"Deceptive" camouflage US Navy

[Buckeye30]

In early 1945 with the reducing threat from subs and surface ships and the increase in air attacks (primarily Kamikaze) the "Dazzle" schemes 31/32/33 were discontinued and a BuShips Washington instruction on 26 Feb. ( C-S19-7-631) specified Measures better suited to reduced visibility from the air. These were darker blues and grays, a good match for the upper surface camouflage on deck-spotted aircraft ( Semi-Gloss Sea Blue and Sea Blue Gloss).

For carriers these were Measures 12 and 21 (22 on destroyers and cruisers) assigned as per the Feb.26 Order.......
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Shi...5_S19_631.html

For some reason "Lexington" CV16 was never assigned a Dazzle scheme and remained in her Measure 21 to mid-1945 when she adopted MS 12. At about the same time that carrier camouflage was changed a Technical Letter ( 06040) assigned geometric tail and wing symbols to identify Air Groups aboard CVs, CVLs and CVEs replacing the 1943--44 designs.

Nick

[Chris Goss]

Geoff Sinclair has asked me to post this:


https://phys.org/news/2025-03-reveal...world-war.html