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 Alluminumo (G2 Camo Scheme, Table 4) 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 4), 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, Amedeo Mecozzi, 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 "Serie Mimetica" 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 4). 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 1st Ed. CMPR / 30076 2nd Ed. CMPR

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 "Aviazione Legionaria" (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 4). 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. Savoia Marchetti S.79 and SM 81) used Verde Mimetico 53192, Giallo Mimetico 3, Marrone Mimetico 1-2 and Marrone Mimetico 53193
• 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
    
    Re.2000: 1, 2 and 3 tone schemes:
    dott. Stefano Lazzaro Related Forum Post
    
    

Table 1. Serie Mimetica Colors: Paint Suppliers and Aircraft Manufactures

Colori Mimetici	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 in July 1941 (these colors making an appearance starting from September-October 1941) 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 4). 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:

Nocciola Chiaro 4 FS 30219

Verde Oliva Scuro 2 FS 34052

Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 FS 36307

The new standard camouflage scheme saw overall upper surfaces in Verde Oliva Scuro 2 with small splotches of Nocciola Chiaro 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 Nocciola Chiaro 4 upper surfaces with "small mottles" of Verde Oliva Scuro 2

Other Notes:
Macchi built planes: African Theatre C 200s, C 202s and C 205s used the so-called "smoke rings" or the "amebae" scheme composed of Verde Oliva Scuro 2 over Nocciola Chiaro background.

Table 2. Tavola 10 Colors: Applications and Paint Suppliers (12 Colors)

Tavola 10 Colors	Applications	Manufacturers
Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	Undersurfaces of military aircraft, seaplanes, training and liaison aircraft	Max Meyer, Duco, Arson Sisi, Inves, Sipa, Salchi
Verde Oliva Scuro 2	Upper and lateral surfaces of military aircraft, training and liaison aircraft	Inves, Masciadri, Arson Sisi, SIPA
Grigio Azzurro Scuro 3	Upper and lateral surfaces of military seaplanes, training and liaison seaplanes; also upper, lateral and ventral surfaces of military aircraft and seaplanes for night use	Salchi, Duco, Sipa, Masciadri, I.V.I., Standard, Inves
Nocciola Chiaro 4	Mottles, as required, on desert aircraft uppersurfaces	Max Meyer, Duco, Inves, Arson Sisi
Bianco Avorio 5	Overall on flying school aircraft	Arson Sisi
Bianco Neve 6	Overall on ambulance and rescue aircraft and seaplanes. One part of the Italian tricolor flag; bands on fuselage and wings of flying school and ambulance aircraft; Savoia cross on rudder and fuselage band for all military aircraft.	Max Meyer, Duco, Corti, Arson Sisi
Giallo Cromo 7	Spinner and nose, fuselage band and under wing tips on special destination aircraft (Eastern Front). Tip of propeller blades	Arson Sisi, Sipa, Corti
Rosso 8	One part of the Italian tricolor flag, bands on fuselage and wings on training and ambulance aircraft. Red cross on ambulance and rescue aircraft and seaplanes.	Max Meyer, Sipa, Masciadri
Verde 9	One part of the Italian tricolor flag, bands on fuselage and wings on training and ambulance aircraft	Duco, Sipa, Corti
Bruno 10	(*) Lubrication piping	Sipa
Azzurro 11	(*) Pneumatic piping
Nero 12	Wooden hull and floats (below the water line) of seaplanes, propeller blades, wing fasces	Duco, Inves, Sipa, Masciadri, Max Meyer

1) (*) Document dated 19 August 1942 indicated that these two colors could be used for any application, but the DGCA in a previous communication No.148 dated October 1941, restricted their use to lubrication and pneumatic piping respectively.

2) Reference: Camouflage and Markings of the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943-1945. F. D'Amico and G. Valentini, Classic Publications, 2005.

Naval Aircraft

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 Rosso Bandiera 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 ? Grigio Azzurro Scuro 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 4). 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 Oliva Scuro 2 background with small mottles of Grigio Azzurro Chiaro (CMPR E8 Camo Scheme, Table 4). 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro.

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 Oliva Scuro 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1, depending on the period, for lower surfaces and Verde Mimetico 2 or Verde Oliva Scuro 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1.

Re.2005:
"Here in the cockpit of the 2005 was found a light grey-green (FS 24272). Reggiane also used other kind of greens, at least a darker grey-green for inner fuselage and a grass green (FS 34230) for separate parts as ammo boxes or fin (2001)."
dott. Stefano Lazzaro Related Forum Post

S.79:
The S.79 was built by other factories other than SIAI, namely Reggiane, AUSA and Macchi. Light gray (i.e. Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 - FS 36307) was the standard finish for interiors, even before 1941, but it's known that at least Reggiane and Macchi often used instead their own Verde Anticorrosione, each one in different hues.

