Streib's He 219 color scheme

[joachim doerr]

For all the photos of the crash, there appears to be no mottling on the upper surfaces, just overall 76. I've been away from the subject for a while. I was wondering what the current belief is on this subject. Thank you.

[David E. Brown]

Hello Joachim,

As is well known via photographs, the V-1 aircraft, "VG+LW", was completed in late October 1942 and wore an overall coat of Black 22 as per other nightfighters of this period (Ju 88 Cs and Bf 110 Es). It retained this scheme into early 1943 as documented by photos (Remp, p. 46) but the engine nacelles, spinners, nose and tail planes are now painted in 76. It appears though to soon have had a further application of 76, this time over its 22 uppersurfaces and fuselage underside as seen on the photos on page 29 (Remp).

An undated photo of the V5 "GE+FN" (also in Remp, p.56) shows it wearing an all black scheme. The photo could have been taken no earlier than late February 1943 since the V5 was not completed and flight tested by then.

The photos of Streib's V9 after its crash on 12 June 1943 don't show that much as they were included in the crash report and appear to have been re-touched. However, there is another photo of the aircraft that shows its side and uppersurfaces that appears on page 183 of the old Profile No.219 on the He 219. This image does not appear to have been retouched and did not appear in the accident report. The "G9+FB" code is clearly visible in addition to a simplified black fuselage balkenkreuz and black outlined hakenkreuz. The camouflage scheme appears to be overall 76 but a closer look reveals subtle dark smudges here and there on the fuselage and tail planes.

Therefore, my interpretation for the V9 camouflage is that there was an overall application of 76 over the original black 22 but on the uppersurfaces bits of the black are (deliberately?) visible in a slightly clouded pattern. I think that this was an accidental transitional scheme evolving towards the 75/76 style. Newer aircraft being completed in the spring of 1943 would have worn the overall 76 with a mottling of 75 applied.

As an aside, it is not until September 1943 that the official He 219 camouflage scheme was promulgated. The Oberflächenschutzlitse He 219 of that date indicates an overall application of Fl.L.7121.75 and Fl.L.7121.76. The accompanying colour "Zweifarben-Sichtschuz" drawing notes "Farbton 75" and "Farbton 76" confirms this, and shows the typical mottled scheme and pattern.

Anyway, just my thoughts on this most interesting kite.

Cheers,

David