RAF Fighter Camouflage Change

[Jim Oxley]

Around mid 1941 the standard camouflage scheme for fighters changed from earth/green to grey/green.

Was that because the RAF were now regularly penetrating Europe in Sweeps etc, and so the grey/green was more effective over water? If so I find that strange, as while grey/green would be effective over water, it would (I thought) have been less effective over land.

Did the 1940/1941 Luftwaffe colour schemes (which, while varied, were on the whole grey/green) affect the RAF decision? Were they considered more effective?

And was the decision a consultative decision ie including front line pilots? Or did some mandarin in Whitehall come up with it?

[Franek Grabowski]

https://armahobbynews.pl/en/blog/202...ouflages-1941/

[Buckeye30]

Hi Franek. This is the order from the M.A.P. to R.A.E on Aug. 11 1941 to change to a "Mixed Grey" replacing Dark Earth (but note reference to "Ocean Grey" before it was officially adopted); a memo from HQ Fighter Command to HQ Maintenance Cmd. dated 21 Aug. confirmed it for Day Fighters.
Air Diagrams affected were AD.s 1159 and 1160. Actually there was memo from HQ Royal Observer Corps to Observer Groups on the 8th. noting Sea Grey Medium undersides to replace Duck Egg Blue.


Regards
Nick




camouflage-change by Nicholas King, on Flickr

[Jim Oxley]

Fantastic link Franek, thanks for posting it. Fascinating article by Grzegorz Cieliszak.

"The reason for the decision to develop a new paint scheme was the observation that the Temperate Land Scheme used on British fighters worked effectively at low altitudes and against the backdrop of the ground, but was far too dark above 10,000 feet. At the same time, it was noted that the grey-painted Bf 109s were more difficult to spot at higher altitudes and when flying over the sea."


Answers my questions beautifully.

A second question if I may.

Are there any records existing of the Luftwaffe's view as to the effectiveness of the British Day Fighter Scheme?

And, given that the British recognised that a brown/green camouflage was ineffective at altitude, why on earth did the USAAF in 1942/3 paint all their aircraft (fighters and bombers) a drab olive green? Didn't they feed off RAF experience?

[Buckeye30]

Jim your last query.
Following many tests by 23CG at Maxwell from Aug. 1 1940 ( Report 5-39-2) the Air Corps concluded that the best camouflage "under all conditions " was Olive Drab & Neutral Grey; the test results and recommendations were all included in Air Corps Board Study No. 42 "Shadow shading of airplanes", 27 July 1941. Permanent paints to be used rather than the pre-war water-based as listed in 1940, ie. OD41 for 31, NG43 for 32, Black 44 for 33.
They noted in the Study "that all airplanes regardless of paint color appear as silhouettes when viewed towards the sun". Also a dark green was best against a mainly green background ( Sea Green 28 later Medium Green 42).
Multi-colour schemes on US aircraft were mostly for exports to Britain though AAF Theatre Commanders had discretion.
This page is from Study 42 after 23CG tests in the field involving P-36, B-12, B-18, B-10, PB-2 and 2 School Sqns. Flight testing from August 39, from July 41 designated as Air Corps Proving Ground Det.".
Nick


report5-39-2 by Nicholas King, on Flickr

[edwest2]

Excellent Nick. It needs to be pointed out that all colors were subject to lighting conditions. From a distance, all aircraft are dark silhouettes and moving at speed. I have read about an Allied gun crew allowing enemy aircraft to pass while later firing on a group of friendly aircraft.

It appears camouflage was most effective when concealing aircraft on the ground and in dogfights where one pilot could dive toward the ground and be lost to his pursuer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/35786003693...3ABFBMgtrylNhm

[Jim Oxley]

Very interesting post Buckeye, many thanks. Looks like each nation has their own preference, and never the twain shall meet.

[Buckeye30]

Neutral Grey would seem odd for undersides being quite dark but at higher altitudes only had a 12% reflectivity (Sky / Sky Type "S" was 43% and White was 75%).
The Air Corps being very though on this subject ran tests in Dec. 39 for "Sky camouflage"; colours tested were Black, Neutral Grey, Light Grey, Dark Blue, Light Blue, White, Light Blue-White pattern and Alclad. Least visible at 5,000ft. was Light Blue, but above 10,000ft. Neutral Grey was best result. Most visible at higher altitudes were Light Blue and White. Obviously why NG was adopted.


Nick

[Franek Grabowski]

I am afraid I have not seen anything from the German side analysing enemy's camouflage and in general, accounts from the Channel Front are scarce.
Anyway, a comment from a pal flying warbirds is that camouflage is effective indeed, regardless of what one may think. If it was not, nobody would bother.
The approach was different in various countries but most adopted various disruptive patterns which not only concealed aircraft against background but also made difficult to work out silhouete.

[edwest2]

The Germans captured a number of aircraft and flew them to test maneuverability, among other things. They were very careful in terms of evaluation.

They were also careful about building aircraft replicas and placing them on false airfields. They used supports to raise them to the correct height above the ground. So when RAF photo analysts observed shadows cast by these aircraft, they matched the shadows cast by actual aircraft.