Scale Models - View Single Post - The Scale-Models guide to aircraft markings-Part 1-Training aircraft 1941-42

Kiwi · 01-04-2005

Further to the notes about the Black/Grey(?) undersurfaces this may help.
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" On the 24th April, 1939, The Air Staff issued A.M.O, A.154/39, amended on the 27th April, 1939, by A.298/39, in which the specifications were laid down for aircraft currently in Royal Air Force service, or coming into production. The orders as applied to fighter aircraft called fot the upper surfaces to be painted in a disruptive pattern"
"on the 8th September 1939 the Directorate of Technical Development (D.T.D.) issued a memorandum 332, Issue 2 under the heading 'External Colour Schemes for Aircraft'. This showed the breakdown of the applicable camouflage pattern(s) indicated by the type of aircraft and it's role.
For single engined fighters Air Diagram A.D.1160 was applicable and it was upon this that all patterns for fighter aircraft camouflage was based.
The undersides were to be painted 'with the lower surface of the starboard plane and half the the under surface of the fuselage to be painted white. The corresponding port side is to be painted black'.
This instruction was open to mis-interpretation, and many aircraft, although the areas specified were Black and White, the undersides of the fuselage forward of a line across the fuselage level with the leading edge of the wing and aft of a line drawn across the trailing edges of the wing were painted Aluminium (silver) doped finish, as were the undersides of the tailplanes.
On fighter aircraft no national insignia were to be painted beneath the wings and those applied to the upper surfaces of the wings, and also on the sides of the fuselage, were to be Red and Blue type B roundels.
Immediately prior to the outbreak of war a telegram dated 2nd September 1939 (Ref X119), was sent to all Commands advising that (as air operations would undoubtably take place over the European Continent) all Royal Air Force machines that were to fly over France were to have Type A Red, White and Blue roundels painted beneath each wing."
"On the 6th June 1940, new orders were promulgated whereby the Black and White under surface finish on aircraft of Fighter Command was to give way to a new under surface scheme of Sky, Type S. All roundels on under surfaces were to be removed from the new scheme. This Order was to be brought into immediate effect on aircraft already in production, and those in squadron surface were to be repainted as and when time and operational requirements permitted. The aircraft for repair, etc., at Aircraft Servicing Units (ASUs) were also to be painted in the new scheme.
A further revision to the camouflage and markings fo day fighters was brought into effect on 1st August ,1940 from which time the size of the Red, White and Blue fin flash was standardised as being three 8in. wide bands of 27in. height."

01-04-2005	#15 (permalink)
Kiwi Scale Model Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Zealand Real Name: Neville Visit Kiwi's Gallery Posts: 519	Further to the notes about the Black/Grey(?) undersurfaces this may help. " " On the 24th April, 1939, The Air Staff issued A.M.O, A.154/39, amended on the 27th April, 1939, by A.298/39, in which the specifications were laid down for aircraft currently in Royal Air Force service, or coming into production. The orders as applied to fighter aircraft called fot the upper surfaces to be painted in a disruptive pattern" "on the 8th September 1939 the Directorate of Technical Development (D.T.D.) issued a memorandum 332, Issue 2 under the heading 'External Colour Schemes for Aircraft'. This showed the breakdown of the applicable camouflage pattern(s) indicated by the type of aircraft and it's role. For single engined fighters Air Diagram A.D.1160 was applicable and it was upon this that all patterns for fighter aircraft camouflage was based. The undersides were to be painted 'with the lower surface of the starboard plane and half the the under surface of the fuselage to be painted white. The corresponding port side is to be painted black'. This instruction was open to mis-interpretation, and many aircraft, although the areas specified were Black and White, the undersides of the fuselage forward of a line across the fuselage level with the leading edge of the wing and aft of a line drawn across the trailing edges of the wing were painted Aluminium (silver) doped finish, as were the undersides of the tailplanes. On fighter aircraft no national insignia were to be painted beneath the wings and those applied to the upper surfaces of the wings, and also on the sides of the fuselage, were to be Red and Blue type B roundels. Immediately prior to the outbreak of war a telegram dated 2nd September 1939 (Ref X119), was sent to all Commands advising that (as air operations would undoubtably take place over the European Continent) all Royal Air Force machines that were to fly over France were to have Type A Red, White and Blue roundels painted beneath each wing." "On the 6th June 1940, new orders were promulgated whereby the Black and White under surface finish on aircraft of Fighter Command was to give way to a new under surface scheme of Sky, Type S. All roundels on under surfaces were to be removed from the new scheme. This Order was to be brought into immediate effect on aircraft already in production, and those in squadron surface were to be repainted as and when time and operational requirements permitted. The aircraft for repair, etc., at Aircraft Servicing Units (ASUs) were also to be painted in the new scheme. A further revision to the camouflage and markings fo day fighters was brought into effect on 1st August ,1940 from which time the size of the Red, White and Blue fin flash was standardised as being three 8in. wide bands of 27in. height." Last edited by Kiwi; 01-04-2005 at 03:20..