This page provides reference material for the
color and camouflage schemes of combat aircraft of the Regia
Aeronautica (RA) and the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
(ANR).
Prewar Period
: 1923 - 1938
The
Regia Aeronautica was formed as an independent service on March
23, 1923. From 1923 to about 1936, most Italian fighters
of the prewar period such as the Fiat CR.32 were finished
in alluminum (G2 Camo Scheme, Table 3) or silver dope (fabric
covered aircraft). With the commencement of large
scale warfare in Ethopia and Spain, the Regia Aeronautica
began experiementing with complex camouflage schemes
that incorporated between 1-5 differenet
colors. The war in Ethopia was
characterized by complete aerial suprermacy
and a distinctive radial red strip anti-camouflage
scheme was adopted to help identify crashed
aircraft. Colonial bombers such as the Ca.133 and
SM.81 were painted Bianco Avorio (G1 Camo Scheme, Table 3),
with contrasting red stripes applied to the top wings. In the
Spanish Civil War, more complex camouflage schemes were
adopted to conceal fighters, bombers and ground attack
aircraft. Two and three tone camouflage schemes with hard
edged and mottled schemes were common.
Serie Mimetica : 1938 -
1941
With the arrival of large scale warfare, the
Regia Aeronautica began investigating the use of camouflage to
conceal its aircraft, both in the air and on the ground. The
beginnings of this process can be traced back to 1936 when
an Italian air-theorist on the use of ground attack aircraft, AmedeoMecozzi, first suggested the use of
camouflage for low flying aircraft; to avoid being spotted and
attacked by aircraft from above. The Regia Aeronautica accepted
these suggestions and in the following year a series of colors,
the so-called "SerieMimetica" was
adopted. These colors were applied to fighters, bombers and ground
attack aircraft as large wavy hard-edged stripes (A-B Series
Camo Chips, Table 3). Initially camouflage was only applied to
the wing areas, however later, camouflage colors were also applied
to the fuselage. The first colors of this scheme were Giallo
(Yellow) Mimetico (Camouflage), Verde (Green) Mimetico and Marrone (Brown)
Mimetico.
The
shades of these colors varied from one paint supplier to another
and four yellows are known to have been used:
Giallo Mimetico 1 FS 33531
Giallo Mimetico 2 FS 33481
Giallo Mimetico 3 FS 33434
Giallo Mimetico 4 FS
30266
The
Verde (Green) colors were:
Verde Mimetico 1 FS 34258
Verde Mimetico 2 FS 34092
Verde Mimetico 3 FS
34102
The
Marrone (Brown) colors were:
Marrone Mimetico 1 FS 30118
Marrone Mimetico 2 FS 30109
Bruno (Dark Brown) Mimetico FS
30227
Aside from these colors, two other shades were
in common use:
Verde Mimetico 53192 (FS
34227)
Marrone Mimetico 53193 (FS
30140)
These two colors are named after the
the Arson SISI catalogue numbers because the actual chips of these
paints were found enclosed to the original catalogue of
the paint manufacturer, instead of found on preserved aircraft
or parts. Thus the color of these two paints could be
identified exactly.
For
aircraft under surfaces, Grigio Mimetico FS 36231 was
the standard underside color from about 1937 up to 1941, although
lower surfaces were sometimes left unpainted Aluminium, even till the early
beginnings of WWII.
The Regia Aeronautica had learnt from
its experiences in the Spanish-Civil that a camouflage scheme with
hard-edged, contrasting colors and a semi-gloss finish were only
moderately successful. From 1937 the Regia Aeronautica adopted a new
scheme which was formally put into effect through a directive
issued by the DGCA (Direzione Generale delle Custuizioni
Aeronautica) on 14.3.1938, Foglio D'Ordini n.8571,
beginning with the aircraft of the "AviazioneLegionaria" (the Italian Volunteer Air
Force in Spain),
followed by subsequent production aircraft. The new camouflage
scheme, the so-called "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" used existing
colors, however, were now applied in a more complex, soft-edged
mottling scheme (Schema C, see Table 3). It is important to note, at
this time only the camouflage scheme was standardized and not the
colors. The standardization of colors would only come later with the
appearance of the Tavola X colors. This of course led to
interpretations of the three primary upper surface colors
stipulated by the directive (Giallo Mimetico, Verde
Mimetico and Marrone Mimetico) by each of the paint suppliers.
