Band of Brothers (and WWII movies) Question
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Tempest Mk.V SA-N (JN766)
When the Tempest V entered service in April 1944 they were delivered in standard day-fighter camouflage of a disruptive pattern of Dark Green over Ocean Grey with the underside painted in Medium Sea-Grey. Spinners were Sky and an 18 inches wide band was carried around the rear fuselage. Squadron and aircraft i/d letters were also in Sky. A narrow, Yellow stripe was painted along the leading edge of each wing extending from the outboard wing cannon to the wing tip.
On the Tempests entering squadrons service early summer 1944 were Black (12 in.) and White (18 in.) identification stripes painted on the undersides of each wing extending outwards from the wingroot.These stripes were originally seen on Typhoons, where they were intended as a quick ground-to-air recognition feature.
Tempest Mk.V JF-Z (JN862)
Next change to the tactical identification markings as applied to the Tempests occured on or around the 5th June 1944. The Allied Air Expenditionary Force (AAEF) introduced Black and White stripes to be painted around the wings and fuselages of all allied aircraft in preparation for the allied landings of the Normandy Invasion finally scheduled for 6th June. The stripes were to be 18 in. wide and to be painted commencing 6 in. inbording from the upper wing roundels (replacing the original special i/d stripes) and 18 in. forward of the leading edge of the tailplanes.
Tempest Mk.V JF-J and JF-D
As the allied moved inland after the invasion the identification stripes were usually within easy reach of enemy air and ground fire. AAEF ordered the stripes to be removed from the aircraft wings. This order was implemented between 25 August and 10 September. Paintwork was brought into immediate effect from those visible from underneath the aircraft, i.e. the stripes remained on the belly of the machines roughly along the line of the original upper/lower camouflage line.
Tempest Mk.V SD-P (EJ608)
From 17 August Tempests were flying with Air Defence Great Britain (ADGB) operating on defensive sorties flying from airfields in Britain, engaged in "Operation DIVER", the anti-V1 patrols. Those Tempest had the Yellow stripes removed from the leading edge of their wings but retained the Sky painted spinner fuselage bands and codes.
Tempests operating with Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) in Europe had their spinners repainted in Black, and the Sky-coloured fuselage bands were removed. Some squadrons did use colours other than Black for painting the spinner. Such as for example Red, Blue or Yellow.
Tempest Mk.V JF-E (NV994)
From 3rd January 1945 the upper wing roundels of the Red/Blue TYPE "B" pattern were replaced by TYPE "C1" - red/white/blues with a narrow yellow outer ring. The invasion stripes and the Sky fuselage band were painted out, and all spinners were painted Black.
From 31st March 1945 orders were issued that Fighter Command could dispense the wartime camouflage and replace this with "silver" doped overall or polished metal finishes. However, aircraft already in service plus others already on the production lines retained the basic wartime colouring and markings as seen January 1945.
Tempest Mk.V JCB (NV708)
In 1946 a firm order was issued whereby ALL camouflage was to be dispensed with and airframes were to revert to polished metal or silver doped finishes. Codes were then normally painted in Black as were serials. Flight colours were reintroduced by some squadrons for the spinners and aircraft serials.
From this wwebsite. http://user.tninet.se/~ytm843e/colour.htm
The ID bands were put on to help quickly ID friend from foe in combat and I guess black and white stipes were just the color scheme they thought up at the time.
When the Tempest V entered service in April 1944 they were delivered in standard day-fighter camouflage of a disruptive pattern of Dark Green over Ocean Grey with the underside painted in Medium Sea-Grey. Spinners were Sky and an 18 inches wide band was carried around the rear fuselage. Squadron and aircraft i/d letters were also in Sky. A narrow, Yellow stripe was painted along the leading edge of each wing extending from the outboard wing cannon to the wing tip.
On the Tempests entering squadrons service early summer 1944 were Black (12 in.) and White (18 in.) identification stripes painted on the undersides of each wing extending outwards from the wingroot.These stripes were originally seen on Typhoons, where they were intended as a quick ground-to-air recognition feature.
Tempest Mk.V JF-Z (JN862)
Next change to the tactical identification markings as applied to the Tempests occured on or around the 5th June 1944. The Allied Air Expenditionary Force (AAEF) introduced Black and White stripes to be painted around the wings and fuselages of all allied aircraft in preparation for the allied landings of the Normandy Invasion finally scheduled for 6th June. The stripes were to be 18 in. wide and to be painted commencing 6 in. inbording from the upper wing roundels (replacing the original special i/d stripes) and 18 in. forward of the leading edge of the tailplanes.
