613Squadron Aux AF Tomahawk

[Selwyn]

As I have picked up my new Airfix 1/48 Tomahawk today, and as a born and bred Mancunian  I have decided to build it as  one of our WW2 local squadron aircraft, a 613 (City of Manchester) Sqn AuxAF example.

613 operated the Tomahawk from August 1941 to April 1942  at RAF Andover and RAF Doncaster (twice) .  Photos of 613 Tomahawks are rare as hens teeth, I know of only two, one showing a pilot in the cockpit of an unknown aircraft, and this one 613 Sqn Tomahawk AK162 SY-N.

Looking at this image to me it’s apparent that this picture must have been taken in April 1942 as the SY code was adopted by the Squadron in that month, and as 613 started to re-equip with the Mustang I in that same month this marking would have obviously been very short lived.

I have a few questions about the scheme, to me the aircraft in the image looks to be in an ocean grey/green/sky scheme, or is this a film type issue misleading the eye, and its actually the equivalent US DE/DG/grey scheme?  I also notice that it does not have a sky band on the tail, but is this because it’s an army co-operation command aircraft, not fighter command?

Any help or advice greatfully accepted!

Selwyn

[stever219]

Looking at that photo the undersides match the tone of the spinner, so should (fingers crossed) be Sky giving Dark Green  and Dar Earth upper surfaces with Sea Grey Medium codes.  As an American-supplied aircraft the camouflage was probably applied in the (in)famous Du Pont equivalents of the MAP-specified colours.  You' re probably right about the film, or it's processing, affecting the tones that we see today.

 

Jonners has got an Airfix Tomahawk on the go and his description of getting the colours right is quite illuminating, especially the Sky equivalent.

[Graham Boak]

There's a lot of glare, which makes it difficult to say anything definite.  However, as the red is subdued in the roundels and so is the second uppersurface colour, I suggest that this is consistent with it being Dark Earth viewed through an unusual filter - yellow?.  

 

If it was in the Day Fighter scheme, it would be Medium Sea Grey underneath not Sky.  It would be Sky or the US equivalent in the Temperate Land Scheme.  

[Troy Smith]

for ease of reference,note the 'embed BBcode' link

 

AMERICAN AIRCRAFT IN RAF SERVICE 1939-1945: CURTIS HAWK 81A TOMAHAWK.. © IWM (HU 92995)IWM Non Commercial Licence

 

Selwyn

 

I would not be surprised if you have this,  but if not there may be some useful info.

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Camoflage-Markings/12-Tomahawk-Airacobra

 

HTH

T