AIRCRAFT CAMOUFLAGE

a. Painting of the exterior metal surface of Army Air Forces aircraft is hereby discontinued, except as may be directed otherwise by the Commanding General Army Air Forces for aircraft destined for delivery to foreign agencies. This does not, however, eliminate the required identification data, insignia, anti-glare coatings, and corrosion prevention. Man-hours expended on maintaining existing camouflage finishes, now considered unnecessary, will be held to a minimum.

b. Paint may be removed from presently painted metal aircraft by the operating organizations at the discretion of Commanders concerned, as local facilities and materials are available, provided no interruption in operations is entailed. Alumi­nized parts installed on a camouflaged aircraft will not be camouflaged. However, when any unpainted metal surface of suffi­cient area is installed that would materially affect the flight characteristics of the airplane, the remaining camouflage paint may be removed. Camouflaged metal parts installed on unpainted airplanes need not have camouflage removed.

c. All fabric control surfaces and fabric-covered aircraft will be aluminized when re-covering is necessary.

d. PARTS IN STOCK.

(1) Aircraft airfoils and other exterior metal parts in stock need not have the camouflage paint removed.

(2) Fabric control surfaces in stock, or installed as replacements, need not be refinished for any color match­ing purposes.

e. Camouflage black need not be applied to propellers unless required for antiglare purposes or corrosion resistance; however, the 4-inch yellow tip must be maintained as a safety measure. Repaired hollow steel blades from which any of the protective plating has been removed will be painted as outlined below, to protect against corrosion. Wood propellers will not be painted black.

(1) If camouflage black is to be used for antiglare or corrosion resistance purposes, it will be accomplished by spraying the hub and each propeller blade while in a horizontal position, and retaining the propeller in this position until the camouflaging materials have set. Over one light coat of zinc chromate primer, Specification No. AN-TT-P-656, one light coat black cellulose nitrate camouflage lacquer, shade No. 44, will be applied and will extend to within 4 inches of the tip of the blade; this 4-inch tip section will receive one light coat of yellow lacquer, shade No. 48, The propeller will then be checked for balance.

(2) When necessary, three-and four-blade metal propellers may be lightly touched up between overhaul periods, while installed on the airplanes. Care will be exercised to apply proportionate amounts of paint to each blade to maintain proper blade balance.