Having failed to locate any photo images of the Mossie in the service
of the 416thNFS, I'm seeking Forum members with RAF/USAAF expertise.
(Are you listening Nick?)

In lieu of written/visual records, I'm operating on the premise that the
416thNFS maintained the same overall RAF Medium Sea Grey with
Dark Green upper surface paint scheme, at least part of the time.

I know that RAF Mediterranean Blue came into play sometime in mid 1943
and I was wondering if this color affected the U.S. night fighter units.

Bob

 

There is a photo of a 416th NFS Mosquito on page 84 of AIR FORCE COLORS Volume 2 ETO & MTO.  Camouflage is as you described it. Source for photo is given as Harvey H. Lipincott via NASM.

Gary

Found It!

This sure looks to be the standard RAF color pattern.

Thanks Gary.

Bob

My Pleasure. 


Gary

Gary - Bob......  as technically-speaking these Mossies were "loaned" they kept their standard RAF night fighter colours of overall Medium Sea Grey with Dark Green pattern on top; this had been found more effective than overall black for intruder ops.
A few seem to have been re-marked with US insignia; they were NF. XXXs with radar in a "bull-nose" (the great majority of US Mossies were PR.XVIs in PRU blue ). At least one Twelfth Mosquito had black undersides ( the later "smooth" night finish rather than the earlier matt ("Special" ) night paint ).
Known serials were MM764,765,769,and 721 (Merlin 72s) delivered 28/4/44--7/9/44 to NW Africa (returned to RAF ); and MT462,464,465,478,and 479 (Merlin 76s) delivered 30/8/44--29/9/44. These last known to go to the 416th.
The one in Dana's photo is evidently a "stray" with special equipment (presumably radar) hence the "/G " suffix usually seen on bombers and recons.
The Mediterranean blues(there was a light and a dark) did not apply to Mosqitoes, they were on low-level recce undersides  (dark) , over-water strike-bomber aircraft, or (light) under some day fighters. Azure blue was more common (as on many US planes).
No doubt the lack of photos is due to the small numbers; Beaufighters are rather better covered.

Hope this is some help             Nick

Hi,

There is a colour profile showing a 416th NFS  Mk.XXX Mosquito in the Osprey Combat series number 9 .
Shows standard RAF camouflage ( Overall Medium Sea Grey withdisruptive pattern of  Dark Green on the upper surfaces, with with US markings. At least one had undersides finished with Smooth Night ( Gloss Black). 416 used about a dozen between February and March 45.

Alex

As usual we can always count on you to fill in the blanks in these matters.
Many thanks Nick.

Bob

Alex Smart


Hi,

There is a colour profile showing a 416th NFS  Mk.XXX Mosquito in the Osprey Combat series number 9 .
Shows standard RAF camouflage ( Overall Medium Sea Grey withdisruptive pattern of  Dark Green on the upper surfaces, with with US markings. At least one had undersides finished with Smooth Night ( Gloss Black). 416 used about a dozen between February and March 45.

Alex

Alex,

Is there a tri-colored Allied flash located on the fin in this profile?

Bob

hello Bob,

It is shown as being overpainted with the Grey on the port side. No stbd side profile.

Alex

Okay thanks Alex. I'm trying to establish some sort of a time-line for
the usage of this devise by the NFS's but can't seem to get a handle
on anything concrete, the application appears to have been sporadic
and sparse with these outfits.

Bob

Bob       if you mean the RAF fin flash (this was the post-May 1942 style with narrow white centre) .....
on Beaufighters---these came from British Air Storage Units or Maintenance Depots in N. Africa in 1943; the fuselage cockades were overpainted with star-and-bars, the upper cockades painted out with dark green or olive drab. At least one had 2 US insigniae on top wings. They were Mk. VIf s with either standard or "thimble" noses.
They were transferred about the time bars were added but some didn't have the red(later blue) outline , as on many aircraft in the SW Pacific. A few Beaufighters  were still in Dark Earth-Mid-stone with black unders, the fin flashes painted out with camouflage. On the Medium Sea Grey-Dark Green Beaus, overpainted grey. Unlike many Twelfth Spitfires they didn't seem to retain them; as they were flying at night they wouldn't have been regarded as "theatre" markings.
Those Mosquitoes re-marked with Star-and-bars had the flashes overpainted with MSG (if available) or green shades  but almost certainly some kept their RAF insigniae and flashes.

Regards   Nick
PS  I'll be away until next Wedn. ( 27th ).

Nick,

Is 'RAF fin flash' the name for this marking devise or did the
British Air Ministry have another official designation?

Also, I was under the impression that because the Beau's and Mossie's
were in effect 'on loan' under a reverse Lend Lease provision, that all
normal RAF markings (other that national insignia) were to remain intact.
Wouldn't this have applied to the fin flashes?

Bob

Hi Bob       just got back from Chicago and saw your post.
The official term was "Tail fin marking" but from about mid-1942 the term "Fin flash" appears in AM Orders, a more descriptive phrase used by Observer Corps and recognition journals; "flashes" were the shoulder patches worn by Army units.
There was no requirement for reverse lend-lease aircraft to keep their tail markings, these were considered part of the national insignia (with roundels) but obviously many did. It was common for utility/communication/ hacks to keep their full RAF markings.
Strictly speaking they should be called "cocardes" rather than "roundels"; the latter were coloured rings not 3-coloured circles, the only true roundels were carried by Royal Naval Air Service aircraft early in WW1, a red ring enclosing a white centre.

Regards   Nick