It is interesting to point out, in each of the paint catalogues, the
paint suppliers referred only to Giallo Mimetico,
Verde Mimetico and Marrone Mimetico, not Giallo Mimetico 1,
Giallo Mimetco 2, Giallo Mimetico 3 ... etc. The index
following the primary color (1, 2, 3 ...) corresponds to a
modern means (CMPR Method) of identifying the origins of the color
itself. For example Giallo Mimetico 1 was produced
by Inves, Giallo Mimetico 2 was produced by Masciadri while Giallo
Mimetico 3 was produced by Arson-Sisi (Table 1).
Since Inves was a paint supplier to Fiat, Giallo Mimetico
1 appeared on the early mottle schemes of Fiat CR.32s and early
G.50s together with Verde Mimetico 1 and Marrone Mimetico 1
(also produced by Inves).
The
basic application of the "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" varied
with each of the aircraft manufacturers, the unit and in some cases
with the individual aircraft. This scheme could use as a base color
Giallo (Yellow) or a Verde (Green) over which a contrasting color
mottle, was applied. The mottle might be applied in various shapes,
proportions and sizes. Examples of these variations were a Giallo
mottling painted over a Verde background or Verde Chiaro (Light Green) splotches over a
Verde Scuro (Dark
Green) or vice versa. The third color, Marrone Mimetico or Bruno Mimetico was
added to the two basic colors. Finally instead of using Marrone as the third color,
two Greens and a Yellow were sometimes used.
As
far as the "Honeycomb Camouflage Scheme" goes there were two basic
types:
continuous
mottling, usually Dark Green over a Yellow
sparse mottling, Yellow or Light Green over a
Dark Green base and vice versa with, sometimes, a light mottling
of Marrone or
Bruno
*Always cross check with photographs or
specific references.
In
addition to the variations of the standard camouflage schemes, the
choice of colors and the application of these
paints varied with the aircraft manufactures,
depending on the paint supplier (Table 1):
SIAI (e.g. SavoiaMarchetti S.79 and SM 81) used Verde
Mimetico 1, Giallo Mimetico 3 and Marrone Mimetico 3
Breda
(Breda
65) used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico 3 and Bruno
Mimetico with hard-edged, large sized mottles instead of the
wavy bands used by other manufacturers
Breda
(Breda
88):
NOTE: Correction for the Warrior Model 1/48
Ba.88 Decal Instruction Sheet for aircraft of 7° Gruppo, 5° Stormo
based at Castle Benito, Libya in 1940:
Breda Ba.88s in North Africa did not have
camouflage schemes with Niccola Chiaro and Verde Oliva Scuro
mottles in Libya early 1940, nor did any plane wear the white
band: this is confirmed by Notiziario Club Modellismo Plastico
Ravenna number 2/2004, issue dedicated to Breda 88, page 11 and
can have a further confirmation by the dedicated issue by Ali
d'Italia; it is to be considered that the white band was
introduced at the end of 1940 and that Nocciola Chiaro was
introduced in the second half of 1941; the photo that appears in
the CMPR-GAVS-GMT camouflage book at page 55 refers to a Breda 88
modificato (modified) (the wings were modified) and is dated
summer '43. No modified Breda was flown in Africa.
Notiziario CMPR
2/2004:
Colori e
Insegne La mimetica dei Breda 88
rilevabile dalle foto dellarchivio del Club è praticamente di un
solo tipo ed è costituita sulle superfici superiori da piccole
macchie in giallo mimetico 3 (probabile), abbastanza fitte e
sfumate, su fondo verde mimetico 3 (probabile) e su quelle
inferiori in grigio azzurro chiaro 1. Questo tipo di mimetica
viene mantenuto anche sugli aerei inviati in Africa.
Camouflage and
Markings The Breda 88 camouflage as it
appears in photos of the Club archive, is practically of an unique
type and is constituted on the upper surfaces by small mottles in
giallo mimetico 3 (probable) very close to one another and with no
sharp edges, on a surface of verde mimetico 3 (probable) and on
the lower surface by grigio azzurro chiaro 1. This kind of
camouflage was maintained also on the planes sent to Africa.
