Iraqi Tu-22 Blinders

Iraqi Tu-22 Blinders!

It is known that as of Jan 91, Iraq had 5xTU-22 Blinders (including 1xTu-22U Trainer). All 5 were susequently destroyed on the opening night of Desert Storm by F-117 at al-Taqaddum AFB whilst in their blast pens:

Recon photograph released by the RAF in 2003

Basically I am having trouble working out the camo of Iraq’s Blinders. The majority of reference material shows a traditional desert camo:

However I have come across no real photos that confirm this scheme for Iraqi aircraft and I suspect that the assumption of the scheme was drawn from published pictures of the Libyan Tu-22s:

Photographed over the Med during delivery

Now onto something closer to the truth from ACIG, an unusual grey and green scheme:

And a more accurate rendition in my opinion (see photos below) sporting a two tone green pattern.

Now take a look at these pics………of an actual Iraq Tu-22 ………taken in April 2003. Apparently they have been sitting there since the previous Gulf War:

Here is the page btw with additional info: http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_247.shtml

This would appear to match the corrected profile in two tone camo pattern, wouldn’t you guys agree? Even when taking to account alot of fading/sunbleaching!

I would greatly appreciate any further information or thoughts on Iraq’s Tu-22s, particularly in the way of further pictures or anything showing the camo pattern of these aircraft.

If you aren’t able to hope, thanks for yuor time and I hope you have found this sunjects as interesting as I have.

Best Regards

Mandrake