Savoia Marchetti S.79 wearing strange Luftwaffe Markings/Camouflage

[Clint Mitchell]

Hi all

Below are 2 images of a Savoia Marchetti S.79 "SPARVIERO" in Luftwaffe markings. There is some speculation as to whether the undersides were painted yellow or not. Has anyone got anymore evidence or views regarding the yellow undersides?

There is a discussion on the matter that I found on LEMB: Here (Starts half way down page!)

I just wondered if any of you guys have any ideas?

Photo taken from: Il Ricco Bottino (The Rich Booty) by Hans Werner Neulen
Profile from: Ali D'Italia nr. 11 'SIAI S.79'

Thanks in advance. Here are the images:

[Modeldad]

Yellow seems so wrong. Yellow was used on the underside of captured Allied aircraft when flown by the LW. The SM 79 was in a "hostile' aircraft. It was used by the ANR in a combat role.

[Clint Mitchell]

Another 2 Profiles of CQ+HO showing yellow undersides. Seems strange how all 3 artists have presumed yellow undersides. Second one reads "Savoia Marchetti SM79 operated by Luftwaffe as a transport after the Italian Armistice of 1943"?

[newcomer]

The camouflage is totaly wrong. It was ex-yugoslav machine (tactical number 'white 33' and ex MM 22407) landed from Mostar to Zemun airfield in 11th April 1941. Next day, early afternoon Zemun airport captured by local volksdeutschers who passed it to Luftwaffe units. After repair (maybe in Ikarus factory), and repainting original Italian camouflage, that airplane got Yugoslav camouflage: dark green and dark earth on upper and light blue-gray on under side. On 24th April 1941 that SM-79 transferred to Luftflotte IV, some months later came from Wien to Agram (Zagreb) and introduced in Croatian AF inventory under serial number 0701. Next year, it shoot down by partisans in Bihac area and crew captured.

Upper summary I read from article wrote by mr Ognjan Petrovic in Vesnik (Herald) published by Military Museum in Belgrade this year about the planes of Italian origin in Royal Yugoslav Air Force (Vazduhoplovstvo Vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije - official name) in 1937-1941.

Kind regards

Newcomer

[Clint Mitchell]

Thank you very much Newcomber for your interesting post. So the upper areas on the elevators and rudder were also light blue grey?

Thanks again

Clint

[newcomer]

No. The rudder and horizontal tail control surfaces are yellow.

Kind regards

Newcomer

[Clint Mitchell]

Sorry to be a pain Newcomer what about the Engine Nacelles?

When you say "Dark Earth, Dark Green & Light Blue Grey" are you meaning that these are specific colours used by the VVKJ or do you mean they are imported RAF or imported German paints? During this period the VVKJ were only using imported colours from Britain & Germany. So when the aircraft was repainted from Italian to current camouflage after being passed to luftwaffe units what colours were used? RLM? RAF?

Thanks for you time

Clint

[Pilot]

I have chance to talk with sergeant who has engaged in painting of this machines and he claim two color on top side, brown and green. But some image definitely show third color. Interesting to note that during the conversation with another Yugoslav pilot of SM. 79, he said that there is no other camouflaged used but Italian mottle.

I know this image for long time but I could not guess that it is interesting.

Cheers

[Clint Mitchell]

Thankyou Srecko

Interesting post. Would you have an opinion on what brown and green paint? RLM or RAF?

Thanks again

Clint

[Pilot]

No info exactly that they are nitro and semi gloss. It could be British type but no proof for this.