After the end of the the war a review of aircraft camouflage and marking policy was held at the Air Ministry, on 19 October 1945. The policy which emerged from this conference was to be binding for five years but subject to review after four years. As far as the Spitfire PR.19 was concerned, the decision was taken at the conference that all Photographic Reconnaissance aircraft be “silver doped”. As a result of this policy PR.XIXs at Palam during 1946-47 were painted all over Aluminum with a Night anti-glare panel. One, PM574, was bare metal.

It was Coastal Command in 1947 that requested that their PR aircraft should retain the PR Blue scheme.

Far too much to explain here. PM me your email address and I will send you an article on PR.XIX colours that explains all about this and more.