The S.79 cockpit floor was made of small tubes welded on a metal plate, so to have a "corrugated" anti-slipping floor. They were unpainted NM.

Wheel bays and legs were painted as undersides, so aluminium paint for aircraft built until first half of 1941, then GAC1. They however could have been repainted gray during overhauling.

dott. Stefano Lazzaro Related Forum Post

"? in the magazine Aerofan 1/1981 there is an article which reports some parts of the official book "Istruzioni e norme per il montaggio, 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 della fusoliera sono verniciate con vernice antiruggine grigia" ... 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 Grigio Azzurro 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 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 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 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 (Matricole Militare 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 3. CMPR Color Chips [1]

Click the image to enlarge

CMPR Camouflage Schemes : 1936-1943

How to Read Table 4: 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 4. 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]

Camouflage Chip	Index	Colors	Use	Description/Notes
	A1	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico or Alluminio	SM.79	Schema tipico a bande, 1936
	A1A	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico or Alluminio	SM.81	Schema tipico a bande, 1937
	A1B	Giallo Mimetico 1 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico 1 Grigio Mimetico or Alluminio	CR.32	Schema tipico a bande, 1936
	A2	Giallo Mimetico 1 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico 2 Verde Mimetico 2 Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	Ro.37	Schema tipico a bande, 1936
	A2A	Giallo Mimetico 1 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico 2 Verde Mimetico 2 Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	Ro.37bis	Schema tipico a bande, 1937
SCHEMA A - BANDE TRASVERSALI VERDE-MARRONE-GIALLO (3 Tone Transversal Banded Schemes)
	A3	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 53193 Grigio Mimetico	S.79 SM.81	Schema A bande trasversali di tre colori a bordi sfumati, circa 1940
	A3A	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 53192 Marrone Mimetico 53193	SM.79 S.82	Variant du A3, circa 1940
	A4	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 53193	SM.79 S.82	Schema A bande trasversali di tre colori, di cui uno minoritario, a bordi sfumati,  circa 1940
	A5	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 53192 Marrone Mimetico 53193	CANT Z.1007	Schema A bande trasversali, estese di tre colori a bordi molto sfumati
SCHEMA B - GROSSO CHIAZZE POLYCROME (Large Mottles of Light Camouflage Colors)
	B1	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 Bruno Mimetico Alluminio or Grigio Mimetico	Ba.64 Ba.65	Schema a grosse chiazze di tre colori dai bordi netti
	B2	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 53192 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 2 Alluminio or Grigio Mimetico	Ba.64 Ba.65	Schema a grosse chiazze di quattro o cinque colori dai bordi netti
SCHEMA C - A RETICOLO A MACCHIE RADE (Networks of Small Mottles)
	C1	Giallo Mimetico 1-2-3-4 Verde Mimetico 2-3-53192 Marrone Mimetico 2-3-53193 or Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	CR.32 CR.42 G.50 Ro.37 SM.79	Macchie Rade Verdi e Marrone Mimetico su fondo Giallo Mimetico
	C1A	Giallo Mimetico 1-3 Verde Mimetico 3-53192 Marrone Mimetico 1-2 Grigio Mimetico or Alluminio	CR.42	Variante di C1
	C1B	Giallo Mimetico 1-3 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 1-2-53193 Grigio Mimetico	CR.25 G.12 SM.82	Variante di C1
	C1C	Giallo Mimetico Verde Mimetico Marrone Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	MC.200	Variante di C1
	C2	Giallo Mimetico 3-4 Verde Mimetico 1-2-3-52192 Grigio Mimetico	CR.32 CR.42 BR.20 FN.305 G.50 Ca.310-311 MC.200-202 SM.81	Macchie Rade Verdi su Fondo Giallo Mimetico
	C2A	Giallo Mimetico 3-4 Verde Mimetico 1-2-3-53192 Grigio Mimetico	SM.79 SM.81 Ca.310-311	Variante di C2
	C2B	Giallo Mimetico 3-4 Verde Mimetico 1-2-3-53192 Grigio Mimetico	MC.202	Variante di C2
	C3	Verde Mimetico 53192 Verde Mimetico 2-3 Grigio Mimetico	CR.42 BR.20 G.50 SM.79 Ba.65 Ba.88	Reticolo di Macchie Rade Verde Mimetico su altro Verde Mimetico
	C3A	Verde Mimetico 53192 Verde Mimetico 3 Grigio Mimetico	G.50	Variante di C3
	C3B	Verde Mimetico 53192 Verde Mimetico 3 Grigio Mimetico	SM.79	Variante di C3
	C4	Verde Mimetico 53192 Verde Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico	C.200	Macchie Continue Verde Mimetico su fondo Verde piu Chiaro
