Odd C-47 camo scheme

• Mar 18, 2015

• #1

Maxrobot1

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Sep 28, 2009

I spotted this odd looking C-47 while researching the Panama canal during WWII. This photo is of C-47s of the 20th Transport Sq. at Howard Field (later Howard AFB,now Panama Pacific Airport)
The20th Transport Squadron was activated in 1940 and deactivated in 1949, apparently spendind all their time servicing the Canal Zone.
This image is from 1943 and while the left C-47s seem to have Green and O.D. camo, the one on the right stands out.
Would it have been painted in desert-type colors?

 

Last edited: May 5, 2015

• Mar 19, 2015

• #2

Capt. Vick

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Interesting...damned if I know though. Thanks for posting!

 

• Mar 19, 2015

• #3

GrauGeist

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Looks almost like a desert scheme

 

• Mar 19, 2015

• #4

syscom3

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That camo was sported on a couple "Puff" gunships in Vietnam.

 

• Mar 24, 2015

• #5

destrozas

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syscom3 said:

That camo was sported on a couple "Puff" gunships in Vietnam.

Click to expand...

if it seems to be the camouflage of an AC-47

 

• Mar 24, 2015

• #6

GrauGeist

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Notice some of the other aircraft have a mutli-tone camo, also?

Although not the O.D./Sand coloring of the one on the right, but more of a two-tone green upper.

 

• Mar 24, 2015

• #7

Capt. Vick

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Yeah it's subtle, but it's there.

 

• Mar 25, 2015

• #8

FLYBOYJ

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Find the book "Air Force Colors: Vol. 1. 1926-1942" and it should explain this camouflage.

 

• Mar 25, 2015

• #9

Capt. Vick

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I have that. Dana Bell right? I will have to remember to look. Met Mr. Bell once, nice guy.

 

• Mar 25, 2015

• #10

FLYBOYJ

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Capt. Vick said:

I have that. Dana Bell right? I will have to remember to look. Met Mr. Bell once, nice guy.

Click to expand...

That's the one! I think you'll find that around 1942/ 43 some other aircraft had a similar camouflage scheme as our C-47

Aircraft illustration

 

• Sep 16, 2022

• #11

barneybolac

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Maxrobot1 said:

I spotted this odd looking C-47 while researching the Panama canal during WWII. This photo is of C-47s of the 20th Transport Sq. at Howard Field (later Howard AFB,now Panama Pacific Airport)
The20th Transport Squadron was activated in 1940 and deactivated in 1949, apparently spendind all their time servicing the Canal Zone.
This image is from 1943 and while the left C-47s seem to have Green and O.D. camo, the one on the right stands out.
Would it have been painted in desert-type colors?
View attachment 287677View attachment 287678

Click to expand...

 

• Sep 21, 2022

• #12

fubar57

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The Jungles of Canada

It belonged to the 20th Transport Squadron or 20th Troop Carrier Squadron depending on the sites I was at