[mustangdriver]

I think where the variance in O.D. shades comes from is not so much in the factories, but when some of these aircraft were painted in the field. Let's face it, I doubt that the ground crews were very worried about getting the correct shade of green on the thing. I think that p-nuts is right that the factories had a shade, and that factory fresh these things were at least pretty close, but in the field, and when repairing battle damage, anything went.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I think that p-nuts is right that the factories had a shade, and that factory fresh these things were at least pretty close, but in the field, and when repairing battle damage, anything went.

I agree with that too.
JP

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

Did anyone even read my post? I'm used to being ignored everywhere else but I thought this place was different.

I read it, and with interest, Canucklehead, I just have almost no knowledge when it comes to paint of WW II, so I had nothing to say!

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

Did anyone even read my post? I'm used to being ignored everywhere else but I thought this place was different.

Noted, Canucklehead. My post followed yours if I'm not mistaken and I thought my note summed it up.

[jim]

Betcha knew her sister Olive oil though, there are rumours

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I don't remember anything about nothing. I don't know anything about an old forum or anything like that at all. I never heard of any girl named Olive Drab before in my life, and I never touched her. Just leave me alone....

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by stalag8611

Check out a publicaton, "Aircraft of WWII", by Stewart Wilson and published by Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd (Australia) in 1998. Pay particular attention to the cover where, directly below the autor's name, you'll spot the famous Blue P-51D. I've had the book for a number of years, it;'s full of useful information, but until the current kerfuffle about the accuracy of the color I never gave the cover's art work by artist Don Stephens a second thought. Then, like spotting a familiar name in the news, out jumped our friend.
Does it solve the mystery of the correct color? I doubt it, but it sure makes the discussion a bit more lively.

My apologies for opening up an 'old wound' but, I found this illustration from one of Bill Gunston's (a well informed military aviaton historian, imho) books published back in the 80's, but I couldn't find any blurb suggesting that the BLUE paint on this particular Mustang it represents is fiction or not.