Calling on Luftwaffe researchers

[stona]

Steve, you caught me. Yes, I meant the 70/71 scheme, not 71/72. My apologies to all.

The picture of R4+EN in Boiten's book to which I referred carries the caption "...BF110F-4 R4+EN at Leeuwarden airfield in the summer of 1942. Note the early wartime camouflage pattern on the 110..."

I too questioned this but the B&W photo unquestionably shows two tones. Of course, it's possible that it's a field application of available colours.

I would suggest (not having seen the photo, though I have Boiten's book somewhere) that the two camouflage colours might be 74 and 75. The pattern of the splinter scheme, and the reference points needed to apply it, didn't immediately change with the introduction of the new colours.
Cheers
Steve

 

[fubar57]

I'm further suggesting the code would be R4+?P, the "P" typically designating 6 Staffel. Are there pictures in your book of 110's with that code Geo?

No luck with those codes Andy. I have some generic Luftwaffe books I will look through later.

Geo

 

[Crimea_River]

Steve, yes, there were definitely later 110's that had the 74/75 scheme.

Jeff, not too familiar with the Halifax I'm afraid.

 

[Jeff Hunt]

Is this of some help Jeff?

Halifax Technical

35 LAPG built Halifax B MK 2 srs 1 BB189-BB223 Jan-Jul

Perfect. Thank you so much. That clears things up.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Aozora]

The photograph in post #2 is of a Dornier. I doubt that it would be 74/75 as these were fighter colours and Dornier produced primarily bombers and was still applying bomber colours to the Do 335 at the end of the war!

My guess (and we're all guessing when we interpret B+W photos!) for the two colours in the photograph would be 70/71 without evidence to the contrary. These are the two most likely applied to such an aircraft, by Dornier, at that time.

Cheers

Steve

Certainly the Do 215 in post #2 looks to be in the standard splinter scheme of RLM 70/71; having said that, not all of the Do 215B-5s would have been in a factory standard colour scheme because they were prepared for operational service at specialist centres (either Werl or Gütersloh) before being sent on to their operational units; many would have been repainted.; eg: R4 + DC of Stab. II./NJG 2; the likely colour scheme was RLM 74/75 over 76, with RLM 77 codes and national insignia.

 

[fubar57]

Went through "The Bomber Command War Diaries - An Operational Reference Book 1939-1945" and gives the dates of the Bremen raid as Sept 13/14, '42.
"....15 Wellingtons, 2 Lancasters, 1 Halifax, 1 Hampden, 1 Stirling, 1 Whitley - were lost, 4.7% of the force....."