Aircraft, Naval Camouflage & Markings

[Russ2146]

If the camouflage applied to a ship model defines the time period reflected reflected by the model, the camouflage and markings applied to aircraft associated with ships, notably cruisers, battleships and carriers, does the same thing. At the same time, aircraft camo/marking can also conflict chronologically with ship camo and markings. In an effort to provide a reference to this community, I have summarized information contained in publications which I used in my misguided youth in modeling US Naval Aircraft, rather than ships.

Camouflage:
1930 to 1936 - Light grey, almost an off white
1936 to Feb. 1941 - Silver & chrome yellow wingtops
Feb 1941 to Summer 1942 - Light grey. Remained on some types until early 1942.
Summer 1941 to 1943 - For aircraft operating primarily over water - non-specular grey-gren shade called Sea Green uppers and sides with the light grey underside. (Early '42 to end of '42 was made standard for all camouflaged aircraft.)
1943 to 1946 - Dark non-specular blue top surfaces and undersides of folding wing tips, light grey-blue lower sides and white undersides.
1944 to end of war - Midnight blue overall for carrier aircraft.
End of war to 1955 - Midnight blue overall for all aircraft.
Special Colors
ChromeYellow - Trainers from 1920s to 1956
Black - Night operation fighters and flying boats during WWII.
Red - Target aircraft
White - Some patrol aircraft
Markings
Sep 1919 to May 1942 - Blue circled white star with red center
Jun 1942 to Jun 1943 - Blue circled white star
Jul to Aug 1943 - Blue circled white star with white bar to either side, borered in red.
Aug 1943 to Jan 1947 - Blue circled white star with white bar to either side, bordered in blue.
Jan 1947 - Red bars centered on white bars to either side of circled star.
Note: Prior to WWII there were also tail (rudder) markings and squadron stripes and markings. E-mail if you need that info.