RAF camouflage patterns

The RAF used mats as camouflage masks, placed over the first color applied. There were generally two versions of the schemes, known as A and B; B was the mirror image of A. Early in the war, planes with even serials got A, planes with odd serials B. This was not done with total consistency, and later on in the war A was used far more often. There were definitely standard schemes for Spitfires and Hurricanes; I don't know about other types, nor do I know anything about postwar planes. I'm sure others will have plenty of knowledge to add. Pip Moss

I used to feel cheap 'cause I had no signature.

Yes, even American imports. The Brewster Buffalo had 'A' and 'B' patterns (and the usual color transpositions for each) as did other types.

There was a pattern for single engine aircraft, another for samll twin engine aircraft, a third for large twin engine aircraft, one for four engine aircraft and separate patterns for single and twin engined biplanes. These were not specific to one aircraft type. Instead, Spits, Hurricanes, Typhoons, etc. all had to conform to the generic pattern for single engine monoplanes.

The best source is "British Aviation Colours of World War Two' a small volume put out by the RAF Museum in the mid-Seventies. It contains the official orders, the relevant diagrams. It is not currently listed by the RAF Museum's on-line shop - might be worth watching for it at shows or through second hand book dealers.

I cdhallenge anyone to show me photographic proof of this. I've studied RAF cam for 20 years and never found any. Mats were used post war in some factories.

There were no standard schemes for specfic types, but patterns for types of aircraft (single engined, twin engined, four engined) and , as you say, A and B mirrors images (with also occasionally C & D with reversed colours)

Don't reply to the btconnect address - and remove nospam!!

You may find this interesting.

That sounds like the final word! Cheers,

The Keeper (of too much crap)

It certainly does! T hanks very much everybody: I've gots as much Answer as I'd hoped for. Reason I asked, as I said privately to Andy M., I have queued up a Lysander, couple of Spitfires, Hurricane, a Skua, Avro Anson ... I just thought the other day that it might be cool if they all had the same colour scheme and the same pattern -- it would emphasise the difference in type. (As you can see, I'm not a slave to detail!)

Cheers all John

Close to it - the Lysander, Hurricane and Spit would have the same pattern and (if done prior to 1942) the same Dark Earth/Dark Green uppersurfaces. The naval Skua would have the same generic pattern, but in Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey. The Anson would be DE/DG but, being a small twin engined aircraft, in a different pattern.