Returning to this one!
Oscar Duck wrote:
They did gray ot national markings in Europe inspite of what JDK says..
What I say doesn't matter in any way. (I'm often wrong.) The
critical point is whether the evidence and the theory stacks up. We are short on documentary evidence, and long on photos that bear multiple interpretations. We also have one photo (I provided on the first page) showing staining on the port star on a Mustang from the fuel filler - a definite. I've also
not stated that they didn't grey out markings on camouflaged aircraft - in that context there's sense to it. It is quite possible that the tone-down theory is correct, but the data we have doesn't pass the test (see below).
One reason we have a lot of ersatz history and stupid urban myths is we humans seem quick to believe stories that 'fit' our mindset rather than logic or reason, and we also simplify the complex to fit the stories we like to tell. That's one reason why there's so much stuff about Mustangs, B-17s and Spitfires; try telling an anecdote about a P-47, B-24 or Hurricane to someone with a minor interest in aviation history, and you'll get the 'oh is that like the famous aeroplane'.
If they remember it, it'll become about the famous aeroplane next time they tell the story. Likewise everyone 'knows' stuff and contributes to discussions on the celeb circuit aircraft while there's all of 25 people who seem to know anything about the Supermarine Walrus.
OK, digression over. Mike says above that 'Ruthless Ruthie' must be 'pretty new' due to a low mission tally. First assignment was August 1944, photo is 16 April 1945 - nine months later, in a war where a year's service was a long time. The aircraft's codes must have been applied sometime after March (the other markings around that time?) while the star and bar would probably be factory applied and
quite possibly - not certainly - very worn.
The test is very simple.
Is the only possible explanation for the different, lower contrast of the star and bar (on a natural metal aircraft) a deliberate ''tone down'? Here, again, the answer is 'no'. It may be, but it's not
proven.
However, Oscar very kindly sent me a couple more images below. He said: "pictures of two B-24’s of 446th BG based in UK. Both aircraft have grayed out national insignia. The aircraft on the right [lower here] is natural metal and the flak damage is right in the national insignia. You can see that gray has been applied over the white. The light colour (white) is not the paint coming off to metal."
The first B-24 is camouflaged, so that isn't germane, although Oscar quite rights commented: "Remember that units operated both camo and NM machines through to the end of the war in many cases." One can see an order being followed through on both schemes in a unit.
The second, close up is much more interesting. although very low quality, it looks like evidence of a mid-range grey tone spray over the white area of the marking, with some overspray onto the blue.
Oscar added: "The toning down of national insignia was a field advisory."
That's fair comment, but I'm still interested in any firsthand evidence of this - papers, crew recollection, rather than what's been presented here so far, which is all photos or secondary info. (Again, I'm no expert on US markings, and their may be a famous order I'm not aware of - so can someone show it?)
In short, I think Oscar's last image shows an unarguable actual example of a grey overcoat on the white on a natural metal B-24, but I'm still interested in good evidence.
Thanks to Oscar for sticking with it, and to everyone whose provided data. More wanted!
Regards,
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