SEAC MARKINGS

British Aircraft Markings in South East Asia 1941 - 1945

- Robert Humphreys

A solution to the problem caused by the prominence of the White areas of the national markings was resolved by replacing the colour entirely with a light blue colour, which was arrived at by mixing one part of Roundel Blue with four parts White. This resulted in a pleasing hue, which was referred to as 'India White! The use of this new colour, along with the reduced size of the markings, appeared to satisfy the need to establish an aircraft's nationality without compromising its camouflage. At the end of September 1943 the use of the revised size and colour national markings was finally adopted. The need for aircraft to carry code letters also seems to have become unnecessary around mid-1943, but individual letters were retained. However, it took some time to apply the new markings to all the aircraft in India and Burma, and it was not at all unusual to see a combination of both old and new styles of markings in use alongside each other for some weeks to come.

It is interesting to note that the new low-viz markings are generally referred to as 'SEAC markings! There appears to be no official reason for this, the only plausible explanation being that their adoption took place shortly before the formation of South East Asia Command on 16 November 1943. This Command was established to be in charge of all Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre, with British Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten as Supreme Allied Commander.

Hurricane Mk IIC, LD726, Y, of 113 San RAF, as flown by F/O Graham Skallam, Burma 1944

Basic kit: Arma Hobby Hurricane Mk IIC (ref. 70037)