Yiannis Mitzas

P-51A Mustang Camouflage

Razzle Bazzle CONFUSION camouflage P-51A Mustang
Rare & Unusual Paint Schemes
Mark 1 reconnaissance aircraft (P-51 variant) in disruptive camouflage.
This type of camouflage, commonly referred to as the “blur” paint scheme, was widely experimented with during World War II, primarily on ships and naval vessels. It was also incorporated into many aircraft, although details are few and unclear. This P51 Mustang reconnaissance aircraft appears to be a “one-off” design that may have seen active service in World War II. Possibly using an early “transitional trainer” version of the P51, this aircraft features 20mm cannons in place of the standard machine guns.
Very little is known about this aircraft. In 1942, USAAF Captain Paul Hexter designed a black and white camouflage scheme with a dazzling color reminiscent of a World War I battleship. While moderately successful, the application and maintenance of the scheme was labor-intensive and ultimately not adopted. The only evidence of this scheme is the limited number of original photographs that exist. The P-51 Mustang was used to test a paint scheme to confuse the enemy’s perception of the aircraft’s orientation in flight. The pattern was painted in black and white and was identical on both sides of the fuselage. The upper surfaces of the wings, tail, and fuselage were painted olive drab. A single U.S. insignia was painted on the upper wing of the port wing.

Color :
Olive Drab FS-33070
Flat Black FS-37038
Insignia White FS-17875