If you open this link and slip down to the 8th photograph, you will see Lodestar G-AGII at Torslanda, Goteborg, on 15 August 1944:
From memory, every other BOAC Lodestar that I’ve seen in camouflage had its registration marks outlined, so as to be more easily read.
G-AGII does not appear to have this outlining. How common was this practice?
By: ianwoodward9 - 7th October 2010 at 12:45
Looking forward to it. It is a fascinating topic and worthy of a proper study in its own right.
By: vingtor - 7th October 2010 at 08:53
G-AGDD was the second Norwegian Lodestar acquired, G-AGDE being the first. These were painted in the standard scheme.
My book will be about the flights between Britain and Sweden during WWII, both British, Norwegian, Swedish and American operations. Much is of course covered in Nilsson’s and Sandberg’s book “Blockade Runners”, but my research have revealed new information and I will also describe colours and markings. I still have some work to do though (I’m travelling to London next month to do more reseach at the National Archives and the RAF Museum).
Nils
By: ianwoodward9 - 6th October 2010 at 23:29
Thanks for your reply, Nils.
G-AGDD, which was purchased by the Norwegian Purchasing Commission but operated under the aegis of BOAC, certainly had the silver outline to its registration marks, so your explanation about how the difference arose makes perfect sense.
Is the book on the subject of Lodestars, of the WWII flights between Scotland and Sweden or on the subject of the aircraft markings?
Ian
By: vingtor - 6th October 2010 at 21:25
This Lodestar was not owned by BOAC. It was one of several Lodestar aircraft acquired by the Norwegian government for use on the route between Britain and Sweden during WWII. But since the Norwegian government did not have a concession on this route it was officially operated by BOAC, as “The Norwegian Detachment”.
The first four Norwegian Lodestars were painted and marked according to Air Ministry directives. The last 8 however seem to be delivered in USAAF camouflage of Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, but had the undersides painted black (Night) before operating flights to Sweden. None of these 8 aircraft appears to have silver outlining to the registrations, which was otherwise common to British civil aircraft.
I made this model of G-AGIK some time ago:
Nils
(who is working on a book on the subject)
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October 6, 2010 at 2:59 pm