Avro Lancaster: In Military Service 1945-1965 by Derry Martin & Robinson Neil

Author:Derry, Martin & Robinson, Neil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: 9781473851047
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2014-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

The post-war grey and black bomber scheme

As the end of the war in Europe was in sight, proposals regarding a change in the camouflage of night bombers began to be considered as part of a review of existing aircraft camouflage policy which was being undertaken by the Air Ministry. In January 1945, the camouflaging of RAF aircraft was under review in the light of changing operational conditions and the easing in manpower and material which would result if aircraft were supplied in a noncamouflaged state. It was suggested that Allied air superiority was such that operating certain types of aircraft, uncamouflaged, was acceptable, although non-camouflaged aircraft, particularly the larger types, would show up very clearly on the ground.

It was stated that there would undoubtedly be a saving in material and manpower if aircraft were accepted without camouflage, and it was noted that a large number of USAAF aircraft had been in service, uncamouflaged, for some time, and the Air Ministry requested Bomber Command’s views as to whether they were acceptable in this state from the operational and maintenance points of view.

Bomber Command was of the opinion that the application of the current Temperate Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark Earth to the upper surfaces was a waste of time and labour. Apart from the work expended in laying out the pattern, units had to maintain supplies of the two colours and it would possibly be a great advantage if the two colour disruptive pattern could be dispensed with in favour of a single colour.

Some experimental work had been carried out by the Bomber Development Unit in 1943 which indicated that night bombers would be less easily picked up by night fighters if their upper surfaces were painted in a lighter colour, but nothing had been done to implement any change to the production camouflage scheme. It was considered unwise to abandon camouflage on any operational bomber while Bomber Command was still engaged on night operations, but it was suggested that it would be possible to dispense with the two colour disruptive pattern on the upper surfaces in favour of a single colour, which should be a dark grey or green, preferably with a gloss finish. It was also suggested that the under surfaces for heavy bombers should remain black, but here again, a glossy finish was recommended. All RAF Commands agreed that heavy night bombers should retain some form of camouflage finish and as Bomber Command was prepared to accept a single colour in place of the existing two colours on the upper surfaces of their aircraft, it would still result in a saving of manpower. However, in the event, it was not until after the war in the Far East had also ended that the Air Ministry was in a position to begin its review of aircraft camouflage policy.

A meeting was held in October 1945 to discuss post-war aircraft camouflage policy, at which plans were set for a period of five years, with the provision that they would become subject for review after four years.

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