Need Colour Code for Dark Green Paint on RAAF Caribou – 1964

I’m no colour expert, but I can’t see any reason that Australia would specify a British paint colour in this period (very much after the ‘Commonwealth commonality’ of materiel and logistics, destroyed in W.W.II) specifically for an aircraft coming from Canada, and in use by the US forces and not by British forces.

According to Paul Lucas – Camouflage and Markings – British Fighters 1945 – 1950 UK based.

During the war there was a colour that was simply called ‘Green’. It appears that this was ANA 613 Olive Drab. It seems that this colour was widely used by the British military and, by the RAF for aircraft supplied under Lend Lease. It was incorporated into BS 987C ‘Wartime Emergency Colours’ in November 1944 as Standard Camouflage Colour No 14. This was retained in BS 987C until the standard was cancelled in 1964. In May 1949 it was added to BS 381C in Amendment No 2 to the 1948 edition as No 298 Olive Drab.

I think this is the colour used by the British Army for their helicopters.

Can’t see any reason that reference effectively challenges the refs given earlier to the US colo(u)r, and is quite possible to be incorrect.

Pete’s not stated why he’s confirming the US colour, but his statement, like that of a relevant museum curator’s, carries much weight.

Would the RAAF specify a British colour on a Canadian-painted aircraft in the sixties? Doesn’t seem likely to me.

Regards,

Apologies about raising dead threads,
Am I correct in reading here that FS 34079 was used on newly factory delivered caribou aircraft to the US Army and the RAAF?
Another source tells me the RAAF Caribous were delivered in UK olive drab – BS318C-298 and not FS 34079.

Have a look at the following scanned page, look at the 1960’s US Army “Gizmotch” (3rd down from the top) and Caribou A-234 of the RAAF in the 1960’s

http://i759.photobucket.com/albums/xx236/chriszau/Caribou/Scan12.jpg

It is defineately FS 34079
Peter
Temora Aviation Museum

I’d like to take lots of credit, but really I was just in a position to ask a man who could check!

JDK (James),

Thank you very much for your visit and info… I happily stand (actually seated) corrected and properly informed… a very nice piece of information to add to the reference guides… thanks for the hunting.

JJ
(are there too many of us James-type named individuals around here??)

Thanks Folks for the very speedy reply. I jusk knew that someone here would have the information:) 🙂

Just back from the RAAF Museum, where the Asst Curator was able to state that the RAAF Caribous were delivered in USAF Dark Green – FS 34079 being an equivalent. (And different from from the numbers James has quoted.)

You pays your money…

HTH.

ahhh the ‘Bou…

Just an observation/comment…

You may not get an exact FS match to the ‘Bou green. If my memory serves me correctly, the RAAF ‘Bous were delivered in the same green as the US Army’s (ANA 504 – i think).

The real fun begins when trying to cross reference the colours.

Using David Klaus’ ‘IMPS Color Cross-Reference Guide’:

for Australia… BS 381C:639 Olive Drab … Caribou overall.
Note that the aircraft were not delivered in a matte finish but rather somewhere between semi-gloss and gloss.

Klaus’ guide put the colour in the FS _4098 area. However, he also quotes Ian Huntley (god in my books) as stating that there is NO FS equivalent. Alternately, one of Klaus’ references (from Western Aus) quotes the match as FS 34086… which to me is far too dark.

The FS _4098 still appears a little too yellow and a wee bit to light.

Just my observations…

JJ

Oakey contact..

If you are calling Oakey,get in touch with Greg Beard.He is the assistant curator there and can get the info for you..I won,t be back out there till next Sunday..Good hunting…Betchya it,s green:dev2: ..

Try asking the Museum of Army Flying, Oakey, QLD, or the RAAF Museum (Archive).

I’ll have a dig about tomorrow.