KRK4m Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) One of the few (and perhaps best known) Hudson units operating over the MTO was Australian-manned No.459 Squadron. These Hudsons (Cyclone-engined Mk.III and Mk.IIIA as well as TwinWasp-engined Mk.V and Mk.VI) had RAF serials, of which some 80-90 are known. Last pictures of these a/c, taken in early 1944, show most of them in high-demarcation anti-submarine RAF Coastal Command scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey (Temperate Sea scheme) over White. But in the web there are also photos from earlier period, showing the a/c in low-demarcation scheme. I would like to know your opinion, whether these planes wore Temperate Land Scheme (DG/DE over Sky), earlier Temperate Sea Scheme (EDSG/DSG over Sky), Transport Command scheme (EDSG/DSG over Azure) or Desert Scheme (DE/MS over Azure). Some of them feature more contrasted areas, some are less-contrasted, so.... The photos I mention depict: T9397 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007594 and http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P990152 V8998 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P892238 AE510 Mk.III http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027089 FH242 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027085 FH257 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007596 FH285 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027092 FH292 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027088 FH300 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P016921 FH351 Mk.IIIA http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P027084 as well as the unidentified a/c featuring nose art http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/P007597 As the "anti-sub" planes belong to the same batch FH227-FH459 it looks almost sure, that white undersurfaces and fuselage sides were introduced "in field" over the previous low-demarcation scheme. But this is only my opinion, however... Cheers Michael Edited July 4, 2016 by KRK4m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I feel that the low contrast suggests TSS uppers, with perhaps Azure Blue or Light Mediterranean Blue underneath. I'd also suggest that the date of 1942 is a bit late for coastal aircraft to be operating in TLS, even in the Middle East. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 What Graham said!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I feel that the low contrast suggests TSS uppers, with perhaps Azure Blue or Light Mediterranean Blue underneath. I'd also suggest that the date of 1942 is a bit late for coastal aircraft to be operating in TLS, even in the Middle East. That sounds rather attractive! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 (edited) That sounds attractive and this is the reason of my query As FH-serialled Lend-Lease Mk.IIIAs are also seen in TSS over white (very "wavy" demarcation line doesn't look factory-applied) http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson/meb0043 I also hope, that they sported TSS over Azure or Light Med Blue. But older Mk.IIIs (serials T, V and AE) and two or three Mk.IIIAs still feature A1 roundels on these early-1942 photos. And there the topsides colours contrast is either sharp (on panchromatic) or virtually non-existent (on ortochromatic material) http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/459-Hudson So maybe TLS over Sky? Cheers Michael Edited July 4, 2016 by KRK4m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I expect the aircraft will have been delivered in TSS/Sky, but ME HQ had objected to Sky in 1940. They created their own light blue, sent it to the UK, which then standardised it as Azure Blue although it doesn't seem to have been quite identical, as far as is known. See Paul Lucas's articles on early ME camouflage in recent SAMs. It took a little while for the new colour to take over completely, but it seems unlikely that aircraft would still be seen in Sky in this theatre, as late as 1942. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRK4m Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 On 7/4/2016 at 9:21 PM, Graham Boak said: I expect the aircraft will have been delivered in TSS/Sky... Totally agree for AE510 and AM950, but bulk of Txxxx and Vxxxx blocks are known to have been delivered in TLS over Sky and are frequently shown in TLS over Aluminium or TLS over Night. What were the rules then? ...it seems unlikely that aircraft would still be seen in Sky in this theatre, as late as 1942. But if (I say IF) the TLS uppersurfaces were overpainted to TSS the roundels also should be modified to C1, shouldn't they? Cheers Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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