RAF Markings and Camouflage

Jatleby · 03-10-2008, 10:59 AM

Thanks A4K, hopefully you have better luck than I did.

Dragonsinger · 04-22-2008, 11:04 AM

Micdrow or Wurger,
Is there a RAF/Air Ministry manual or directive similar to the one Micdrow put on the board for the Luftwaffe. I get the feeling that the RAF simply moved the markings around untill they looked good and then measured each aircraft. Is this correct, or, were the Germans simply more organised.
For example how would you ascertain the position of the markings on the aircraft pictured below.
Before anyone asks I THINK it's called "The First Of The Few", no idea who painted it but if memory serves it is the prototype, no guns and a hand carved two blade prop.
I actually want the markings for the DH108 but that's outside the scope of this forum.
Regards
Dragonsinger

Wurger · 04-22-2008, 03:38 PM

Hi mate,

I don't know if there is a similar manual available somewhere in the Net but The RAF painting rules were much more rigorous than LW were.All parts of camo patterns were strictly defined by proper instructions.There were six basic camo patterns for RAF aircraft that the Ministry of Aircraft Production provided.These rules were obliged from 12.10.1937.

1. for single-engine fighter monoplanes,
2. for two-engine bomber monoplanes with the wingspan to 21,3m (70 feet)
3. for two-engine bomber monoplanes with the wingspan over 21,3m (70 feet)
4. for four-engine aircraft
5. for single-engine biplanes
6. for two-engine biplanes

These variants of paintings were divided into some more kinds.

a) continental one
b) naval one
c) desert (Middle-Easterly) one
d) commanding ones
e) reconnaissance (P.R.U) one

What is more the standard camo patterns for fighters had two kinds.

- Pattern A
- Pattern B

The "B" pattern was a mirror of "A" one.During a factory assembling process the camo patterns were given to aircraft of the uneven serial numbers ( pattern A) and to these of the even numbers ( pattern B).

Colours for these camo patterns
For upper surfaces:
- Dark Earth
- Dark Green

The undersides were painted with some different schemes ( Night and White, Night-White and Aluminium, Sky type S and shortly Night-Sky type S.

The rules were affirmed by the Air Ministry with the order no. A.154/39 with a correction no.A.298/39 on April 27th 1939.
On August 15th 1941 these rules were standardized and the new colour set was introduced.

For upper surfaces
- Dark Green
- Ocean Grey

for undersides
- Mediun Sea Grey.

You are correct,the Spitfire in your shot is the fighter prototype no. K5054.
The prototype wasn't painted initially.There were roundels and serial numbers painted only firstly.The difference is that your pic shows the later aircraft painted with blue-grey gloss colour.I've uploaded some pics of the prototype.In the first one you can see the aircraft shortly before its first flight on March 5th 1936.The two next show the machine with some modifications introduced to the plane ( notice the way of tail section partitioning into the fin and the rudder).

As far as the painting of aircraft is concerned.The best way of it is to find pictures of the plane you are particularly interested in.Looking at them you can find out how the plane was painted, especially that the colours are well-known mostly.

Concerning your DH108,do you have any problems with this? If yes, let me know I can try to find something for you about the plane.