Camouflage deleted from P-47s allocated to the British and French Air Forces, November 1, 1944

On October 20, 1944, the JAC approved the deletion of camouflage from all P-47 aircraft allocated to the French Government, and on November l, 1944, they did the same for P-47s allocated to the British Government. The Chief of Administration (WF) requested that they be informed of the serial numbers of the first non-camouflaged aircraft delivered to those countries.

Eleventh Air Force given data on comparative effectiveness of current camouflage schemes, November 6.1944.

The Production Engineering Division (WF) informed the CG, 11th AF Systems Command, on November 6, 1944, that standard olive drab camouflage, unpainted aircraft, and Jet black no. 622 finished aircraft, respectively, were most effective for daytime flight camou­flage. White, rather than gray, was better against a cloudy sky, but gray was effective against a clear sky.

They further stated that unpainted and olive drab finished aircraft were equally invisible against a heavy haze background, but that the olive drab finish gave better concealment for ground camouflage.

North American P-51D-15-NA, 44-14951, aircraft E9-Pof the 367th FS, 361st FG, Eighth Air Force, is seen at strip A-64 on December 30,1944. It had been ordered to France to fly top cover for aircraft of the Ninth Air Force operating over the Battle of the Bulge. The spinner and nose were in yellow, as was the rudder. (William L. Swisher)

North American P-51D-15-NA, 44-15387, aircraft SX-? “Stasia П", of the 352nd FS, 353rd FG, Eighth Air Force, at Raydon, England, in late December 1944. Spinner and nose markings are black and yellow. The under fuselage invasion stripes are still in place. (DSAF)