camouflage question

[Nicholas]

Perhaps of some interest to the discussion are the recollections about P-40 colour schemes of Colonels Sluder & Baseler of the 325th Gp, albeit concerned with the North African campaign.

Col Sluder remembered that "In Africa we had a mixture of P-40 schemes, I believe most were OD but we had some that were beige and sand, sand and OD, and I seem to recall that my number 52 was beige and OD." Col Baseler recalled that some P-40's were painted in two shades of green. I assume that Col Sluder meant the "dark earth" colour when referring to "beige" and it suggests the sandy caste of the DuPont paint in use.

A well-known colour photograph of P-40s awaiting testing and collection at Asmara field in Eritrea show a mixture of P-40s in what appears to be overall OD (or perhaps Medium Green) and the "desert scheme" of Dark Earth and Sand. The ratio in the line-up is 7/3 respectively. The "dark earth" part of the desert scheme aircraft looks lighter in comparison to RAF Dark Earth.

The Technical Sub-Committe On Camouflage which met on March 5 1942 recorded that the British representative:

"stated that 70% of the British camouflage schemes used a "Dark Green", which was very similar to the Army dark olive drab, thus they could accept this in lieu of the Dark Green throughout the camouflage programs. For ship based aircraft the British stated that the US Navy colours would be acceptable." (my italics)

Another detail often overlooked is the revision to Spec.24114 and TO 07-1-1 made on May 8 1942 that permitted the use of Medium Green 42 as an overall upper surface colour instead of Dark Olive Drab: "when the aircraft operate over terrain so predominantly green that the darker shade proves to be unsatisfactory." This official provision seems to have been lost on many modellers and artists and of course the difference would be most difficult to discern from b/w photographs.

The colour photograph of P-40E '55' "Smiley" parked at Strauss field, Darwin in 1942 suggests it may be painted with overall Medium Green 42 uppersurfaces.

But one remaining puzzle is why the British preferred Dark Olive Drab to Medium Green 42 as a substitute for Dark Green? The decision may say something about the true nature of these colours now lost to us or may just reflect ignorance on the part of the representative responsible.