A slightly different bit of Camo ...

[Mark Allen M]

B-17F-25-BO 41-24560, "Little Audrey" (384th BG, 545th BS) returned to USA May 1944.


B-26B-50-MA 42-95974 (496th BS, 344th BG, 9th AF) collided in midair with B-26B 42-95861 at Cormeilles-en-Vixin airfield A-59 Boissy l'Aillerie, France and crashed Mar 28, 1945. Unknown number of crew killed, aircraft was destroyed.


B-24G-10-NT 42-78156 "Hard To Get" #12 450th BG, 720th BS


B-25 with prominent camo. SWP theater but unknown beyond that.


B-17D 40-3092 in camouflage markings. (5th BG) crashed Newark, New Jersey Jul 15, 1943. Salvaged. Ended up as trainer at Yale University 1944-45


Another unknown B-17 with what looks to have been a hasty camo application. Looks also to be Pacific theater.


A 15th AF P-38 with prominent camo as well.

[mike furline]

B-25 with prominent camo. SWP theater but unknown beyond that.

[Mark Sampson]

That B-17... I've seen a photo of the "Memphis Belle" in service with that type of camo applied. IIRC it's in Jablonski's book "Flying Fortress".

[Richard W.]

Yes, the camouflage blotches are very evident in the wartime movie.

I see the AF Museum didn't apply them. Did she fly any combat missions without the camo?

[Chris Brame]

Another unknown B-17 with what looks to have been a hasty camo application. Looks also to be Pacific theater.

Did some tweaking on the brightness and contrast to bring out the tail number:

Pretty sure it's 42-30437. This bird got around:

42-30437 Del Cheyenne 31/5/43; Gore 18/6/43; Rapid City 19/6/43; Geiger 22/6/43; Gr Isle 29/6/43; Dow Fd 24/7/43; Ass 97BG Chateau-du-Rhumel 24/7/43; Pont-du-Fahs 1/8/43; Depienne 15/8/43; Cerignola 20/12/43; Amendola 16/1/44; RetUS 302 BU Hunter 13/11/44; 4100 BU Patterson 22/11/44; 611 BU Eglin 30/4/45; 75 BU Ashville 26/6/45; 123 BU Seymour Johnson 14/8/45; 76 BU Langley 3/9/46.

A real shame that B-17D 40-3092 didn't get saved; it was apparently a survivor of the December 7th attack at Hickam (tail code 41 5B).

Last edited by Chris Brame on Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Lon Moer]

The old CAF B-17 Texas Raiders used to have the 'splotchy' green camo, too. (small picture from google search)

[Chris Brame]

Pictures I took at Oshkosh in 1977 just before it was repainted:

[JohnTerrell]

The restored "Memphis Belle" does have the blotches (medium green blotches over OD), as per the pattern of blotches around the time of its 25th mission (as with the rest of the markings). Under certain lighting conditions, the blotches really stand out, and at other times not as much.

https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/01/2 ... 08-006.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/01/2 ... 08-008.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/14/2 ... 08-003.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/01/2 ... 08-007.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/May/01/2 ... 08-005.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Jan/05/2 ... 08-019.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Jan/05/2 ... 08-009.JPG
https://www.modelairplanenews.com/wp-co ... verall.jpg
http://warbirdsnews.com/wp-content/uplo ... 24x576.png
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/15/2 ... 08-007.JPG
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/15/2 ... 08-004.JPG

[Richard W.]

Super pictures, John. Thank you for the correction.

[Mark Allen M]

These assembly ships are always interesting as well.

Nicknames
Ready & Willing/Silver Streak
Production block number
B-24D-20-CO
Manufacturer
Consolidated
Markings and paint scheme/livery
T9-Q & 6L-Q.
Hi Visibility scheme, red and natural finish lightning stripes.
Flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti Mission with the 93rd BG, pilot John R Roche, returned safely to Libya. Returned to ETO. Assigned to the 466th BG to serve as their Assembly Ship.