Suez stripes on helicopters?

[Harold K]

I've been reading about HUP-2s serving with the French Aeronavale during Operation Mousquetaire. But I've not seen a photo or any mention of their being marked with yellow and black bands, as most fixed-wing a/c were.
For example, the F4U-7s operating from the carriers which had a few HUPs on board wore those colorful markings.
Anyone seen a photo or any other evidence that the helicopters wore the stripes as well?

[Pilot]

As I know yellow was not used at all. It might to be that this stripes are made from desert camouflage colors and I have also read memory of one paratrooper who also claim that on wings on his cargo plane was desert stone stripes. In genereal there have to be yellow-black stripes but there is much exception with only desert stone stripes used. But as war proress it is not possible to say what kind of changes made.

In some days will be out book about Hnter and there will be profile of Hunter with this desert stone stripes.

Cheers

[Steve49]

From various photos in the 'Crises do happen' it's clear that the British helicopters of 845 NAS and the Joint Helicopter Unit didn't apply any stripes.

Regards

Steve

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Details from "Wings over Suez"
French Aircraft Carriers were Arromanches and La Fayette.
Each carried TWOPiasecki HUP-2 Pedro's from 23S.
Dixmude was on return from the USA carrying Helicopters for Algeria. It was not until 7th November that SIX Bell 47G helicopters of GH3 were made available for service.
As the HUP-2's and later the Bell 47G's were not used in the Carrier Strike Force but were for Plane Guard and SAR duties. Maybe this is why they did not wear the "Invasion Stripes".
Photo of a 23S HUP-2 is on page 258.
On page 373 JHU Sycamore HR14's and Whirlwinds HAR3's together with 845's Whirlwind HAS22's are all listed with a/c serials and number/Letter.

All the best
Alex

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

Alex is absolutely correct here. The four HUP-2 were coded
23S-1, 23S-4, 23S-7 and 23S-8 and none carried any invasion stripes.
Yellow and black stripes were for the Corsairs and TBM's. One Lockheed PV-2 is said to have carried white and black stripes, but I have not seen any photo of that....

Cheers
Stig