A question that has interested me for some time, what colour (or colours) was the U.S.S. Missouri's Helicopter deck during the Gulf War in 1991? I have a kit of her that I'd like to ultimately build in Gulf War configuration.
It's proven difficult to find decent photos or video clearly showing it. I found one this morning on YouTube that gives a reasonable indication. According to Google translate it seems it is taken from a Dutch Sea King Helicopter from the Dutch Replenishment Oiler Hr.Ms. Zuiderkruis that was refuelling aboard Missouri during the Gulf War in 1991. No exact date of filming listed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lQm3Fb-fDoScreenshots posted for discussion and ease of viewing, copyright rests with original owner:
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USS Missouri 1991 Gulf War Flight Deck 1.jpg
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USS Missouri 1991 Gulf War Flight Deck 2.jpg
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USS Missouri 1991 Gulf War Flight Deck 3.jpg
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USS Missouri 1991 Gulf War Flight Deck 4.jpg
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USS Missouri 1991 Gulf War Flight Deck 5.jpg
It's early 1990s video so quality and colour is not amazing. But I feel it gives a good general idea. Naturally any photo or video is only ever a snapshot in time. And with the likely high intensity of flying operations at the time the helicopter deck probably got filthy in short order and required frequent repainting. Which would fundamentally alter the appearance.
It is hard to know as regards colours?
Was Missouri's entire aft deck simply all dark grey non-skid colour in varying degrees of deterioration? Having had different sections at a time repainted and thus weathering and deteriorating differently?
Or was there a specific painting instruction calling for different greys on certain sections of the deck?