Does anyone have evidence that the Spitfires used in Malta had blue paint on the top as part of their camouflage?
Some references state that they were painted blue on transit on the ferry carriers… And some decal manufacturers give you blue schemes, though I suspect those are only to sell their product and did not exist when the Spits were offloaded and put to operational use.
😉
By: JDK - 20th May 2006 at 11:33
Yes indeed, well put! The book you mentioned is superb…thoroughly recommended! 🙂
Why, thank you. 🙂
Credit goes to Wojtek, the author and hard-working researcher…
Cheers
By: mike currill - 20th May 2006 at 11:09
Flying over Grand Harbour last September it looked fantastic! One moment I’ll never forget.
A real shame they didn’t leave her in the Blue scheme for at least one season 🙁
Agreed, would have been nice to see a different colour scheme for a change
By: Russ - 20th May 2006 at 10:09
For what it’s worth, the wonderful scheme by Merlins over Malta was a great idea, well carried off. Personally, I think the blue’s a bit bright, but it certainly gives you a grand feel for what it might have looked like, and is firmly in my favourite Spitfire schemes. (It’s worth noting also that the quality of the modern MoM scheme was far better than the rough effort that would have been applied by a rushed crew on board the carrier.)
Hope that helps!
Yes indeed, well put! The book you mentioned is superb…thoroughly recommended! 🙂
By: Russ - 20th May 2006 at 10:06
Flying over Grand Harbour last September it looked fantastic! One moment I’ll never forget.
A real shame they didn’t leave her in the Blue scheme for at least one season 🙁
By: mike currill - 20th May 2006 at 09:49
Personally I think it looks quite attractive
By: Dan Johnson - 20th May 2006 at 05:41
Done for the Merlins over Malta bit early last summer.
Dan
By: JDK - 20th May 2006 at 03:04
Hi Jinx,
There’s a lot of dispute as to the actual shade, grey or blue or a blue-grey, but there’s no doubt that the aircraft were painted thus.
There is a colour photo, colour profile and a black & white photo plus a detailed analysis in our book on the Spitfire Mk.V. The book is available here at MMP
And before someone asks, No I’m not posting a scan, we’d appreciate people buying the books – that way we can continue publishing more books! There’s a fair amount of information on the book available at the link provided, and I’d be delighted to answer any questions I can via a PM or here.
The author of the book, endorsed by the ‘Spitfire Pope'(TM) as one of the most original researchers on the type, sometimes posts here.
For what it’s worth, the wonderful scheme by Merlins over Malta was a great idea, well carried off. Personally, I think the blue’s a bit bright, but it certainly gives you a grand feel for what it might have looked like, and is firmly in my favourite Spitfire schemes. (It’s worth noting also that the quality of the modern MoM scheme was far better than the rough effort that would have been applied by a rushed crew on board the carrier.)
Hope that helps!
By: Russ - 19th May 2006 at 22:04
Does anyone have evidence that the Spitfires used in Malta had blue paint on the top as part of their camouflage?
Some references state that they were painted blue on transit on the ferry carriers… And some decal manufacturers give you blue schemes, though I suspect those are only to sell their product and did not exist when the Spits were offloaded and put to operational use.😉
Spitfires dispatched from USS Wasp on Operation Calander in April 1942 were indeed painted with a ‘Blue’ topside. This desicion was taken after the Wasp had left the UK so various paints were diluted and mixed (mainly USN Blue) and the Spitfires were given a rather crude finish. This was done to help them on there long flight across the med as they were originaly in camo. Not much use over the Med! As Mark V mentioned this was designed to be removed once on Malta however most of these Spitfires were lost within days of their arrival.
Merlins Over Malta did indeed represent this scheme for their adventure last year. Talking to one of the team at Duxford last year it’s important to point out that this blue was not an actual specific paint so no codes exsist for it, so its down to you to guess!
www.merlinsovermalta.com has more info!
By: Mark V - 19th May 2006 at 21:00
They were a fairly bright blue (upper surfaces) on the USS Wasp as camouflage against the sea. This was removed once active on Malta I understand. BM597 had such a temporary scheme applied for last years ‘Merlins over Malta’ mission – there are a few threads on this here.
BTW: I cannot see how decals would be different for the ‘blue’ scheme as it was the standard scheme overpainted (avoiding the roundels, codes and serial block).
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May 19, 2006 at 7:44 pm