Hey all!
Can someone help me with a bit of P-51 history? I have seen photos of P-51s in bare metal with some paint on the nose and tail, as well as country and unit markings, but also seen them fully painted in an olive drab color.
When did the Mustangs stop being fully painted, and why? What exactly is the ‘greenish’ color that they were originally painted?
Thanks!
Chris
The original USAAF color scheme for P-51s was Olive Drab 41 over Neutral Gray 43. In early 1944, Army Air Force commanders were questioned about the value of camoflage painting. Testing had determined that unpainted aircraft were lighter and faster than camoflage painted aircraft. Based on responses from the commanders, around April 1944 camouflage paint was no longer required from the factory, but could be applied in theater upon the unit commander’s direction.
Olive drab.
They stopped painting them once air supremacy was assured. Not sure exactly but sometime after D-day once the Luftwaffe was not the threat it once was.
I am sure someone else will have the exact answer for you
USAAF policy arround Oct 1943 on camo for most new production aircraft. It taken another six months let the current contracts to run out, so constantly non-camo aircraft did not start until Mar 1944. There were exception like Theater Commanders options, rec, nightfighters…etc.
Owen
Interesting. How much weight does paint add to an aircraft like a P-51? The ‘D’ model weighs 7600 lbs empty. Why would paint affect speed? Does a coat of paint produce more drag than metal? I mean, we’re talking enamel paints, right? Sorry, I don’t know much about paint history or development.
Chris
The weight difference was not much on fighters, but on larger aircraft such as bombers it could be a good bit, I dont have a reference in front of me rihgt now for numbers, but a SWAG says over 100 lbs. Flat finish on teh camo paint could affect speed mainly. This was the reason that the RAF developed the “Type S” (as in smooth) paints. I do beleive that original USAAF camo paints were some sort of enamel. The subject is covered very well by Dana Bell in his Air Force Colors book(s): Volume 2 and I think also in volume 3.
B-26’s were repainted with OD and medium green when they moved to France after D-Day because of concerns about enemy air attack at their bases. I think P-47’s were also repainted for those belonging to 9th AF.
A general consensus of commanders was the closer a unit was to enemy lines, the more likely they were to field apply camo after it was discontinued at the factory. The 56th Fighter Group (8th Air Force) often used RAF colors to camo their Thunderbolts once NMF planes were recieved. I have a VHS tape about the 357th FG. In it one pilot relates how after the first snow of the year, he remarked to his crew chief about the snow and that it would soon be time to remove the OD topside paint. In the morning he saw that his crew chief had raw hands from using solvents to remove the OD paint overnight.
Now that’s a professional! Takes his responsibility seriously, and doesn’t procrastinate!
Chris
it was his machine…he just loans it to the pilot once or twice a day…[;)]
One of my good buddies was a helicopter mechanic, and he used to give the pilots heck about how they treated ‘his’ aircraft. Funny, they never objected! [:O]
Chris