It is also noted
that the corresponding Ba.88 profile contained in the reference :
Dunning, C., "Courage Alone - The Italian Air Force 1940-1943",
Hikoki, 1998, is also in error. Please use the following reference
profile for North African Ba.88s [Tauro Models Decal Sheet TM
72/522]:
Riccardo Trotta
FIAT, CMASA and CANSA used Giallo Mimetico 1,
Verde Mimetico 1-53192 and Marrone Mimetico 1
FIAT used Giallo Mimetico 1, Verde Mimetico
1 and Marrone
Mimetico 1 on early CR.32s and the first production batch of
G.50s (enclosed cockpit)
FIAT used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico
3 and Marrone
Mimetico 2 on later production G.50s and CR.42s
Caproni,
Aeronautica Predappio used Marrone Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 3,
Giallo Mimetico 3, Bruno Mimetico, Marrone Mimetico 53193 and Verde
Mimetico 53192
IMAM used Giallo Mimetico 3, Verde Mimetico
3, Marrone Mimetico
2 and Bruno Mimetico
Macchi used Verde Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico
53192, Giallo Mimetico 4 and Bruno Mimetico
Macchi used Bruno Mimetico, Giallo Mimetico
4 on Verde Mimetico 2 background on MC. 200s and early MC.202s
Piaggio
used Giallo Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 2 , Marrone Mimetico 2 and Bruno Mimetico
Reggiane
used Giallo Mimetico 3, Giallo Mimetico 4, Verde Mimetico 2, Marrone Mimetico 1 and
Marrone Mimetico 2.
Reggiane used Marrone Mimetico 2, Verde Mimetico 1
on Giallo Mimetico 3 base on Re. 2000s
Table 1.
Paint Suppliers and Aircraft Manufactures
ColoriMimetici
Paint Supplier
Aircraft
Manufacturer
Giallo Mimetico 1
Inves
FIAT
Giallo Mimetico 2
Masciadri
Piaggio
Giallo Mimetico 3
Arson-Sisi
Breda, Caproni, CRDA, FIAT, IMAM,
SIAI
Giallo Mimetico 4
Max-Mayer
Aermacchi, IMAM
Verde Mimetico
1
Inves
FIAT
Verde Mimetico
2
Max-Mayer
Aermacchi,
Piaggio
Verde Mimetico
3
Masciadri
Breda, Caproni, FIAT,
IMAM
Verde Mimetico
53192
Arson-Sisi
Breda, Caproni,
CRDA, FIAT, SIAI
Marrone Mimetico
1
Inves
FIAT, SIAI
Marrone Mimetico
2
Masciadri
Caproni, FIAT,
IMAM, Piaggio, SIAI
Bruno
Mimetico
Arson-Sisi
Breda, Caproni,
CRDA, IMAM, Aermacchi, Piaggio
Marrone Mimetico
53193
Arson-Sisi
CRDA, SIAI
For
undersurfaces all the aircraft manufacturers used Grigio Mimetico, although some aircraft
remained unpainted Aluminum, especially prewar manufactured
aircraft.
It
should be noted that these schemes were used in both the European
and Northern Africa
theatres of operation,
although, background schemes with Giallo were more common.
Tavola 10 : 1941 - 1943
In
1941, the multitude of color variations in common use with the Regia
Aeronautica led to another directive being issued to standardize
around a simpler set of colors and camouflage schemes for combat
aircraft, the so called Tavola 10 colors (D Series Camo Chips,
Table 3). It is important to note here that both the color and
camouflage schemes were now standardized at this time. The
colors were standardized through the distribution of reference
chips to the relevant paint suppliers. The order
prescribed that all camouflage colors be matte and that the
separation line between the upper and lower surfaces be soft-edged.
The new colors were:
NocciolaChiaro 4 FS
30219
Verde OlivaScuro 2 FS 34052
GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1 FS 36307
The
new standard camouflage scheme saw overall upper surfaces in Verde
OlivaScuro 2 with small
splotches of NocciolaChiaro for the North
African theatre. European based aircraft were finished in the so
called "Continential" scheme finished in a single color Verde
Olive Scuro 2. The directive stipulated the use of
all old light colors be discontinued, namely the Light Yellows and
Light Greens, as well as the use of Marrone Mimetico and Bruno Mimetico
shades.
The
1941 order also stipulated that all remaining stock supplies of the
old colors be used-up entirely, both on the production lines and in
repair shops which ensured that these colors would still be seen for
some time after 1941. This situation continued till the Armistice
with the exception of another directive issued in 1942, reversing
the African Theatre scheme, now overall NocciolaChiaro 4 upper surfaces with "small
mottles" of Verde OlivaScuro 2
Other Notes:
Macchi: African Theatre C 200s, C 202s and C
205s used the so-called "smoke rings" or the "amebae" scheme composed of Verde OlivaScuro 2 over NocciolaChiaro background.
Naval Aircraft
The
Regia Aeronautica flying boats (e.g., Cant Z.501) and floatplanes
began the war with an overall Aluminium scheme (the so-called "Allumina" varnish).
Submerged parts of aircraft hulls were painted matt black. The
pre-war high visibility RossoBandiera 8 FS 31105 Flag Red bands on
the upper wing surfaces were deleted. The high visibility bands were
designed to help find crashed aircraft in Ethiopia
where fighter opposition was minimal or non-existent.
