfaces may have been used there, but positive proof is lacking.
I still can't see what makes you so certain that Sky Blue was the most probable undersurface colour of Malta Hurricanes.

[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.

[VoyTech]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

I know of no direct evidence that Sky was used in the theatre, in 1940/1, although I would not exclude it.

In one of your previous posts you seemed to agree that ME Command rejected Sky as being too light. I think this implies that aircraft with Sky undersurfaces must have been delivered to the theatre, otherwise how would they know that the colour was too light? Sky was only just introduced on undersurfaces of RAF aircraft in mid-1940, and did not become standard until late 1940, so there seems little doubt that aircraft with Sky undersurfaces were delivered to the Med in 1940/1.

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.

Please, do not tell me what I "actually mean". AMO A.664/42 issued 2.7.42 specified "azure" as standard undersurface colour for three categories of aircraft (including 'Day fighters, abroad'). The term "Azure Blue" was not used.

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.

Consistency suggests that one should look at the entire document rather than just a part of it. AMO A.664/42 specified the 'Undersurfaces colouring' (column 3) for both Section 1 (iii) 'Day bombers, abroad' and Section 2 (iii) 'Day fighters, abroad' as "Sky or azure". The word "blue" was not used. Subsequently A.664 was amended by A.1377 of 24.12.42 which required for Section 2 (iii), column 3: "Delete existing detail and substitute ''Sky, azure or light Mediterranean blue.''" To me this meant simply adding 'Light Mediterranean blue' to the list of undersurface colours for day fighters used abroad, without affecting the two colours that had been authorised previously. If, as you believe, this amendement meant adding 'blue' to those colour names (changing 'Sky' into 'Sky blue' and 'azure' into 'azure blue') then why, in your opinion, was 'blue' not added in a similar manner to the names of "Sky and azure" authorised for bombers?

Re RAAF Spitfires: 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.

I presume you mean 'Spitfire Markings of the RAAF' Part 1 by Frank Smith & Geoffrey Pentland, published by Kookaburra in 1970. On p. 1 it says: "These machines, tropicalised Mk Vcs, bore the British desert scheme of dark earth and middle stone with azure blue undersurfaces". On p. 2 it refers to "aircraft which arrived in the normal RAF day fighter scheme of dark earth, dark green and sky or sky blue". The text clearly links the alleged sky blue undersurfaces with dark earth/dark green upper surface camouflage. I thought you did not believe any Spitfires were despatched to ME/Malta in such upper surface colour scheme?
More importantly, Geoffrey Pentland's research into Spitfire colours did not end there. Ten years later he has published his fundamental volume 'RAAF Camouflage & Markings' 1939-1945 Vol. 1, also by Kookaburra. On p. 137 he wrote: "The first RAAF Spitfires, received in late 1942, were found to be in an unsuitable desert scheme of dark earth, middle stone and azure blue. (Some also arrived in dark earth and dark green, but the lower surface color or colors are unknown.)" In a case like this, where the same author has published two different intepretations of the same matter, I would rather go for the later one. I feel it is significant that after ten more years of research he no longer felt it right to name 'Sky blue' as one of the undersurface colours applied on Spitfires by the RAF.