Norwegian pre WWII National Markings

[NARSES2]

Now pre WWII the Norwegian Army AF used the national colours in bands across the full span of the wings and as rudder strips for their national markings. I know most of their AF was destroyed on the ground at the very start of the invasion but does anyone know if they changed these on any surviving aircraft to make them less conspicuous ?

I've seen photos of their naval N-3PB's with truncated rudder stripes and the wing bands restricted to the leading edge, but was that just for these aircraft ?

I want to do a camouflaged Norwegian AF Hurricane and I just feel the full span bands wouldn't look right on an aircraft actually being used in the War ? I was thinking of "over painting" the back and front of the bands so that they just appear as rectangle. Your thoughts are welcome gents.

[PR19_Kit]

Maybe the Northrops were the only ones left to have the short form stripes Chris?

Anyway, this is WhiffWorld, you can use any markings scheme you like. 

[Dizzyfugu]

AFAIK, the stripes were kept for some time - some Norwegian P-36 trainers were based in the USA (painted in a SICK all pale green!), and these original markings were kept until 1940, AFAIK. Not certain when the "triangel" roundel was introduced, but IIRC it came up after WWII, when the Norwegian Air Force was re-built with British aircraft?

[Logan Hartke]

At least some of the He 115s were marked the same way as the N-3PB, NARSES, so that's the way I'd go if I were you. Leading edge of the wing and bottom of the rudder. These were overpaints of the full prewar markings, so that's definitely they way I'd lean.



The Norwegian Gladiators, Hawk 75s, and Tiger Moths all had full span markings during the invasion, as well as the training aircraft in "Little Norway" (like the Douglas DB-8A) had full span markings after the evacuation of Norway, so clearly nothing changed officially.



It does seem to be an unofficial repaint, but Norway's sole captured Ar 196 did seem to have truncated markings in the positions you were thinking about. I suspect that a large part of the reason for that, though, is that they were overpainting the Balkenkreuz found in those positions.



Now, if your hypothetical Hurricane was a repainted RAF example, that would give you the excuse you needed to make them squarish markings in those spots.

Cheers,

Logan

[Dizzyfugu]

That Ar 196 solution would surely work well.  

The He 115's upper paint scheme also looks interesting... Cool material, thanks a lot for posting. Inspiring stuff  

[NARSES2]

Thank you Logan 

I'd not seen the He 115 with the truncated markings and as for the Arado, that's exactly what I was thinking of  .

Not sure yet if my Hurricane will be in Narvik or if I'll have her based in the Shetlands post the invasion, but I do now know what she will look like. Thanks again

[Logan Hartke]

Glad I could help! This is the kind of research that I do before some of my profiles and I did much of it already when I did that Norwegian Viking.



Cheers,

Logan

[NARSES2]

Thanks again Logan. I did spend some time trying to find out but I hadn't found anything like that Arado (indeed didn't know they'd captured one). Your research just gives my Hurricane a little more "authenticity" 

As far as research goes I'm still much happier with the written word then on-line I'm afraid. The problem with on-line research is the sheer volume of answers you get ! Sign of age - yet another 

[Logan Hartke]

Happy to help, NARSES! I have plenty of paper sources on my side, as well—including the book that captured Arado photo comes from! As you know, authenticity is definitely one of the things I strive for.

Cheers,

Logan

[dogsbody]

Some Canadian content:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Norway

http://www.weaponsofwwii.com/forumfiles/Aircraft/little%20norway%204.JPG

http://warthunder.com/en/news/736-Historical-The-Royal-Norwegian-Air-Force-en


Chris