Tempest Mk.V JF-J and JF-D
As the allied moved inland after the invasion the identification stripes were usually within easy reach of enemy air and ground fire. AAEF ordered the stripes to be removed from the aircraft wings. This order was implemented between 25 August and 10 September. Paintwork was brought into immediate effect from those visible from underneath the aircraft, i.e. the stripes remained on the belly of the machines roughly along the line of the original upper/lower camouflage line.
Tempest Mk.V SD-P (EJ608)
From 17 August Tempests were flying with Air Defence Great Britain (ADGB) operating on defensive sorties flying from airfields in Britain, engaged in "Operation DIVER", the anti-V1 patrols. Those Tempest had the Yellow stripes removed from the leading edge of their wings but retained the Sky painted spinner fuselage bands and codes.
Tempests operating with Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) in Europe had their spinners repainted in Black, and the Sky-coloured fuselage bands were removed. Some squadrons did use colours other than Black for painting the spinner. Such as for example Red, Blue or Yellow.
Tempest Mk.V JF-E (NV994)
From 3rd January 1945 the upper wing roundels of the Red/Blue TYPE "B" pattern were replaced by TYPE "C1" - red/white/blues with a narrow yellow outer ring. The invasion stripes and the Sky fuselage band were painted out, and all spinners were painted Black.
From 31st March 1945 orders were issued that Fighter Command could dispense the wartime camouflage and replace this with "silver" doped overall or polished metal finishes. However, aircraft already in service plus others already on the production lines retained the basic wartime colouring and markings as seen January 1945.
Tempest Mk.V JCB (NV708)
In 1946 a firm order was issued whereby ALL camouflage was to be dispensed with and airframes were to revert to polished metal or silver doped finishes. Codes were then normally painted in Black as were serials. Flight colours were reintroduced by some squadrons for the spinners and aircraft serials.
From this wwebsite. http://user.tninet.se/~ytm843e/colour.htm
The ID bands were put on to help quickly ID friend from foe in combat and I guess black and white stipes were just the color scheme they thought up at the time.
However, during the planning of the Normandy landings, allied commanders feared the possibility of tremendous aircraft losses due to friendly fire. Something had to be done to avoid confusion. Therefore, it was decided to mark every aircraft operating over the beaches with distinctive black and white stripes around the wings and the fuselages.
Specific markings were designed for each type of aircraft and, as it is always the case, many variants appeared. These variants differed in size, position and neatness of application. In all fairness to the ground crews, we must realize that these stripes were painted in a time span of 12 to 36 hours prior to the early hours of the invasion. Some were neatly applied, while others looked like they were painted after a few good English beers in the local pub with mops and rollers!
Full invasion markings lasted very little (approximately 3-4 weeks). Then, sections were taken out with the excuse that the markings made the aircraft very conspicuous when viewed from above. The first areas to be re-camouflaged were the upper surfaces, with bands sometimes being removed, sometimes just painted over. In the last case, occasionally there was a colour difference on the areas covering the white or black. At times, the national insignia was edged with natural metal outline (mostly on the fuselage area)."
More info from this site. http://decals.kitreview.com/decals/a...reviewrk_1.htm
Specific markings were designed for each type of aircraft and, as it is always the case, many variants appeared. These variants differed in size, position and neatness of application. In all fairness to the ground crews, we must realize that these stripes were painted in a time span of 12 to 36 hours prior to the early hours of the invasion. Some were neatly applied, while others looked like they were painted after a few good English beers in the local pub with mops and rollers!
Full invasion markings lasted very little (approximately 3-4 weeks). Then, sections were taken out with the excuse that the markings made the aircraft very conspicuous when viewed from above. The first areas to be re-camouflaged were the upper surfaces, with bands sometimes being removed, sometimes just painted over. In the last case, occasionally there was a colour difference on the areas covering the white or black. At times, the national insignia was edged with natural metal outline (mostly on the fuselage area)."
More info from this site. http://decals.kitreview.com/decals/a...reviewrk_1.htm
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That was a VERY impressive reply!! Another fine service from AVS Forum!!
Say what?!?!
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