Super Aereo

True, but it is possible that the three formulae were intended to be produced by different plants with materials available from local firms: long-haul rail or road transport was not easy in 1944 Germany, mostly due to the continuous disruptions and harassment caused by the Allied air offensive.

I think it might have been this thread: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235084659-raf-day-fighter-use-of-yellow-leading-edge-in-the-mediterranean-352-sqdn-spitfire/#comment-3916704

IIRC, only the DB 601 was actually installed on a IAR 80 (No.13, I think), but the DB 605 only existed as a project which was neve built

I might be wrong, but strongly suspect that by the time of the battle of Cassino most if not all Kittyhawk of the DAF had abandoned their desert colours in favour of a more sensible Temperate Land Scheme of DG/DE...

From the American side, 324th and 27th FG took part with their P-40's

I believe any fighter-bomber actions directly involving Cassino and the immediately adjacent area were carried out by 239 Wing RAF (Squadrons 112, 250 RAF, 3, 450 RAAF, 5 SAAF on Kittyhawks and 260 RAF on Mustangs III) together with 7 Wing SAAF (Squadrons 1, 2, 7, and 4 SAAF on Spitfires), but it would be worth checking more in detail

Merrick mentions monochrome Bf 109's in the escort role on page 163 of volume 1 of "Luftwaffe Camouflage and Markings 1933-1945"

Units flying Bf 109's as top cover for Sturmbock FW 190's had their aircraft camouflaged in RLM 76 all-over, IIRC

Please see: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235057073-quick-saaf-kittyhawk-questions/

Wrong thread, apologies

I think Poruba eventually realised that 74 (which could have a greenish tinge) might have been kept in use even after its official removal from the list of approved colours. Poruba's research is great, but in the end a lot of it can only be guesswork, given the lack of official documents...

Poruba changed his interpretation of colours in the later book "Messerschmitt Bf 109s of KG(J) 6" proposing that the camouflage might have been 74/75 with undersurfaces in 76 (see pages 151-155)

The IWM still has the digitized version of the footage online: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060019790 You are welcome. 😉

IIRC, recent research established the existence of at least three distinct but co-existing variants for both 81 and 83. German industry was widely dispersed by then and I would guess - as you pointed out - that maximising output was the main imperative...

The "problem" (from their point of view) is that there is exactly zero evidence for this, but hey, whatever makes them happy, I guess... 😉