Airframes
Benevolens Magister
It's extremely likely that the 'Upkeep' mines were just in red oxide primer.
Although I've seen representations in the 'standard' dark green, mainly in artwork, and have seen three surviving casings, each a different colour (green, black and light blue-grey !) it should be remembered that the weapons were finished at 'the last minute', and delivered just in time for loading for the operation. More than one account from ground and aircrew of 617 Sqn describes how the casing still felt warm to the touch, having so recently been filled with the explosive.
In a documentary I saw not that long ago (can't remember the title, as I watched three different documentaries on the operation), there was a brief clip, in B&W, showing an 'Upkeep' being looked at by RAF personnel, which was still in it's large transit case. Now, having been prompted by the reference to the red oxide finish, and, I must stress, from memory of this film clip, the tonal appearance did look different to what one would expect to see (in B&W) if it was finished in dark green.
As the dark green colour used on RAF bombs at this period was really intended to aid concealment in bomb dumps on the ground, replacing the original yellow finish (pointless painting a bomb for camouflage for the sky !!), it's entirely logical, in this instance, to dispense with the finish colour coat, and of course the time involved to apply it and let it dry, as the weapons would not be in storage, being delivered straight from the Ordnance factory for immediate use.
So on reflection, my comment earlier referring to the colour as dark green should be disregarded - if I were to build a model of a 'Dam Buster' Lanc, I would opt for the red oxide shade for the 'Upkeep' mine.
Although I've seen representations in the 'standard' dark green, mainly in artwork, and have seen three surviving casings, each a different colour (green, black and light blue-grey !) it should be remembered that the weapons were finished at 'the last minute', and delivered just in time for loading for the operation. More than one account from ground and aircrew of 617 Sqn describes how the casing still felt warm to the touch, having so recently been filled with the explosive.
In a documentary I saw not that long ago (can't remember the title, as I watched three different documentaries on the operation), there was a brief clip, in B&W, showing an 'Upkeep' being looked at by RAF personnel, which was still in it's large transit case. Now, having been prompted by the reference to the red oxide finish, and, I must stress, from memory of this film clip, the tonal appearance did look different to what one would expect to see (in B&W) if it was finished in dark green.
As the dark green colour used on RAF bombs at this period was really intended to aid concealment in bomb dumps on the ground, replacing the original yellow finish (pointless painting a bomb for camouflage for the sky !!), it's entirely logical, in this instance, to dispense with the finish colour coat, and of course the time involved to apply it and let it dry, as the weapons would not be in storage, being delivered straight from the Ordnance factory for immediate use.
So on reflection, my comment earlier referring to the colour as dark green should be disregarded - if I were to build a model of a 'Dam Buster' Lanc, I would opt for the red oxide shade for the 'Upkeep' mine.
Good info
