U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers WWII – Flight Deck & Support Equipment
Historical Context
During WWII, U.S. aircraft carriers featured wooden decks, often made of teak or Douglas fir, coated with dark blue-gray stains to provide camouflage and weather resistance. Aircraft handling and support on deck required a wide range of equipment, vehicles, and color-coded crew members.
This article explores the technical layout of the flight deck, the support crew roles, equipment, vehicles, and the correct FS color codes for hyper-realistic diorama construction.
Deck Material & Colors
Wood Type: Teak or fir planks reinforced with steel supports.
Standard Paint:
Deck Stain approximates FS 25050 (Navy Blue)
Touch-up zones often appear in FS 36118 (Gunship Gray)
Weathering: Lighter gray streaks from wear and oil – FS 36270 or custom mixes.
U.S. Navy Deck Crew Color Codes (WWII)
| Shirt Color | Role Description | FS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Aircraft directors, catapult officers | FS 33538 |
| Red | Ordnance handling (bombs/rockets) | FS 31136 |
| Purple | Fuel handlers (AVGAS team) | FS 26440 |
| Blue | Aircraft push crew, elevator operators | FS 35144 |
| Brown | Plane captains, maintenance leaders | FS 30219 |
| Green | Catapult crew, maintenance personnel | FS 34087 |
| White | Medical staff, safety officers, chaplains | FS 17875 |
Support Vehicles & Ground Equipment (with FS colors)
| Equipment | Description | FS Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD-1 Carrier Tractor | Compact tug for aircraft towing | FS 34087 | Often seen with oil stains on tires |
| Tow Tractor (Ford 9N) | Heavy-duty vehicle for logistics | FS 34079 | Variants with enclosed cabins exist |
| Ammunition Cart | Small cart for bombs/rockets | FS 31136 | Hand-pulled or tractor-towed |
| AVGAS Cart | Fuel tank for aviation gasoline | FS 26440 | Marked with “AVGAS” in red |
| Oxygen/Pressure Cart | Oxygen/nitrogen tanks on wheeled racks | FS 35109 | Also painted light green in some cases |
| Tool Cart | Maintenance crew toolbox on wheels | FS 34079 | Associated with green shirts |
| Dock Safety Observer | Oversees flight safety, wears white gear | FS 17875 | Helmet may feature red cross |
| Firefighting Crew/Vehicle | Emergency response with foam tank | FS 31136 | Fire-orange suits or tan + red helmets |
Resupply Materials Table (Fuel, Ammo, etc.)
| Supply Type | Load Type | Location | FS Code | Crew Shirt Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Gasoline | 55-gallon drums | Fuel zones (mid-deck) | FS 26440 | Purple |
| .50 cal Ammo | Ammo boxes | Under deck ramps | – | Red |
| 250 lb Bombs | Twin bombs per aircraft | Magazine carts | – | Red |
| Tools & Spare Parts | Storage trays | Service hangar area | FS 34079 | Green |
Personnel Apparel – FS Color Chart
| Role/Type | Uniform Base Color | FS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Director | Bright Yellow Shirt | FS 33538 |
| Ordnance Handler | Red Shirt | FS 31136 |
| Fuel Crew | Lavender / Light Gray | FS 26440 |
| Push Crew | Intermediate Blue | FS 35144 |
| Plane Captain | Brown Shirt | FS 30219 |
| Maintenance Crew | Olive Drab Shirt | FS 34087 |
| Firefighters (Damage Ctrl) | Flame Orange/Tan | FS 31285 / FS 30160 |
| Deck Safety Officer | White Uniform | FS 17875 |
Diorama Building Guidelines
Step 1: Base Construction
Use Baltic birch plywood and stain it with FS 25050 or equivalent acrylic. Add longitudinal grain lines using thin washes for realism.
Step 2: Deck Lines & Markings
Use:
FS 37875 (white) for landing zone markers
FS 33538 (yellow) for caution zones
FS 31136 (red) around fuel or ordnance areas
Step 3: Equipment Placement
MD-1 tractors parked behind aircraft
Ammo carts next to red-shirt figures
Fuel carts near catapult starting point
Add tool carts next to opened engine panels
Step 4: Crew Deployment
Create groupings:
Two purple shirts refueling
One red shirt loading bomb cart
Safety officer standing near island tower
Firefighter crew running drill (with foam hose or CO₂ tanks)
Infographic Chart
You can download or embed the full infographic of deck equipment & crew color codes (with FS) directly from the file provided. [Let me know if you want it resized for social sharing, print, or embedded use.]
References
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/usn-deck-crew-colors.25275/
https://www.pmcn.de/English/Colors_US_Navy_1941-1945/Colors_US_Navy_1941-1945.htm
https://forum.finescale.com/t/carrier-flight-deck-painting-color/95621?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/usn-deck-crew-colors.25275/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://thanlont.blogspot.com/2022/03/flight-deck-uniform-colors.html
https://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/the-museums-new-aircraft-tugs/
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Conclusion
Reproducing the deck of a WWII aircraft carrier requires a detailed approach: historically accurate paint codes, realistic crew roles, and correct equipment layout. With this guide, modelers can build a scene that doesn’t just “look right”—it feels alive.
Available at: eshop.gmodelart.com