? for the Tempest experts among us

These drawings are from Profile Publications and this particular artist had a habit of interpreting b/w photos incorrectly and several errors have occurred within this series and the AIRCAM books. I would be extremely sceptical about these camouflage colours and treat any artwork with caution and believe nothing without colour photographs or other proof. I do most of the research for the Corgi Aviation Archive models and I have nothing to do with models ,if I do not have any colour photographs. One person’s artwork interpretation of a b/w photo is not enough!

Just a wee thought, when such interesting debates as these about paint colours arise I wonder why the researchers never seem to try and track down the Aircraft Finishers (ie painters) who were attached to the Sqns, SU’s or MU’s involved. There must be more than a few still around and records would indicate who they were. Such an event as a change in the field to an all new scheme would surely be remembered by most old Aircraft Finishers involved – they’d probably even remember the BS paint numbers if you asked. Such things are memorised by these tradesmen – I know as I was in the trade – especially those who are colourblind as they must rely on the numbers alone.

have you got any photos of purple painted Spitfire undercarriage doors and/or Spitfires from the USS Wasp…….. 😉

No sir.

Well, well, well

Thanks Mark – that seems pretty conclusive to me

Now….

have you got any photos of purple painted Spitfire undercarriage doors and/or Spitfires from the USS Wasp…….. 😉

Whilst Paul Lucas presents a compelling argument for the existence of this scheme – for both Tempests and Spitfire XVIIIs of 208 Squadron – quoting ORBs about planes being repainted at 109 MU in a “dark earth and light grey” or “light brown and light green” scheme -we don’t seem to have any colour photographic evidence of this interesting scheme.

Well maybe we do.

A project belonging to a friend of my wife had a set of Griffon Spitfire cowlings which were respectively stencilled on the inside TP278, TP385 and TZ210. All these Spitfires were allotted to the Middle East and TP385 is recorded as serving with 208 Sqd. These cowlings only had one coat of fairly faded paint but the colours were ‘Brown and Green’ or ‘Light brown and Light green’.

Mark

Post war desert scheme

Whilst Paul Lucas presents a compelling argument for the existence of this scheme – for both Tempests and Spitfire XVIIIs of 208 Squadron – quoting ORBs about planes being repainted at 109 MU in a “dark earth and light grey” or “light brown and light green” scheme -we don’t seem to have any colour photographic evidence of this interesting scheme.

Paul Lucas also proposed the theory that some FR XIVs were painted/delivered in the PR (Low Flying) scheme of EDSGrey/EDSGreen/PRU Mauve

Until we have either photographic or artefact proof, black and white photos are simply that. Its likely that any Spit parts originating from 208 will have been refurbed by now….. 😉

It seems to me that in fact the scheme was not really about camouflage either – it was to enable RAF pilots to distinguish RAF planes from IDF-AF planes as both were initially camo’d in the same DG/OG/MSG scheme

Desert Tempests

Thanks for the replies gentelman, and please keep the info coming.

The RAF Tempest VIs used in the Middle East certainly did (eventually) wear a ‘desert’ scheme, but the one in the colour illustration is inaccurate. NX125 did serve with 249 Sqn but other sources give its code as ‘X’. The VIs were delivered and flew in Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Medium Sea Grey for a time; many were repainted ‘silver’ but finally (c. August 1949) were repainted in a desert scheme. Strong evidence points to Dark Earth/Light Slate Grey/Medium sea Grey – see ‘Camouflage and markings No.5, RAF Fighters 1945-50 Overseas based’ by Paul Lucas or Model Aircraft Monthly May 2004.

Thanks for the replies gentelman, and please keep the info coming.

Just a thought:
The Vampires that replaced the Tempests at Habbaniyah were indeed painted in desert camo. So chances are the Tempests also were. And the Iraqi AF Furys were also painted desert camo.
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/182978/L/
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_207.shtml

Methinks some caution here.

In the same journal I have seen the reference to the said scheme concerning the Spitfires of 208 Sqd.

I have also seen in another model journal the self same Spitfire with another interpretation of the colours.

I say caution because last year I was asked to comment on a photograph of two Mk XVIII Spitfires photographed in France. Clearly by the date and location they were on a ferry flight from the UK to the Mid-East and destined for 208 Sqd. I have later shots of the self same aircraft with Sqd codes and no apparent change to the basic camouflage. This would suggest that if there is such a scheme it was applied in the UK before departure and as such is most likely to have been formalised. There is no evidence of this.

We have had interesting discussion here before on the interpretation of the tonal hues of B/W photos. I do wonder if the nearer to the Equator and the more overhead the sun, we are being tricked by the light.

Mark

On balance would say no. I don’t have my references to hand but the Tempest F6 was used in the Middle East Post war and was initially in the Day fighter scheme of Ocean Grey and Dark Green. Some aircraft were in Natural Metal finish as well.

It has been suggested by another source that a new and undocumented desert scheme was used on Tempests and Spitfire FR18’s, this being from memory Dark Earth and Light Slate Grey uppers with Medium Sea Grey unders. If you need details of this research let me know and I will get the references for you. Its from a recent camo and making series for RAF fighters 1945 to 1950

Well, looks like there was a Mk VI that was used in the far east.

The only pic I could find was a b/w one but it gives a good representation.
http://user.tninet.se/~ytm843e/markvi.htm
http://user.tninet.se/~ytm843e/paints.htm

Hope this helps

Cheers
Chris