Unusual camoflage schemes...

lestweforget · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:42 pm

Michaels thread on painted false canopies got me thinking ( a rare and potentially dangerous occurance,) about camoflage on aircraft and the unusual variations that have occured . The scheme I recall is the half black, half white underside of RAF fighters in the early war years , pre BOB. http://www.warbirdregistry.org/spitregistry/spitfire-k9942.html
This was to aid identification from the ground, and was rendered obsolete with the addition of IFF technology.
What other wierd schemes do people know of, and what was the reason behind them? I seem to remember a Brewster Buffalo in a dazzling scheme, or am I mistaken? I look forward to your replies, if any. Thanks.

John Dupre · **Posted:** Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:37 pm

I've seen pictures of the Brewster in the dazzle paint scheme too. Dazzle schemes were popular on warships so it seems the navy tried it out on aircraft too.

gregv · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:36 am

There's those late-war Fw-190D's with the undersurfaces painted red with white diagonal stripes, also AFAIK for ground i.d. Not sure how many they did up like that, but its a pretty well-known subject, at least to others besides myself...

greg v.

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:45 am

John Dupre wrote:

I've seen pictures of the Brewster in the dazzle paint scheme too. Dazzle schemes were popular on warships so it seems the navy tried it out on aircraft too.

The Army(?) tried the same on an early Mustang, famously. Discussed here earlier.

See the Sopwith Camel in the 'painted cockpits' thread.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:08 am

Experimental schemes tried out during the Lousiana war games in 1940 with P-36's painted white, green, mustard yellow. and other bizzare, 'dazzle pattern' schemes used on other aircraft during the war games-

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:10 am

Oh yeah, almost forgot the navys experiments with painting carrier aircraft in three tone (USAF style) camo schemes for a brief period during the Viet Nam war-

michaelharadon · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:14 am

The Inspector wrote:

Oh yeah, almost forgot the navys experiments with painting carrier aircraft in three tone (USAF style) camo schemes for a brief period during the Viet Nam war-

Can anyone post photos of this? Thanks!

lestweforget · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:42 am

Found this on the interweb. Seemingly VA-113 A-4C's aboard USS Kittyhawk. Anyone know the year or any more info?

lestweforget · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:24 am

Found an interesting link here too about the Buffalo and Devastator. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/ac-usn22/t-types/tbd-cam.htm

lestweforget · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:02 pm

Anyone???? :shock:

daveymac82c · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:33 pm

Wow, that P-51 scheme would confuse the cr*p out of me if I saw it at a glance, Cool.

-David

SHAEF1944 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:18 pm

Hello from a new guy, and enjoy

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:05 pm

SHAEF1944 wrote:

Hello from a new guy, and enjoy

Welcome to WIX, and a great first post!

Canso42 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:11 pm

At a recent airshow the announcer noted that that A-10 performing had fake canopies painted underneath to confuse its victims.

muddyboots · **Posted:** Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:24 pm

for those days when the new pixel camo isn't good enough we now have this:

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Unusual camoflage schemes...

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