Airframes
Benevolens Magister
I think the entire undersides are Medium Sea Grey, with the possible exception of the undersides of the elevators only, which might be bare metal, but doubtful. The small circular inspection flap on the port landing gear cover is also MSG, although worn, and reflecting the light differently. I don't believe the light 'stripe' on the tail gear door is a reflection from the code letter, but a general reflection due to the curvature of the door itself. The leading edges of the wings show some peeling and flaking of the paint, allowing the bare metal to show through. Bear in mind, it is more than likely that this, and other aircraft of the Group, were sprayed without the benefit of a primer, the paint being applied directly to the bare metal surface. The colour shots of Schilling's aircraft, and of LM-A, in which Lt. Wilburn A. Haggard was shot down on 18 December '44 (PoW), are from Kodachrome reversal (transparency) film originals, and exhibit the typical 'blue' cast of the greys common to this period's 25 ASA film stock. The belly tank on Schilling's aircraft is Neutral Gray, and the clearly visible underwing pylon on LM-A is natural metal, and both of these show the contast between the two grays. The copies of these two pictures I have in Freeman's '8th Air Force in Colour' are very clear, sharp, and well printed, showing good contrast, and would confirm, to me at least, that the uindersides were not NMF. The only known areas of natural metal on the Groups camouflage (and other colours) painted aircraft were the wing leading edges, at a later period than the time frame being covered.
The restored P47 will have been finished in a gloss, or semi gloss paint or clear coat, in order to prevent a build-up of dirt and grime, a common and understandable practice among today's warbird owners, and this aircraft too has a Medium Sea Grey (or nearest equivalent) underside.
In summary, what may appear to be areas, panels etc of NMF in the B&W shots of Gabby's aircraft are, in fact, variations caused by dirt, wear, thinner areas of paint on a bare metal surface, and the overall lighting conditions.
These aircraft were camouflaged for a purpose, with sufficient urgency leading to the use of locally available British paint stocks, rather than have to wait for USAAF paints, and there is no logical reason why some areas of the main airframe should be left in natural metal.
The restored P47 will have been finished in a gloss, or semi gloss paint or clear coat, in order to prevent a build-up of dirt and grime, a common and understandable practice among today's warbird owners, and this aircraft too has a Medium Sea Grey (or nearest equivalent) underside.
In summary, what may appear to be areas, panels etc of NMF in the B&W shots of Gabby's aircraft are, in fact, variations caused by dirt, wear, thinner areas of paint on a bare metal surface, and the overall lighting conditions.
These aircraft were camouflaged for a purpose, with sufficient urgency leading to the use of locally available British paint stocks, rather than have to wait for USAAF paints, and there is no logical reason why some areas of the main airframe should be left in natural metal.
