I was wondering if anyone knows when flight deck crews began wearing the different colored shirts? Yellow = plane directors, blue = plane handlers, red = ordinance, purple = fuel, etc.
I want to add crew figures to a WW II carrier and would like them to be dressed correctly.
I believe that the Navy started color coding on flight decks some time in the mid 50s. Up until that time the deck crew wore the work uniform of the day (dungerees (blue jeans), t-shirt or blue shirt, and a sweater or jacket when required by weather.
I remember seeing some photo’s from WWII showing some use of colored shirts. I don’t know how wide spread it was
I found a site with some paintings dated 1943 showing blue shirts, yellow shirts and red shirts. These sailors also wore color coded head gear. I have seen the LSO wearing khakis, coveralls, yellow shirt so I don’t know if there was a standard or if some was pre standard pics. Thanks for the help.