RAF markings and serials; size and font

RAF markings and serials; size and font (for Harvard)

Hi,

Thanks for this swift response you all.

Forgot to mention that I am, in this case, interested in the late WW2 and early postwar years. The RAF aircraft that went to the Netherlands Air Force; TigerMoth, Anson, Oxford, Proctor and the HARVARD. Trying to figure out what a Harvard would have looked like in those days. Have several pictures, but only a few underwing pix. And no “specification” of the sizes (length, width, height, …) and style of font. And on top of that, any other external markings.

Who has access to any of the documents mentioned above, and in particular :

AIR 2/8385 AIRCRAFT: General (Code B, 5/1): External and internal markings. 1945-1952
AVIA 13/616 Identification and other markings on aircraft. 1940-1947

Regards,

BennoT6

Dear all,

Thanks for this swift response you all.

Forgot to mention that I am, in this case, interested in the late WW2 and early postwar years. The RAF aircraft that went to the Netherlands Air Force; TigerMoth, Anson, Oxford, Proctor and the HARVARD. Trying to figure out what a Harvard would have looked like in those days. Have several pictures, but only a few underwing pix. And no “specification” of the sizes (length, width, height, …) and style of font. And on top of that, any other external markings.

Who has access to any of the documents mentioned above, and in particular :

AIR 2/8385 AIRCRAFT: General (Code B, 5/1): External and internal markings. 1945-1952
AVIA 13/616 Identification and other markings on aircraft. 1940-1947

Regards,

BennoT6

does this site help?

http://woodair.net/Aviation/roundels/RAF_Roundels.htm

I’d suggest a look at The National Archives: usually a good starting point. The following is filtered for WW2 and after, but there are more documents detailing pre-WW2:

ADM 1/26788 Naval aircraft: colours and markings. 1953-1962
AIR 14/1179 Identification markings of bomber aircraft for paratroop carrying: modifications. 1941 May-1944 Sept
AIR 14/1180 Identification markings of bomber aircraft for paratroop carrying: modifications. 1941 May-1944 Sept
AIR 15/22 Identification of aircraft markings and characteristics of aircraft. 1939 Sept. 1940 Aug.
AIR 15/23 Identification of aircraft markings and characteristics of aircraft. 1940 Aug. 1941 Dec.
AIR 15/285 Aircraft: Camouflage and Marking instructions. 1942 Jan. 1943 Nov.
AIR 15/873 Aircraft code markings, colouring and camouflage. 1950-1961
AIR 2/147 AIRCRAFT: GENERAL (incl. Aeroplanes, Seaplanes, Flying Boats) (CODE A, 5/1): Distinguishing marks and identification discs on Main planes of aircraft.
AIR 2/148 AIRCRAFT: GENERAL (incl. Aeroplanes, Seaplanes, Flying Boats) (CODE A, 5/1): Proposed change of markings for Service aircraft.
AIR 2/19046 Marking and colour schemes of RAF aircraft. 1975-1977
AIR 2/8385 AIRCRAFT: General (Code B, 5/1): External and internal markings. 1945-1952
AIR 51/105/578 Aircraft recognition and markings. 1943 May-1943 Sept
AIR 51/68/54 AIRCRAFT RECOGNITION: Camouflage and markings. 1943 Oct-1944 Nov
AIR 8/2301 Aircraft nomenclature and markings. 1960-1967
AVIA 13/616 Identification and other markings on aircraft. 1940-1947
AVIA 2/2370 AIRCRAFT: General Equipment (Code 6/9): Camouflage and recognition markings of civil aircraft. Policy and proposals. 1940-1945
AVIA 54/346 A.P. (Air Publication) Chapter 108: camouflage and aeroplane identification marks. 1947-1958
WO 204/4168 Identification: marking of aircraft : permits, passes and badges. 1942 Oct.-Dec.
WO 204/5333 Aircraft markings: operations memoranda. 1944 May – 1945 May
WO 219/893 Aircraft markings. 1944 Apr. – 1945 Jan.
WO 229/97/3 Distinctive marking of aircraft. 1944 Jan 01 – 1944 Dec 31

I may also be wrong, but I’m sure Bruce Robertson’s Harleyford books provide sources for markings data. AP.108 (AP Chapter 108?) above sounds like a good starting point.

BennoT6, suggest that you contact the F Museum library. t may list on line (don’t know never tried) but there will be an AP for what you are seeking.

Historically, at least pre-WW2 and during, there was no specific requirement for a given font or style, although sans-serif was normal. Indeed, effectively universal (there are a very few exceptions). Each manufacturer used his own. Postwar things seem to have been tidied up somewhat.