At
the beginning of WWII the white Cross of Savoy replaced the tricolor
on the rudder over a Verde Mimetico background. The directive issued
in 1941 required the upper surfaces of maritime aircraft be
painted a Dark Blue-Grey ? GrigioAzzurroScuro 3 FS 36118. This color better
suited combat missions over the Mediterranean Sea.
Special Colors and Camouflage Schemes
On
S.79s, during 1940, a new camouflage scheme appeared composed of
"streaks" or large stripes of Marrone Mimetico 53193 with parallel
stripes of Giallo Mimetico 3 (or Verde Mimetico 3) and Verde
Mimetico 53192 (or Giallo Mimetico 3) (CMPR A3 - A4 Camo Schemes,
Table 3). This camouflage scheme was also composed of regular and
faded bands in Giallo Mimetico 3, Marrone Mimetico 53193 and Verde
Mimetico 53192.
Other distinct schemes existed, mostly applied
in the field and were generally found on torpedo bombers such
as the S.79. An example was a background in Giallo Mimetico with
large splotches of Verde Mimetico 2 or 3, Verde Mimetico 1 or Verde
Mimetico 53192 or, later, a camouflage with uniform Verde OlivaScuro 2 background with small mottles
of GrigioAzzurroChiaro (CMPR E8 Camo Scheme, Table 3).
To enhance further the effect of camouflage on low flying torpedo
bombers, especially on the final runs before launching torpedoes,
the front parts of the nose and wings were painted GrigioAzzurroChiaro.
Night Fighter Schemes
The
night fighters were usually painted overall matt black and the white
national insignias being painted over with matt black (with the
exception, sometimes, of the Cross of Savoy
located on the rudder). Please click the following
link regarding Fiat CR.42 CN
Night Fighter Schemes.
Night bombers had their lower and side surfaces
painted matt black while the upper surfaces remained in the original
factory camouflage colors (especially when Verde OlivaScuro 2 was used on S.79 III). As with
fighters, the white fuselage band was often painted over.
Foreign Built Aircraft
In
most cases captured aircraft were left in their original colors with
the deletion of national insignias. Colors were sometimes replaced
with Italian camouflage colors, usually Grigio Mimetico or GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1, depending on the period, for
lower surfaces and Verde Mimetico 2 or Verde OlivaScuro 2 on the upper surfaces.
Its
not certain the three Bf 110Cs and some of the Do 217Js supplied to
the RA were painted with an overall Black scheme, while the Fi. 156s were all Verde
Mimetico 2 on the upper surfaces except for a single known aircraft
in North African camouflage scheme.
The
matter is somewhat more complicated as far as the Bf 109 F and G is
concerned. Alongside the tropical Luftwaffe scheme, some aircraft
were repainted, in the field with Italian camouflage colors. The ANR
left their 109Gs and Ks painted in Luftwaffe camouflage schemes and
colors RLM 74/75/76 or RLM 76/80/83. However, on these aircraft the
Swastika and German cross were replaced by ANR fasces on the wings
and an Italian flag painted on both sides of the front fuselage next
to the painted-over German cross.
Captured French aircraft were left in their
original colors with national insignias painted over with a GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1. Vichy French aircraft were
treated similarly.
Aircraft Interiors
Most Italian WW II aircraft interiors were
painted in Verde Anticorrosione FS 34272 although many
variations in interior colors existed, depending on the paint
supplier. On Reggiane
fighters for example, interior parts had a more grayish tone (e.g.,
Re. 2000 and Re.2002 FS 34227) while other aircraft, the shade
was slighlty more green, similar to FS 34230.
There are some important exceptions, for
example on SIAI multi-engine aircraft, namely the S.79, the
interiors of these aircraft were painted in a Grey similar to GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1.
NOTE: Regarding Fiat G.50 Interiors (RiccardoTrotta): "?
in the magazine Aerofan 1/1981 there is an article which
reports some parts of the official book "Istruzioni e norme per ilmontaggio, la regolazione e la manutenzione" C.A. 381 referring to the
Fiat G50 2° series
CMASA, May 1940 (practically a maintenance manual) so before
the issue of Tavola
10, and about the internal side of the fuselage, it says " Tutte le parti interne dellafusolierasonoverniciate con verniceantirugginegrigia" ... the translation is: "All the
internal fuselage parts are painted with grey anticorrosion
painting"; I don't know if this grey is the same as GrigioAzzurro Chiaro, but it is surely a grey"
Following the directive issued in 1941, the
standardization of the Tavola 10 colors that took full-affect
in 1942, aircraft internals of new or refurbished aircraft were
to be finished in GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1. This does not suggest an
anticorrision paint was not applied to aircraft
internals but that the internals were to be finished in Grigio
Azzurro Chiaro 1, ie., painting over the anticorrison color
with GrigioAzzurroChiaro 1. Since many aircraft such as
the MC. 200 and MC. 202 were manufactured before and after 1942, the
modeler should determine, through the aircraft serial
number (MatricoleMilitare MM) or the
date of operations, when the aircraft was constructed and
to apply the appropriate internal color.
