Battle of Britain Memorial Flight just flew over

[David's8]

I never have understood why anyone would paint a plane in camouflage paint then paint bright stripes and a target on it! [/quote]

Thats because the army are cr@p at aircraft recognition and would fire at anything in the sky unless it was clearly distinguished by (in this case) the black and white stripes painted on for the Normandy landings. And even then, the army still shot at them.

The Navy has an excuse in that any tw@t who wants to barrel in at a ship in a provocative manner deserves a salvo or two. I am sure that Conan would agree with me!

[moltuae]

Originally Posted by David's8

Thats because the army are cr@p at aircraft recognition and would fire at anything in the sky unless it was clearly distinguished by (in this case) the black and white stripes painted on for the Normandy landings. And even then, the army still shot at them.

haha. True, but then why put camouflage paint on them at all?

And if you are going to try to camouflage a plane, surely it would be better to stick to colours commonly found on a runway or in the sky

[David's8]

Originally Posted by moltuae

haha. True, but then why put camouflage paint on them at all?

And if you are going to try to camouflage a plane, surely it would be better to stick to colours commonly found on a runway or in the sky

Ah well this is an entirely different subject. UK WW2 Photo recce aircraft flying high would generally be painted duck-egg blue. But on the ground they would be put in hangars. But other aircraft were at risk when on the ground at their dispersals - often on grass airfields - and so were painted in brown /green camouflage to prevent being seen by overflying recce aircraft. UK Bombers were generally black with just the topsides camoulflaged. The USA aircraft involved mainly in daylight raids didnt bother at all and left their aircraft in polished aluminium (sounds familiar?).

[moltuae]

Originally Posted by David's8

Ah well this is an entirely different subject. UK WW2 Photo recce aircraft flying high would generally be painted duck-egg blue. But on the ground they would be put in hangars. But other aircraft were at risk when on the ground at their dispersals - often on grass airfields - and so were painted in brown /green camouflage to prevent being seen by overflying recce aircraft. UK Bombers were generally black with just the topsides camoulflaged. The USA aircraft involved mainly in daylight raids didnt bother at all and left their aircraft in polished aluminium (sounds familiar?).

Makes sense. But if you're only going to camouflage half of the aircraft and paint colourful stripes and targets on t'other 'alf, why bother camouflaging it at all!? It's going to stand out like the proverbial sore thumb wherever you put it.

[David's8]

Maybe they couldn't afford the whole paint job.

[Audidothat]

Originally Posted by moltuae

Makes sense. But if you're only going to camouflage half of the aircraft and paint colourful stripes and targets on t'other 'alf, why bother camouflaging it at all!? It's going to stand out like the proverbial sore thumb wherever you put it.

I think at the time of the Normandy landings the Allied forces had air superiority and so the invasion markings were applied. I think.
Either way, I imagine the sound of an approaching RR Merlin was the sound of welcome help!