Battle of Britain.

[sean66]

I recently got the bag of 1/300th 'Battle of Britain '  planes from the Plastic Soldier company.
so of course started researching paint schemes.
found an interesting piece of information that i had never heard before so thought id ask hive mind.
"the first Spitfires to reach the RAF were painted in a camouflage scheme of brown (dark earth) and dark green. (knew this already)
the undersides were painted with one half black and one half white with the dividing line running from nose to tail, sometimes only the underside of one wing was painted black leaving the fuselage underside painted white.  :-
Apparently this was to aid the identification of the RAF fighters at height by the Royal Observer Corps and AAA spotters through Binoculars .
I've never heard of this fact. I'm more a ground wars Eastern Front person. But have watched a lot of documentaries about early war.
so is this true or just a one off reference.
Regards
Sean

[paulr]

I heard it before, not sure if it's true

[steve_holmes_11]

TRUE!

Good discussion hre: https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/raf-black-and-white-undersides-why.22071/

Designed for recognition over home territory before the radar and comms network was complete.

Dates according to this post:

RAF fighters were painted in this way as an aid to recognition . First suggested by Dowding in 1937, and continued until June 6 1940 Making a brief comeback between Nov 27 1940 to April 7 1941

Suggest it wasn't in use for the Battle of Britain.
You may form your own opinions on whether every squadron receiving and applying sky-blue paint by June 6th.


In doctrine terms, I see it as comparable with the invasion stripes of 1944.
If the vast majority of aircraft are going to be friendlies, you can afford to be visible as a "don't shoot me" signal.

I've not researched enough to know whether RAF squadrons in France used the scheme, or whether it was for home based aircraft only.

[sean66]

TRUE!

Good discussion hre: https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/raf-black-and-white-undersides-why.22071/

Designed for recognition over home territory before the radar and comms network was complete.

Dates according to this post:
Suggest it wasn't in use for the Battle of Britain.
You may form your own opinions on whether every squadron receiving and applying sky-blue paint by June 6th.

thank you for the link very informative.
Regards
Sean


In doctrine terms, I see it as comparable with the invasion stripes of 1944.
If the vast majority of aircraft are going to be friendlies, you can afford to be visible as a "don't shoot me" signal.

I've not researched enough to know whether RAF squadrons in France used the scheme, or whether it was for home based aircraft only.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

It's ceratinly true. Was changed in mid 1940 as it made the aircraft rather too visible. BEF Hurricanes were similar.

[Heedless Horseman]

Good 'find' Steve.
I 'had' thought that it was an attempt to 'throw off' combat gunnery, similar to asymetric patterns experimented with in WW1...But NOT the case!
Typical RAF wanting ID nos. to catch 'low fliers'! lol. 
Later change to overall colour for offensive ops is plausible, too.

[John Cook]

The two-tone underside was certainly in use during the early war period.  When the change to Sky type S was completed is unclear.

[steve_holmes_11]

The lengthy post on the linked discussion implied that anything blue-ish might have been used.
This certainly matches my Airfix experience with a merry mix of "duck egg blue" and "duck egg green" on painting guides.

It all seems a bit official/unofficial, and I've no first-hand evidence to support it.
"Difficult to tell form those old black and white photos".
And little way to tell whether the "wrong blues" were available in S finish.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Yup it's true

[John Cook]

This should clear up any confusion.

[steve_holmes_11]

Good 'find' Steve.
I 'had' thought that it was an attempt to 'throw off' combat gunnery, similar to asymetric patterns experimented with in WW1...But NOT the case!
Typical RAF wanting ID nos. to catch 'low fliers'! lol. 
Later change to overall colour for offensive ops is plausible, too.

I wonder whether any air force tried dazzle camouflage during WW2.
My spidey senses suggest that conditions in the air would make it far less effective.

Long range spotting is radar.
Gunnery range is fairly close visual, where outlines are fairly evident.
Difficult to guarantee a background (sky, cloud, ground)...

[steve_holmes_11]

This should clear up any confusion.

Shakes fist at Airfix:

That's 2 pots of matt enamel I bought when one would have done.
13 pence I'll never get back.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Both the Italians and Germans had very effective camo for the Western desert, but that was for top surfaces.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Steve the German cammo in N africa comes close, with basic sand with brown blotches comes close, can be very difficult to make out the aircraft above.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Both the Italians and Germans had very effective camo for the Western desert, but that was for top surfaces.

SNAP !!