With the entry into service of the Mustang III (P-51B/C) with 112 Sqn came a dramatic change of colour scheme as seen here.
From July 1944, when they became fully operational with the Mustang, the camouflage scheme became the same standard one as used in Northern Europe on RAF fighters; namely Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey undersurfaces. The markings are, however, different in some ways: the codes letters are in white; there are no yellow leading edges to the wings; the spinner is red; and the rear fuselage sky band is painted out with camouflage (note the straight edge to the Dark Green area). It seems clear from photographs that sky bands were overpainted in Italy on the units of the RAF Desert Air Force (which included 112 Sqn) but were retained on the RAF Balkan Air Force, operating from Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece.
Note that this aircraft, in common with many Mustang III's in Italy – and also USAAF P-51B and -C models – has the dorsal fin extension similar to later production Mk.IV's (P-51D's).
112 Sqn operated the Mk.III Mustangs up to the end of the war in May 1945, supplementing them with Mk.IV's and IVA's (P-51K) from February 1945. They participated in the invasion of Southern France as well as continuing with operations along the Adriatic coast of Italy, mostly in the fighter-bomber role, and still with some liking for attacking bridge targets
North American Mustang Mk. IVA, 112 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Cervia, Italy, May 1945
Here is the final piston-engined aircraft type operated by 112 Sqn, the Mustang IVA (P-51K); a mixture of Mk.IV's (P-51D) and IVA's were operated from February 1945 until December 1946.
Up to approximately the end of hostilities in Europe these Mustangs were painted in the normal camouflage, just as the previous Mk.III illustration. After that they were left in natural metal finish with Olive Drab anti-dazzle panel in front of the cockpit, and the code letters in black instead of white, all other markings remaining the same. Note that yet again the serial number (KH774) is overpainted, by the individual aircraft ident letter "S".
The Mustang IV's and IVA's were used alongside the remaining Mk.III's mainly in the ground attack role with bombs, though they did also fly longer-range missions with fuel drop tanks underwing. After a period in Northern Italy on occupation duty after the war's end the Squadron was disbanded at Treviso on 30th December 1946