Hi all,
From two former Blenheim groundcrew I know that in WW2 the RAF used a special anti glow paint/compound which they had to paint on the collector rings / exhausts of aircraft for night operations. Untreated collector rings would apparently glow in the dark making the aircraft stand out against the sky and it would appear that the anti glow paint did at least make them les conspicious.
One of men actually recalled the stuff cost a pound for a pound so pretty expensive.
Now the funny thing is that this paint was pink in colour so just imagine the look of, say, an all black Beaufighter with pink collector rings:)!
Does anyone on this forum have more info on this special paint? I’d especially like to know how pink it really was!
Many TIA,
Walter
By: antoni - 31st March 2025 at 10:39
This is the only reference I can think of regarding the painting of exhausts of “aircraft engaged in coastal duties”. Being white I think it was for camouflage not so much to reduce the glow.
(vi) ENGINE COWL RINGS.-White to D.T.D. 314 (Stores Ref. 33B/176, 177, 343, or
396 for 1/2 gall., 1 gall., 5 gall Home, and 5 gall. Overseas containers respectively).
(vii) ANTI-GLOW SHROUDS.-Anti-glow white to D.T.D.557 (Stores Ref. 33B/528)
By: Walter 63 - 31st March 2025 at 10:03
Many thanks for the input guys!
Cheers,
Walter
By: WJ244 - 31st March 2025 at 10:00
It rings a bell that I read articles years ago that described the anti glow compound as fire clay. Don’t know if this helps at all.
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February 22, 2010 at 8:33 pm