The questions relating to the use of a colour called Dark Blue by the US Navy first came to the author’s attention as a result of the research carried out into the colour schemes of the Malta Spitfires of 1942 that subsequently appeared in SAM under the title ‘A Malta Story’. The first of these articles briefly examined the idea that some of the Spitfires that were deployed to Malta from the USS Wasp might have been repainted whilst aboard using some sort of paint that was provided by the US Navy. Following the publication of ‘A Malta Story’ in the December 2016 and January 2017 issues of SAM, a discussion on the Britmodeller website under the title ‘Malta Blue Spitfires’ led to US aviation historian Dana Bell posting the following on 9 April 2017.
‘I can’t claim to have seen Paul’s SAM articles from last year, but Wasp was one of two carriers sent supplies of an experimental USN paint called Dark Blue, which was a supposed near match for Deck Blue stain. Half of Wasp’s air group was supposedly painted in the new color. If the Spits matched the F4Fs, they could have all been using the new Dark Blue.
That is just another possibility – and I’m not claiming that this happened with any certainty – but it’s a strong ‘cudda-bin’.
Mr. Bell went on to make three further contributions relating to Dark Blue in two further Britmodeller threads. The first of these was entitled ‘Some interesting air crash finds and trace of Blue paint on a Spitfire Aileron’ and contained two posts dated 19 November 2019. The first of these read as follows
This story is from the August 2021 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2021 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mustard
BAC's Low Speed Research Vehicle
KOVOZAVODY PROSTEJOV (KP) 1 Was Monty's Triple'
Brian Derbyshire
SPECIAL HOBBY SAAB J-21A Review
From the late 1930s and early 1940s, with thewar in Europe raging around them andedging ever closer to its borders, the Flygvapnet had ordered Seversky P-35A aircraft, alongside Vultee Vanguards, but only sixty of the former and none of the latter were received.
VFR MODELS Beagle B.121 Pup
This is the first 3D printed kit I have come across and it is really rather fine.
Hearts in the sky RIAT RETURNS
After a nearly three-year hiatus RIAT returned to our skies with a hot show in every sense of the word. SAM’s Mike Verier and Ray Ball were there.
Colour Conundrum
A Cancellation Conundrum - The RAF F-111s That Might Have Been Part 1
COPPER CAUDRON Caudron G.Ill in 1/32
Copper State Models have carved a name for themselves in the last few years producing high quality plastic kits of World War One subjects.
Academy RF-8A Crusader Conversion in 1/72
USMC squadron VMCJ-2 used six RF-8As during the Crisis (designation F8U-1P until September 1962), with others held in reserve, two flying out of Guantanamo Bay, and four out of NAS Key West.
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Modelling US reconnaissance assets in 1/72 Part 2: The Nuclear Confrontation
UKRAINIAT striker
The Sukhoi Su-24 is an all-weather attack aircraft capable of supersonic speeds and characterised by its side-by-side pilot/navigator seating and its variable geometry wing.
