Other than O.D. /Neutral Grey, did any TCG's assigned to the MTO
utilize other camouflage paints, I.E., Sand and Neutral Grey, etc?

Bob

Hello,

It may be very interesting topic. I have just wanted to set up very similar topic but not dedicated to MTO. I wanted to discuss about it more generally. There were very light painting schemes on the CG-4As but on the b-w photos it is impossible to tell what color is it if we do not have USAAF regulations about painting those gliders.

I do not know such very light CG-4As from MTO but I know them from the USA.

Best regards

Greg

Greg,

With a little luck maybe we'll get some of the answers we're looking for.

Bob

Bob     there are a couple of vague references to "desert" C-47s seen in the UK in 1944-45, ...viz...

" in late 1944 visitors to Bovingdon could often see C-47s in the sand finish, having perhaps been put on a shuttle service between the UK and Italy. The colour perhaps having been exposed for some time , had faded much of the yellow, leaving only the darkish pink pigment....."

Bovingdon at this time was Air Service Command Europe and their " resident" transports were OD--NG with yellow-black ASC bands on the tail tips.
Even allowing for the weathered OD a desert finish would stand out.  I must admit I havn't seen a colour photo though.

Nick

Welcome back Nick, how was the Windy City?

I've had the same problem. I remember seeing various paint schemes
on restored a/c at museums and air shows, but can't seem to be able
to nail down anything solid regarding usage in the MTO. Maybe something
will turn up yet. If I can locate any 'smoking guns' on the subject I'll be
sure to post the info.

Thanks,
Bob

If you want to find out about the glider, try the silent wings museum in Lubbock TX. The have a wealth of information at their disposal

Gordon

gogs


If you want to find out about the glider, try the silent wings museum in Lubbock TX. The have a wealth of information at their disposal

Gordon

Thanks Gordon, I'll check it out.

Bob

skybear adn Greg,

CG-4A paint color/shade was specified by the Army by paint ID number.  I am not home or I could find and give you the paint number.  The XCG-3 and both XCG-4 were WACO painted in the yellow wing, blue fuselage, w/red-white horizontal stripes on rudder. 

Those gliders were eventually painted O.D. at either Wright or CCAAF.  Production was O.D.  Cessna production in 1942 and early 1943 production by others I believe was only O.D.  At some point in 1943 the gray was added to the bottom of the fuselage and wings. I believe the O.D. shade also changed in later production. 

Some CG-4A assigned to TCC, Stout Field and perhaps other TCC bases awere painted silver by the Army.  The XCG-14, XCG-14A and a few of the XCG-15A were painted silver as was the XPG-2A that was engined by LaSalle's trainees at Sheppard Field.  This was a Ford built CG-4A that was originally factory painted O.D.  Of course, the invasion full stripes for Normandy were field painted as were the Market half-stripes and the Burma stripes.  It also quite possible there was other painting done in field.

When looking at glider photos the star and star w/bars can help date the photo generally based on when the bars and blue stripe were made mandatory.  

Another "paint" oddity is the serial number painted on the vertical stabilzer.  This number was assigned in blocks to each prime contractor and were used sequentially by the manufacturer.  Most 1942 contract serials (2xxxxx) were produced in early 1943.  One third to possibly one half of the 1943 contract serials (3xxxxx) were produced in early 1944.  The number painted on the glider should not have changed from the contract year to the year of production. 

However, I have seen photos of WACO production and serials listed on 82nd. AB reports that show WACO 2xxxxx contract numbers painted or listed as 3xxxxx on the tail.  One of these glider photos showing 3xxxxx on the tail is a glider delivered to SPAAF, Lubbock, in crate, and the crate has 2xxxxx painted on it.  WACO would have to have used the 2xxxxx number on the crate and other paperwork in order to get paid by the Army.  Yet, WACO seems to have painted 3xxxxx on the tail of as many as 250+ 1943 production of 1942 contract numbers.     

Charles Day

Silent Ones, WWII Invasion Glider Test & Experiment