	C5	Verde Mimetico 2-3 Giallo Mimetico 3-4 Grigio Mimetico	Ca.133 Ba.88 SM.79 SM.81	Macchie rade Giallo Mimetico su fondo Verde Mimetico
	C6	Bruno Mimetico Verde Mimetico 3 Grigio Mimetico	Ca.133 Ba.88	Macchie Verdi su fondo Marrone
	C7	Verde Mimetico 53192 Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico or Alluminio	Ba.88	Macchie rade Marrone Mimetico su fondo Verde Mimetico
	C8	Verde Mimetico 2 Giallo Mimetico 4 Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	MC.200-202	Macchie rade Giallo e Marrone Mimetico su fondo Verde Mimetico
	C9	Giallo Mimetico 2 Verde Mimetico 2-3 Verde Mimetico 1-53192 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	SM.79	Macchie rade Verde Chiaro e Verde Scuro su fondo Giallo Mimetico
	C9SL	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 53192 Marrone Mimetico 53193 Grigio Mimetico	SM.79	Variante di C9 - See Note dott. S. Lazzaro
	C10	Giallo Mimetico 2-3 Verde Mimetico 2 Bruno Mimetico or Marrone Mimetico 53193 Grigio Mimetico	P.108	Macchie continue Verde e Marrone Mimetico su fondo Giallo Mimetico
	C10A	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 53193 Grigio Mimetico	CANT Z.1007	Variante di C10 (Policiclica)
	C10B	Giallo Mimetico 3-4 Verde Mimetico 3-53192 Marrone Mimetico 2-53193 or Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	Ro.37 SM.79 SM.82 SM.84	Variante di C10
	C11	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 Grigio Mimetico	CANT Z.1007	Macchie continue Verde Mimetico su fondo Giallo Mimetico (Policiclica)
	C11A	Giallo Mimetico 4 Verde Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico	MC.200	Variante di C11
SCHEMA D - MIMETICA COLOINALE E TIPO AS (Italian Colonies and North African Schemes)
	D1	Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Nocciola Chiaro 4 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.200-202	Macchie rade Nocciola su fondo Verde
	D1A	Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Nocciola Chiaro 4 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	G.50-55 CR.42	Variante di D1
	D1B	Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Nocciola Chiaro 4 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.200	Variante di D1
	D2	Nocciola Chiaro 4 Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.200-202 Ba.65 Ba.88	Macchie Verde su fondo Nocciola
	D2A	Giallo Mimetico 3 or Nocciola Chiaro 4 Verde Mimetcio 2-3 or Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Mimetico or Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.200-MC.202	Variante di D2
	D2B	Giallo Mimetico 3 or Nocciola Chiaro 4 Verde Mimetcio 2-3 or Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Mimetico or Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.202	Variante di D2
	D2C	Nocciola Chiaro 4 Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.202	Variante di D2
	D3	Nocciola Chiaro 4 Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	MC.200-202-205 CR.42	Anelli irregolare Verdi su fondo Nocciola
SCHEMA E - MIMETICHE PARTICULARE (Specific Camouflage Schemes)
	E1	Giallo Mimetico 2 Verde Mimetico 1 Marrone Mimetico	SM.81	Bande Giallo - Verde - Marrone con Sovrasposte macchie di colore contrastante
	E2	Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 Azzurro 11	SM.84	Macchie sfumate Azzurro su fondo Grigio (Schema Non Confermato)
	E3	Giallo Mimetico 1-2 Verde Mimetico 1-3 Marrone Mimetico 1 or Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	CR.32	Filamenti sfumati ad andamento irregolare Verde e Marrone su fondo Giallo
	E4	Giallo Mimetico 2 Verde Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico	CR.32	Variante di E3
	E5	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 3 or 53192 Marrone Mimetico 2 or Bruno Mimetico Grigio Mimetico	Ca.164	Filamenti sfumati fitti ed oblique ad andamento regolare Verde e Marrone mimetico su fondo Giallo
	E6	Giallo Mimetico 3 Marrone Mimetico 53193 Verde Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico	SM.75	Grosso Macchie Marrone e Verde mimetico su fondo Giallo
	E7	Giallo Mimetico 3 Verde Mimetico 2 Grigio Mimetico	Ca.309	Bande trasversali fitte di due colori a bordi sfumati
	E8	Verde Oliva Scuro 2 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1 Grigio Azzurro Chiaro 1	SM.79	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

Bomb Colors

Table 6. Bomb Colors of Italian Explosive Ordnance in World War II

Type of Bomb	Body	Nose
Fragmentation	Blue	Red
High Explosive	Grey	Red
Anti-Personnel	Black or Blue	Red
Incendiary	Reddish-Brown	Red
Gas	Bright Yellow	Red
Practice	Grey	Grey

Reference: Department of the Army Technical Manual, TM 9-1985-6; Department of the Air Force Technical Order, TO 39B-1A-8; Italian and French Explosive Ordnance, United States Government Prinitng Office, Washington 1953.

