Blenheims and Hurricanes

[Max Headroom]

Just watching an episode of 'Aircraft Stories' that I recorded from Discovery Knowledge this morning. It covers the Belenheim, Wellington and the Lancaster. Other types also make an appearance - well worth a watch if you come across the episode.

About three minutes in there is an air to air sequence of a Blenheim IV and at least three Hurricanes flying over what appears to be tropical forest. All three aircraft have single letters but are indistinguishable. What makes them odd is that all three appear to have a uniform light colour (white?) on the rear top fuselage - from behind the aerial mast on the Hurri's and behind the turret on the Blenheim. The fixed part of the horizontal stabilizers are in the same colour. Upper surface roundels are what I still call B type, whilst the fuselage is A1. The fin flash is equal red, white and blue.

Now I know aircraft bound for Egypt ferried via Takoradi in West Africa had upper surfaces painted white as a visual aid in case they forced landed. However, the 'jungle' underneath to me at least looks more far east. India/Burma/Singapore based aircraft used European camouflage and markings before adopting more appropriate schemes, so its not beyond the bounds of possibility?

Is my topography to pot or not?

MH

[~Dan~]

Now I know aircraft bound for Egypt ferried via Takoradi in West Africa had upper surfaces painted white as a visual aid in case they forced landed.

Really! Can someone point me to an example photo or drawing?

There is plenty of green stuff between West Africa and Lebanon. I'll make some enquiries - this all sounds very interesting.

[Test Graham]

I agree that it is the Takoradi ferry flight markings. There are quite a lot of photos showing mainly Hurricanes and Blenheims, the latter used as guides as well as deliveries in their own right. Other types are sometimes seen but much rarer. P-40? I don't know of any good single source dealing with this operation, but it does feature in quite a number of works.

[Max Headroom]

Really! Can someone point me to an example photo or drawing?

There is plenty of green stuff between West Africa and Lebanon. I'll make some enquiries - this all sounds very interesting.

Dan

This is the "Takoradi Route" from the Gold Coast, now Ghana, as you can see it was quite a long haul

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kIWY2DV0KnE/R8wq...i+Air+Route.jpg

not been able to find a picci though.

MH

[~Dan~]

Dan

This is the "Takoradi Route" from the Gold Coast, now Ghana, as you can see it was quite a long haul

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kIWY2DV0KnE/R8wq...i+Air+Route.jpg

not been able to find a picci though.

MH

Thanks, I will look into it as I'm researching aircraft from Africa and the Middle East. (I'm new to this).

My wife lived in Nigeria and used to spend weekends in Togo and Benin. She says there is a mix of countryside there, from scrub, forest and jungle.

"Surprisingly green" she says.

[gingerbob]

There's a photo in the older book about Lend-Lease (or American aircraft to English service)- Arthur Pearcy? It is captioned as a couple of Tomahawks, but they sure look like Hurricanes to me. They show some liberal patches of white.

bob