Most Beautiful Aircraft of WW2?

• May 5, 2023

• #541

Donivanp

Captain

8,752

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Feb 23, 2014

Katy Texas

DBII said:

We don't need no instrumentation...
We don't need no ground control...
Hey instructor, leave us newbies alone.

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We can fly into the wall alone

 

• May 6, 2023

• #542

Elvis

Chief Master Sergeant

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Nov 24, 2007

Little Norway, U.S.A.

Donivanp said:

We can fly into the wall alone

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Did you see the frightened ones?
Did you hear the falling bombs?
The flames are all long gone, but the pain lingers on
Goodbye, blue sky

 

• May 6, 2023

• #543

GrauGeist

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

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Aug 29, 2008

Redding, California

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Elvis said:

Goodbye, blue sky

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"Look Mummy, there's a plane up in the sky..."

 

Last edited: May 6, 2023

• May 8, 2023

• #544

DBII

Senior Master Sergeant

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1,606

Oct 16, 2007

Conroe, Texas

Ground control to Major Tom...

 

• May 22, 2023

• #545

BarnOwlLover

Staff Sergeant

935

340

Nov 3, 2022

Mansfield, Ohio, USA

Now we're getting a bit hypothetical here, but what about a P-51H or F-82 that mimicked the upper fuselage lines of the XP-51F/G, minus the oversized canopy (and everything else remaining the same for the H/F-82)?

 

• May 26, 2023

• #546

A

Admiral Beez

Captain

8,937

10,186

Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

PAT303 said:

View attachment 719007
I love this photo.

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Okay, now we have to ask. Which WW2 aircraft had the most beautiful paint schemes? I don't necessarily mean effective camo, just your favourite. And no aerial demo teams, postwar racers or other garish schemes, we want warbirds.

I'll go first. Spitfire PR blue.

 

• May 26, 2023

• #547

Donivanp

Captain

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Feb 23, 2014

Katy Texas

IMHO P-51D/K's were some of the prettiest planes in there dress. Here is one of my favorite.

 

• May 26, 2023

• #548

BarnOwlLover

Staff Sergeant

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Nov 3, 2022

Mansfield, Ohio, USA

Not a "warbird", but one of my favorite Mustangs from World War II:

 

• May 26, 2023

• #549

SaparotRob

Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII

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Mar 12, 2020

Long Island, NY

Does no paint count as a paint scheme? I like NMF. If not, the early Spitfires in the "temperate climate?" camouflage.

 

• May 26, 2023

• #550

N

Nobody

Recruit

4

7

May 26, 2023

Me262, no doubt. Come on, that's a flying sports car



Look at these lines. Would you like to go in here? Don't lie



The family-version:




Taking about the family: not the best looking, but definitely the cutest WW2-aircraft:


That thing is cute. And when it lands it looks so clumsy.



Pictures like this make me sad it came too late:





But maybe that's a little bit too much science fiction.

 

• May 26, 2023

• #551

BarnOwlLover

Staff Sergeant

935

340

Nov 3, 2022

Mansfield, Ohio, USA

Oddly, most British aircraft in peace time before and after World War II often flew either natural metal or painted silver grey (in the case of the DH Hornet or Mosquito especially since they're mostly made out of wood covered with doped fabric). However, PR planes were PRU blue undersides and silver grey or "sea grey" upper surfaces. Bombers/night fighters were similar but the undersides were black instead of PRU blue.

Interestingly, RAF P-51s (mostly D/K models) went from standard RAF camo to silver/grey during the later stages of the war, and I'm a fan of 1942-45 RAF camo (that came back in the early 50s).

 

• May 26, 2023

• #552

BiffF15

Tech Sergeant

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3,454

Aug 15, 2010

Florida

This is my favorite Mustang paint scheme, followed closely by the AVG Sharkmouth P-40s…

 

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• May 26, 2023

• #553

E

Escuadrilla Azul

Tech Sergeant

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3,468

Feb 27, 2020

IJAAF had some interesting camo schemes:

 

• May 26, 2023

• #554

GrauGeist

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

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As far as paint/camo schemes go, my top three are:
Italian, particularly North Africa.
Imperial Japanese Army camo.
Luftwaffe night-fighter camo.

 

• May 26, 2023

• #555

A

Admiral Beez

Captain

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Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

I like the Arsenal VG33.



It reminds me of the later Italians.

 

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• May 26, 2023

• #556

Donivanp

Captain

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Feb 23, 2014

Katy Texas

Admiral Beez said:

I like the Arsenal VG33.

View attachment 722771

It reminds me of the later Italians.

View attachment 722774

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The Italians did make some sleek exotic lines.

 

• May 27, 2023

• #557

Elvis

Chief Master Sergeant

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3,592

Nov 24, 2007

Little Norway, U.S.A.

Admiral Beez said:

Okay, now we have to ask. Which WW2 aircraft had the most beautiful paint schemes? I don't necessarily mean effective camo, just your favourite. And no aerial demo teams, postwar racers or other garish schemes, we want warbirds.

I'll go first. Spitfire PR blue.

Click to expand...

I have always appreciated that light blue that the first Spitfire was painted in.
Some of the pre-war paint schemes, while bordering on gaudy, were rather delightful, as well....

 

• May 27, 2023

• #558

P

PAT303

Tech Sergeant

1,905

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Dec 31, 2018

Admiral Beez said:

Okay, now we have to ask. Which WW2 aircraft had the most beautiful paint schemes? I don't necessarily mean effective camo, just your favourite. And no aerial demo teams, postwar racers or other garish schemes, we want warbirds.

I'll go first. Spitfire PR blue.

View attachment 722687

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It's actually called duck shell blue, same colour as duck eggs

 

• May 27, 2023

• #559

P

PAT303

Tech Sergeant

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Dec 31, 2018

I never knew one was flown in Australia?.

 

• May 27, 2023

• #560

GrauGeist

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

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Aug 29, 2008

Redding, California

www.netallurgy.com

Australia has a Me262A-2a (Black X)