Which Aircraft Are Still In Their Original Paint?

The Me-109E from India had its original paint scheme on when I last saw it :D… Ofcourse I bet now all the skins are removed and replaced with fresh aluminium…

Re AWM – as I said earlier try
163
109
262
Sea Fury
Spitfire
Whats left of the Oscar

Could be the largest collection of such paint schemes?

Regards
John P

Sorry John, there are a lot of aircraft at Silver Hill in the original schemes, mostly WWII types from Germany and Japan plus several US types, certainly more than at AWM, I would guess that they have the largest collection of original schemes, unless someone knows ———— 🙂

I think they have a P-38 in original paint in the Udvar Hazy Center. I may be wrong on that – I need to get off my arse and get down to Dulles, I think…

Looked like the original paint when I saw it last month, plus as mentioned all the Axis aircraft at Silver Hill, I know its not as old as most mentioned here but the Phantom at Yeovilton is also in its original scheme

The XF4U-4 Corsair at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut still retains its original paint from its testing days in the mid-1940’s.

A few others, well, not entire aircraft, but…

The IWM Duxford Bf109E has had the original paint on the starboard wing conserved, mainly because it’s an historic exhibit in it’s own right. After the aeroplane came down in southern England in 1940, it was despatched off to Canada and the US for a War Bonds tour, during which time various members of the American and Canadian public scratched their names into the paintwork. This can still be seen today, as the original paintwork – and scratched graffiti! – survives on the starboard wing. I’m told that even the ‘signature’ of boxer Joe Louis is on there…

Then there is also the surviving rear fuselage section of the Me110 which Hitler’s Deputy, Rudolph Hess, parachuted from over Scotland in 1941. Another very important historic exhibit.

BBMF’s Dakota has the pencilled signatures of Canadian servicemen still conserved on the inside of the fuselage; they’d apparently scribbled their names onto the aircraft’s skin while training during 1944/45.

Finally, Skysport’s Beaufighter has the rear fuselage from A19-144, which was recovered from Drysdale strip in Australia some years ago. Traces of the original paintwork can still ‘just’ be seen, but more interesting is the piece of graffiti on the inside of the fuselage near the navigator’s station, which was scribbled in there by an RAAF Caribou crew who visited the wreck in September 1970.

Fascinating thread. 🙂

Hi Dave

Well this is cheating cause it’s mostly natural metal – I believe a hell of a lot of restoration/polishing was done to it – but I think it’s original as far as markings go etc.

one chap did try to repaint a bit of it with a jar of paint he threw at it in protest but i don’t think that counts !!

regards
John

What about Enola Gay, has that been repainted?

Re AWM – as I said earlier try
163
109
262
Sea Fury
Spitfire
Whats left of the Oscar

Could be the largest collection of such paint schemes?

Regards
John P

I think they have a P-38 in original paint in the Udvar Hazy Center. I may be wrong on that – I need to get off my arse and get down to Dulles, I think…

P-61 Black Widow owned by the National Air & Space Museum has its original paint. It’s stored at Garber. There are others there as well, Japanese, German, and USAAF, that are stored in their original schemes. I believe B-17D “Swoose” is still original as well.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis. Am I right in thinking that NASM do a total ground up restoration on their aircraft, including a new paint scheme? And that they record the original finish through photographs as the project progresses?

I’m not sure but I think they used the same process for the DH9, they removed the original fabric, glued on a new one and reapplied it.

best regards,

Olivier

The fabric on the SPAD was removed, glued to a backing and then attached to the airframe with some form of pin. The pins can be seen when you look at it. They might have taken the fabric off the DH9 but it shows no obvious signs, unlike the SPAD. If they have done this to the DH9 (which I still doubt myself) then ALL museum curators should be forced to study how they did it!

P-61 Black Widow owned by the National Air & Space Museum has its original paint. It’s stored at Garber. There are others there as well, Japanese, German, and USAAF, that are stored in their original schemes. I believe B-17D “Swoose” is still original as well.

Dennis

Judge for yourselves guys…..

The SPAD is, of course, a very historic aircraft but it has been stripped and the fabric reapplied. I am not sure that the DH9 has even been touched.

MH

I’m not sure but I think they used the same process for the DH9, they removed the original fabric, glued on a new one and reapplied it.

best regards,

Olivier

109 and 262 in Australia

Photo’s taken 4 or 5 years ago in Canberra

These two definately carry ther oringinal schemes

Both in australia

Cheers

JT

Halifax W1048 at the RAF Museum still has it’s original paint, at least what’s left of it.

Cees

the DH-9 s/n 1258
the SPAD VII S.254
at Le Bourget Air & space museum

http://www.mae.org/collec_1914.htm

best regards, Olivier

The SPAD is, of course, a very historic aircraft but it has been stripped and the fabric reapplied. I am not sure that the DH9 has even been touched.

MH

the DH-9 s/n 1258
the SPAD VII S.254
at Le Bourget Air & space museum

http://www.mae.org/collec_1914.htm

best regards, Olivier

Re Dave Homewood’s comment regarding the TBF-1, NZ2505.
This aircraft retained the US Navy camouflage paint throughout and was placed in a playground at Opunake Beach, Taranaki. It had the pacific fin flash with US star & bar markings. The paint-work survived quite well given the proximity of the sea.
John Regan recovered it and it was displayed at Silverstream, Lower Hutt, for some years as NZ2518 “Plonky” before being recovered by the RNZAF, mainly for it’s turret.