USAAF Spitfire Vc trop

[Nigel Bunker]

I have the Aeromaster decal sheet for Spitfire Vc Trop. WZ-B of 309th FS, 31st FG, and also the Ventura book 'American Spitfire Camouflage & Markings', both of which say the aircraft was finished in "green and brown with blue undersides".

Now these were delivered in Mid Stone/Dark Earth/Azure Blue camouflage, I believe, so I am supposing that the Mid Stone was overpainted by Olive Drab (assuming USAAF used US paints, rather than British) when they moved to Sicily/Italy. Before I commit paint to model, does any body know if this is a correct guess, or do they have any further information?

[Steven Eisenman]

One cannot assume anything as being correct. There were a fair number of USAAF Spitfires in North Africa that received re-paints in non-standard scheme. It could even have been stocks of Italian paint or French paint. Both would have had browns and green in their color palate. Then again there was application density, and so forth. It seems the 31st FG occupied a French airfield in Tafaraoui and used a D 520 as a hack. Considering the size of the French Military presence there, it would be logical for paint to be on hand.

[Nigel Bunker]

Thanks Steve - i didn't know about the French base.