The famous "PRU Blue" painted Lockheed F-5s in Europe are well known and photographed, but what about the Pacific? It seems natural, given the vast ocean spaces, but most of the photos I've seen of F-5s there are either bare metal or what looks like early-war olive over gray. Is "PRU Blue" valid for that theater as well, and if so, when would it have been used? I've exhausted all of my usual reference sources without finding a clear answer.
PRU Blue F-5s in the Pacific?
- Thread starter OldGeezer
- Start date
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buffnut453
Captain
Perhaps the Haze Blue scheme? Here are a couple of modeling articles that may help:
Lockheed F-5A Lightning by Werner Scheibling (Hasegawa 1/48)
Haze Paint?
Lockheed F-5A Lightning by Werner Scheibling (Hasegawa 1/48)
Haze Paint?
- Thread starter
- #3
It's a good overview, and I hadn't seen that finish print before. Both say that all F-5s were painted in the blue at the factory after mid-1943 or 1944 (depending on which blue) but there are a lot of photos of bare metal F-5s out there, so the whole thing leaves me scratching my head. Paint removed in the field, to squeeze out a few more knots of speed? I wouldn't be surprised. Thanks for the links!
Look for information on the USAAF 8th Photo Recon Group. They operated 'Haze' P-38s in the Pacific SWPA.
Worth having a look at this article: RAAF LIGHTNINGS 75SQN - The Lockheed File
Its about two (or three) haze painted recon Lightnings being loaned to the RAAF.
Expect the natural metal F-5 dated from when it was specified that camo was no longer required.
Also: P-38 (and Mustangs) might be described as natural metal, but in fact there were a number of areas on the airframe that were painted aluminium...such as the upper part of the tail booms, the top of the fin/rudder, the outer portion of the horizontal tailplane (I think all this was to protect the surfaces of those areas from the exhaust coming out of the superchargers), and also the wing and tailplane leading edges, the boom radiator housings, the large gun access panel on the nacelle and the panel with the gun opening, and the wing fillet.
Worth having a look at this article: RAAF LIGHTNINGS 75SQN - The Lockheed File
Its about two (or three) haze painted recon Lightnings being loaned to the RAAF.
Expect the natural metal F-5 dated from when it was specified that camo was no longer required.
Also: P-38 (and Mustangs) might be described as natural metal, but in fact there were a number of areas on the airframe that were painted aluminium...such as the upper part of the tail booms, the top of the fin/rudder, the outer portion of the horizontal tailplane (I think all this was to protect the surfaces of those areas from the exhaust coming out of the superchargers), and also the wing and tailplane leading edges, the boom radiator housings, the large gun access panel on the nacelle and the panel with the gun opening, and the wing fillet.
N4521U
Colonel
I know this is O L D but, SMS makes a PRU Blue now!
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 734
- Mar 16, 2014
For a second I thought you were referring to what these ones got (note the P-40 in the background is painted the same)
P-38E 41-2239 in the Aleutians:
P-38E 41-2239 in the Aleutians:
N4521U
Colonel
Photo RECON, the nose of the second P-38 has the camera cover off I believe!?
buffnut453
Captain
There's a couple of schemes visible there. The nearest P-38 looks very much like Haze Blue but the other 2 P-38s plus the P-40 appear to be in OD over NG.