Propeller Blade Colors

FIAT-Hamilton (CR.42, G.50) had a light blue like FS 35466, judging from several pictures; Alfa Romeo (S.79) were sharply FS 35526: personally examined in more than one wooden model. Piaggio P.1001 (Macchi fighters) had an unspecified light gray or pale blue; propellers were made either by Piaggio, Aer. Macchi or Breda. A blade from a Spanish Civil War CR.32, with scratched camo leaves the original light grey, apparently around FS 36473 to 35526. Rear faces of the blades were always matt black, but by 1941, propeller blades were painted all black with yellow tips, and in some very rare cases even red tips.

S. Lazzaro

Directives

1. New Tail Markings - F^o (Foglio d'Ordini n.) B13842 12 June 1940
By order of the Air Staff (Order Sheet No. B13842 dated 12 June 1940) new tail national markings were introduced soon after the war was declared. The national rudder stripes (green-white-red) were felt too similar to the French colors (blue-white-red), and a white cross was ordered to replace them, to avoid any possible confusion. It was called the Savoy Cross as it originated from the white cross in the House of Savoy coat of arms. Initially, the cross had to be placed on rudders, maintaining the vertical white stripe of the original tricolour, crossed by a same-width horizontal stripe where the state badge was carried, in order to form a cross motif. A lot of tail cross shapes and size variations could be observed during its early use due to different order interpretations at the unit level.

2. Yellow cowls - F^o (Foglio d'Ordini n.) 1049 22 June 1941
No real theatre marking was apotded in the Balkans since the beginning operations late in October, even if a new identification marking started to be carried between the end of the year and the begninning of 1941. In fact, even Albanian based aircraft started displaying a white fuselage band soon after it was first observed in Sicily and North Africa. Most probably this marking was introduced in order to avoid easy misidentification, by friendly aicraft, due to quite similar fighter types used by the RAF (the similarirty of the Gladiator to CR.42s to any German pilot). And a similar reason could have likely originated another even more evident marking: the prominent yellow noses that all operational units started adding to their planes in 1941. Even if a precise application date for this marking can not be traced in official records, it's quite evident from photographic evidence that first applications can be dated back as early as in April 1941, or sometimes even before. In any case, it became of general use at unit level when the German Luftwaffe became involved in the Balkans in the spring of 1941. A few months later, with Order Sheet no.1049 dated 22.6.41, the yellow cowling was officially ordered to be painted at factory level on any kind of new or overhauled operational aircraft (including trainers other than primary) as duly reported into a Piaggio's camouflage and finishing manual issued in the summer of that year. Consequently, it seems likely that the yellow noses had been adopted by agreement with the Germans as an easy friend or foe identification marker, even considering they frequently used yellow tactical markings on different fronts. That tactical marking however, should not be properly regarded as a theatre marking, appearing more or less at the same time in Sicily, North Africa and the Balkans, all places where the Germans started being involved in combat at same time, fighting side by side with the Italians. If we also consider the Italians had already adopted yellow tactical markings in Belgium since late in October 1940, it should not be too difficult relating this marking to a practice agreed with German aeronautical authorities. Officially, yellow areas should have been limited to propeller spinners, if any, and to a 60 centimetre-wide noseband. It's worth noting however, that quite frequently on radial engined types, the yellow area could be extended to the whole cowl, sometimes even including cowling gills. This was probably a consequence of simplified painting, obtaining at same time a better recognition mark. However, for some still undisclosed reasons, yellow noses were ordered to be removed from Italian aircraft on 22.10.1941, while the white fuselage band was later retained till the armistice, or sometimes even later, like a sort of additional national marking.[4]

3.Transparent Wing Fasci - F^o (Foglio d'Ordini n.) 86080 29 Ottobre 1941
This directive stipulated the use of a transparent background for fasci located on the upper and lower wings of all combat aircraft beginning 28 October 1941:

Ref. Directive first published by Pierluigi Moncalvo in Gruppo Interesse Speciale Regia Aeronautica Bullettin of IPMS Italy. Kindly provided by Ing. R. Trotta.

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.