RAF Desert Camouflage (reposted from the wrong area)

Knightflyer · May 26, 2011, 12:41:52 PM

Hi All
A question for you. Some Spitfires and Tempest operated by the RAF in the late 1940's wore a 'desert' camouflage (different from the wartime one well known on desert Kittyhawks etc) and later transport aircraft such as the Hercules, Beverley and Andover transports had a stone and sand camouflage.
My question is, why didn't the Vampires, Venoms and Hunters operated by the RAF in the Middle East in the 1950s and 60s wear a desert camouflage which surely would have been more suited to conditions in the Arabian Peninsula? Why did the tactical transports have the camouflage? Does anyone known of the thinking / policy why?
The reason I ask is apart from the occasional Whiff I generally model RAF aircraft, and grey and green hunters are getting boring, No. 8 or 208 squadron aircraft DESERVE

desert camouflage!
I'm sure they've been whiffed in RAF desert markings before, but I just wondered why it hadn't happened in the real world? (Okay so my one question became several, such is life!)

Thorvic · May 26, 2011, 10:58:38 PM

I think the reason was costs, the tactical strike/fighters were rotated between Europe and the MEAF & FEAF so they retained their European camo, although it was mooted to repaint those aircraft types to the theatre style camo. The camoflage was certainly applies to export aircraft to the region so the paints and schemes were developed but never applied to RAF machines (The Buccaneers did temporarily carry the MEAF tactical scheme on a Red Flag exercise as did a Vulcan on its undersides). I "Think" the Singapore AF Hunters carried what would have been the RAF Far East Air Force tactical scheme, although i can't remember where i got that snippet from $:-\$

Knightflyer · May 29, 2011, 11:45:21 AM

Hi Thorvic
Ta for the reply, it explains it, cost strikes again! Isn't it a shame there weren't any RAF tactical desert camouflaged 'fighter' aircraft until the Gulf War though?
One thing, you mention a 'RAF Far East Air Force tactical scheme' How would that have differed from the European scheme?

Mossie · May 29, 2011, 02:28:04 PM

Singapore Hunters were delivered in Dark Green/Dark Earth over Light Aircraft Grey I believe. The camo was changed later, but my guess is that RAF machines would have used the delivery scheme.

Knightflyer · May 29, 2011, 11:30:18 PM

Well there's a possible whiff then for the old Airfix FGA.9 Hunter 20 squadron markings. How about a desert pink Hunter?

Mossie · May 30, 2011, 09:25:27 AM

Sounds good to me!

The Far East Air Force scheme would work well for RAF in Vietnam natrually. I've sometimes thought that replacing the Dark Earth with Light Stone might work as a variant.

Maverick · May 31, 2011, 06:22:02 PM

I actually think that some UK helos (RMCdo) wore a Dark Green/Light Stone disruptive. In this I'm thinking of the HU.5 variant.

Regards,

Mav

Mossie · June 01, 2011, 02:17:36 AM

Yeah, they were Royal Navy Wessex's in support of RM operations. I believe this was when the term 'junglie' was developed, it's since applied to any RN helicopter dressed in camouflage in support of the Marines, even snow camo.

Thinking about it some more, many British Armed Forces ground vehicles have appeared in many camo variations over the cold war period. It's a bit easier & cheaper to slap some paint on a Landie, but where there's a will, there's a way an' all that.

Maverick · June 01, 2011, 03:39:54 AM

Yeppers quite true. RN sqn but supporting Cdo ops. Can't recall the unit exactly, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

As you say, cheaper & easier for vehicles than aircraft and I suspect vehicles are moreso always based in a given theater rather than deployed and then returned to home.

Regards,

Mav

IanH · June 01, 2011, 04:53:13 AM

IIRC, those Tempests & Spits deployed to the Middle East were in the Temperate Day Scheme. Unfortunately, Isreali Spits were painted Temperate Day in use, and Egyptian Spits were in Desert Day...Problems, which led to the Dark Earth/LSlate Grey Scheme.
As suggested, Hunters and Vampires were rotated from Europe, and due to cost, they weren't repainted...
The Transport Command Aircraft were more permanent and painted acordingly.
As Maverick suggested, certain vehicles remain in Theare, and are painted as such (BATUS, Cyprus and UN)...Armoured Vehicles not permanently Deployed by Garrison Troops (Re - Inforcements and Short Term Deployments - 6 Months approx) are painted/uparmoured either before deployment (The weapons are Boresighted and Range Certified beforehand, and all mechanical problems solved - sometimes this leads to 'Hangar Queens' - not the best solution, but that's how it goes) or in Theatre, where the Spares situation is a higher priority.

Mossie · June 01, 2011, 05:28:08 AM

Quote from: Maverick on June 01, 2011, 03:39:54 AM
Yeppers quite true. RN sqn but supporting Cdo ops. Can't recall the unit exactly, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

845 NAS I believe.

IanH · June 01, 2011, 05:38:48 AM

Quote from: Mossie on June 01, 2011, 05:28:08 AM
Quote from: Maverick on June 01, 2011, 03:39:54 AM
Yeppers quite true. RN sqn but supporting Cdo ops. Can't recall the unit exactly, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

845 NAS I believe.

IIRC they had the White Tiger Striped Commando in Split...

Mossie · June 01, 2011, 05:44:16 AM

Think you're right, they seem to have a reputation for modding paint schemes.

IanH · June 01, 2011, 05:47:40 AM

It was a great sight to see out there (don't get me started on Czech Air!!!!)

Knightflyer · June 03, 2011, 12:15:13 PM

Hi to all that replied
Been on holiday the last few days, so I didn't get a chance to reply sooner. Thanks for the answers, the constraints of cost certainly made the world a more boring place .......still, that's why whiffers were created!

One final question ....as a newbie, what does IIRC mean !?!