RAF / FAA Fleet Air Arm Camouflage 1941-1945

RAF / FAA Fleet Air Arm Camouflage 1941-1945

The FAA struggled to produce carrier-based aircraft of equivalent quality to that of the other two main carrier powers, the US and Ja

pan. Consequently, it relied extensively on US aircraft provided via Lend-Lease from 11 March 1941. Until 1944, Lend-Lease aircraft were typically factory painted in the US to FAA standards. Initially this meant using US equivalent paints to the three main FAA colors. These included, with their DuPont numbers in parenthesis: Dark Slate Gray (71-19323), Extra Dark Sea Gray (71-19324), and Sky (71-021). Of these, the first two topside colors were very close to their FAA versions with 71-19324 being slightly bluer. However, 71-021 was lighter and more saturated, being closer to FS 35622 which is also known as ‘Duck Egg Blue’.

A final change took place in early 1945 when it was determined that Lend-Lease aircraft were to be left in their factory Glossy Sea Blue ANA 623 overall color. This was the only time a US camouflage scheme was used on a FAA aircraft. Aircraft that were seen in GSB included the Wildcat Mk VI (FM-2), Hellcat Mk II (F6F-5), and late versions of the Corsair.

Notably, Grumman avoided the use of ANA substitute colors on all their aircraft, maintaining the practice of using DuPont equivalents. Major Grumman aircraft used by the FAA included the Martlet/Wildcat (F4F), Hellcat (F6F), and Tarpon/Avenger (TBF) although the Eastern Aircraft-built versions of the Wildcat (FM) and Avenger (TBM) used ANA substitute paints. Notably, Grumman’s Sky color is much closer to Sky Type S which suggests that DuPont 71-021 was not used for this particular color. Given Grumman’s large share of early FAA Lend-Lease aircraft, it was probably not used much with the FAA at all.

A comparison between US and FAA paints is provided below with the disclaimer that hex equivalents will never be fully accurate to an original paint chip.

A final change took place in early 1945 when it was determined that Lend-Lease aircraft were to be left in their factory Glossy Sea Blue ANA 623 overall color. This was the only time a US camouflage scheme was used on a FAA aircraft. Aircraft that were seen in GSB included the Wildcat Mk VI (FM-2), Hellcat Mk II (F6F-5), and late versions of the Corsair.

Notably, Grumman avoided the use of ANA substitute colors on all their aircraft, maintaining the practice of using DuPont equivalents. Major Grumman aircraft used by the FAA included the Martlet/Wildcat (F4F), Hellcat (F6F), and Tarpon/Avenger (TBF) although the Eastern Aircraft-built versions of the Wildcat (FM) and Avenger (TBM) used ANA substitute paints. Notably, Grumman’s Sky color is much closer to Sky Type S which suggests that DuPont 71-021 was not used for this particular color. Given Grumman’s large share of early FAA Lend-Lease aircraft, it was probably not used much with the FAA at all.

A comparison between US and FAA paints is provided below with the disclaimer that hex equivalents will never be fully accurate to an original paint chip.