ANR Colors : 1944-1945
The
post Armistice Italian Air force situated in Northern Italy
used three main types of fighter aircraft, the Fiat G.55, the Macchi
205V and the Bf.109. The Reggiane Re.2005 had also been employed
in small numbers.The color and camouflage schemes
of these aircraft (except for the Re.2005 VOS2) followed closely the
Luftwaffe schemes of the period RLM 74/75/76 and RLM 80/83/76.
German markings such as the Balkan cross and swastika were generally
oversprayed with Grigio Azzuro Chiaro 1 on aircraft supplied to the
ANR from German inventories in 1944 and early 1945. However, later
in 1945, the German Balkan crosses could be seen on Bf.109 fuselages
and underside wing areas. Transport aircraft and bombers also
followed closely the German camouflage schemes and were commonly
finished in a solid color Verde Oliva Scuro 2.
CMPR Color Chips
Table
2. CMPR Color Chips [1] Click the image to enlarge
CMPR Camouflage Schemes :
1936-1943
How to Read Table 3: Next to each camouflage
chip is a list of the corresponding colors. The first color
corresponds to the base color followed by the first mottle color,
the second mottle color and finally the underside color, e.g.,
C1 Scheme:
Giallo Mimetico 1-2-3-4
Base Color
Verde Mimetico 2-3-53192
Mottle Color 1
Marrone Mimetico 2-3-53193 or Bruno
Mimetico
Mottle Color 2
Grigio Mimetico
Undersurface
Color
Table
3. CMPR Camouflage Chips [Postiglioni, U. and
Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici Della Regia
Aeronautica, II Edizione, CMPR, GAVS sez Roma, GMT, 2a Ristampa,
1997]
Macchie rade Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 su
fondo Verde Scuro
SCHEMA F - MIMETICHE UNIFORMI (Uniform
Camouflage Schemes)
F1
Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1
Tutti i velivoli della RA dal 1942 al
1943
Continentale Uniforme
F2
Grigio Azzurro Scuro 3 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1
---
Continentale Uniforme per
idrovolanti
F3
Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1
S.200-202 S.79 S.84 Re.2000-2001
Uniforme per aerei da addestramento,
collegamento, siluranti, caccia imbarcati
F4
Nero Opaco
CR.42 Re.2001 P.108
Uniforme per caccia e bombardieri
notturni
SCHEMA G - COLORAZIONI UNIFORMI (Uniform
Colors)
G1
Bianco Avorio 5
---
Uniforme per aerei da trasporto e
ricognizione coloniali ed aerei da
addestramento
G2
Alluminio
---
Uniforme per tutti gli aerei fino al
1936
G3
Bianco Neve 6
---
Uniforme per tutti sanitari e
socorso
G4
Rosso 8
---
Colorazioni Particolari
Color Codes for Mechnical and Pneumatic
Equipment
Table
4. Color Codes for Mechnical and Pneumatic Equipment *
Lines
Color
Fuel
Yellow
Coolant
Bright Green
Lubricant (Oil)
Rust Brown
Exhaust (Heating Ducting)
Black
Fire Control
Red
Oxygen
White
Air
Sky
Blue
*Color codes
kindly provided by Peter Gilding
References
[1]
Postiglioni, U. and Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici
Della Regia Aeronautica, I Edizione, CMPR, 1a Ristampa,
1977.
[2]
Postiglioni, U. and Degl'Innocenti, A., Colori e Schemi Mimetici
Della Regia Aeronautica, II Edizione, CMPR, GAVS sez Roma, GMT, 2a
Ristampa, 1997.
[3]
Galvan, G. and François, P., Regia Aeronautica Colors and Camouflage
Schemes, Eagle Press.
[4]
Waldis, P. and De Bortoli, M., Colori & Insegne, Regia
Aeronautica Caccia & Assalto 1940-1943 Parte I, Fighters &
Ground Attack Units, La Bancarella Aeronautica, Torino,
2002.
