 Great Britain
RAF - Day Fighter Scheme
(August 1941 to end of 1940s)
 Germany (Nazi)
Luftwaffe - 1940 Fighter Scheme
(Since May 1940)
 Slovakia
SVZ - Khaki Camouflage Scheme
(1939 - 1944)
 USA
USAAF - OD Green Scheme
(1940 - 1953)
 Finland
Ilmavoimat - 1940 Camouflage Scheme
(1938-1942)
 France
Armee de l'Air/Aeronavale - Multicolour Scheme
(1938-1942)
 Yugoslavia
VVKJ - 1938 Camouflage Scheme
(1938-1941)
VVKJ - 1939 Fighter Camouflage Scheme
(1939-1940)
VVKJ - Modified Three-tone Camouflage Schemes
(1940-1941)
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Great BritainRAF - Day Fighter SchemeAugust 1941 to end of 1940s
In the summer 1941, in response to a change in tactics by the Luftwaffe, whose
aircraft were operating at much greater altitudes than before, a new camouflage scheme was
introduced for the RAF's day fighters. The pilots of Fighter Command had been reporting for
some time that the Temperate Land Scheme (Dark Green/Dark Earth/Sky) camouflage applied to
their aircraft appeared to be too dark for the altitudes at which they were flying and
fighting. As RAF fighters were perceived to be operating under a tactical disadvantage due
to their camouflage scheme, on 26 March 1941 Fighter Command requested that new camouflage
trials be carried out by the Air Fighting Development Unit (AFDU) at Duxford with the
assistance of the RAE. It was eventually decided to replace the Dark Earth segments by a new
colour, known as Ocean Grey. This 'new' colour, in its original 1941 version, was a mix of
seven parts Medium Sea Grey and one part Night. The Sky undersurfaces were to be painted
Medium Sea Grey. This combination, known as the Day Fighter Scheme, was adopted by the RAF
Fighter Command aircraft from 15 August 1941 on, and was actually a compromise solution in
that it was effective from ground level to 30,000 ft. The upper surfaces pattern had the
usual two alternative mirror image A and B schemes.
Supermarine Spitfire - Scheme A
Supermarine Spitfire - Scheme В
Dark Green |
Ocean Grey |
Medium Sea Grey |
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De Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk.VI (SB-V/MN403)
No.464 RAAF Squadron, location?, Great Britain, February 1944.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
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Supermarine Spitfire PR.Mk.XIVe (OI-L/RNM821)
No.2 Squadron, unknown location, Germany, May 1945.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
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North American Mustang Mk.III (SS/FZ152)
CO of No.133 Wing, Coolham, Great Britain, June 1944.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
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Hawker Typhoon Mk.? (5V-H/PO603)
No.439 RCAF Squadron, St. Andre, France, August 1944.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
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Hawker Tempest Mk.V (W2-Y/EJ865)
No.80 Squadron, Wunstorf, Germany, 1946.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
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Gloster Meteor F.Mk.III (EE274/YQ-P)
No.616 Squadron, Nijmegen, Netherlands, April 1945.
Artist: © Bruno Pautigny |
by Stephen Sender
Last update: 05/08/2013
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