USN paint schemes on carrier aircraft

[syscom3]

On USN carrier aircraft, was all of the lower part of the wing painted white (or gray) and the upper part painted blue? Or did the folding part of the wing get blue on top and bottom

 

[fubar57]

I think it depends on the aircraft and time frame. From this site...

Mar. '45

Jan. '43​

 

[R Leonard]

Generally, before the USN went for overall gloss sea blue in 1945 for carrier planes, that is, when undersides were supposed to be light grey (though if you're observent you can sometimes find them with a cream color), if the underside of the wing, when folded, was visible from above, such as a SB2U, SB2C, or F4U, the underside portion outboard of the fold was supposed to be blue. If the underside was not visible from above, such as an F4F, F6F, or TBF/TBM, then the underside outboard of the fold was light grey.

 

[Capt. Vick]

The way the Grumman wings folded, there was no need to paint the underside two colors as the top was still facing up when stowed.

 

[Barrett]

LONG ago when working the Grumman archives I asked about paint specs in the tricolor-gloss blue switch, mid-late 44. Nothing was available though the archivists (Schony Schonberg and Lois Lovisolo of honored memory) said they received inquiries from modelers.

Sidebar: sorta interesting the things I recall: before 1941 apparently one Grummanite made the tailhooks, or at least had responsibility for them. There was also a drawer full of requests (mid-late 70s) Dear Mr. Grumman: Please send me everything on the Hellcat. Sincerely, Timmy/Tommy/Scotty/etc

 

[Steve Hnz]

Light gray undersides were only required for the first year or two of the war when the USN colours were blue/gray topsides with light gray undersides, when they went to the three colour scheme, the underside colour became Insignia white which is a slightly cream white with semigloss sea blue/non-specular sea blue & intermediate blue upper sides.

 

[chuter]

As I recall from my experience, not sure if it comes from the Smithsonian or just all the Corsair/Hellcat stuff i've been around*, as far as the US Insignia goes, only Grumman went with the white-only star insignia as per their request to the Navy, all others continued applying the full marking despite initial appearances. That concludes most of my "knowledge".

*Anyone want a Corsair's short tailwheel fork? The guy doesn't want to sell. lol. He won't sell it or use it.

 

[John D. Voss]

You need to acquire the book written by T.E. Doll titled "US Navy Aircraft Camouflage and Markings 1940-1945". It's available at Amazon.com You will find that there were variations to paint scheme or insignia nearly every year of the war. Actually, it's all quite interesting!!!

 

[waroff]

1943, vought, for F4U1, wrote:
- sea blue semi gloss: upper side of main plane and stabilizer
- intermediate blue: underside of outer panel wing, end rib of center section wing and vertical tail
- non specular white : underside of fuselage, central section of main plane and stabilizer
at the delimitation, intermediate blue and white are graded on 4" approx.
- non specular sea blue: top of fuselage
on each side, the gradual transition from NS sea blue to the NS white is made to obtain a shade similar to the intermediate blue.
On upper left wing the star and bars of insignia was painted in gray (1 part insignia white+1 part light gray)

 

[R Leonard]

Referencing two sources:

Doll, Thomas E.; Jackson, Jackson, Berkley R; and Riley, William A, Navy Air Colors – United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol 1 1911-1945, Squadron Signal Publications, 1983. [hereafter "Doll"]
and
Elliott, John M., MAJ USMC (Ret), The Official Monogram US Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2 1940-1949, Monogram Aviation Publications, 1989. [hereafter "Elliott"]

Doll addresses the outer wing undersurface issue on page 54:

"BuAer directive Aer-E-257 1-DMC, F39-5, VV, FF12, 063 183.
This directive called for all carrier and ship-based aircraft to be painted the same as patrol planes; which was NS Light Gray on the bottom surfaces, and on surfaces viewed from above, NS Blue Gray. The line of demarcation between the two colors was to be an irregular, wavy line with one color blending into the other color so as to avoid a sharp, definite line between the top surface color and the bottom surface color. This blended line was interpreted in various ways depending upon the painter. Examples of the soft blended line show up in period photographs as do examples of a not-so soft blended line of demarcation. In reality it probably didn't make that much difference. Specific instructions regarding aircraft with upward folding wings were also issued. Aircraft that had wings that folded in such a manner that exposed the undersurfaces to view from above were to have these exposed parts painted with the NS Blue Gray color. Aircraft covered by this order were the Douglas TBD-1 and the Vought SB2U series."

Elliott has this to say on this same scheme on page 29:

"The Blue Gray painting instructions were further modified on August 20, 1941, when Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, directed that all carrier-based aircraft in Aircraft, Battle Force, be painted nonspecular Light Gray except for those surfaces seen from above, which were to be painted nonspecular Blue Gray, A definite line of demarcation between the light Gray under surface and Blue Gray upper surface was to be avoided by feathering in the two colors. Aircraft such as the TBD-1, which had wings that folded so as to expose the undersurfaces to visibility from above, were to have those surfaces painted Blue Gray. These instructions covering the Blue Gray and Light Gray color scheme were further expanded on October 13, 1941, to Include all fleet aircraft."

Doll then addresses the popularly referred to "tri-color" scheme on pages 60 – 61:

"The next exterior color change came about with the issuing of Specification SR-2c on 5 January 1943. The effective date of SR-2c was 5 January 1943. The effective date of SR-2c was 1 February of the same year. The new scheme outlined in SR-2c called out that:

"All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from above should be finished in Semi-Gloss Sea Blue color.

"All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from below should be finished in the NS Insignia White color.

"The leading edge of the wing was to be countershaded between the two colors, using NS Insignia White and NS Sea Blue. The NS Sea Blue should extend back on the top of the wing surface approximately 50?o of the wing chord. When aircraft had wings that folded, so as to expose undersurfaces to view from above, these visible surfaces were to be painted NS Intermediate Blue.

"Upper hull or fuselage surfaces extending down to a line, the tangent to which is approximately sixty degrees from the horizontal, was to be painted NS Sea Blue. (i.e. upper points of tangency). Lower hull or fuselage surfaces extending up the side to a line, the tangent to which at any point is not more than thirty degrees from the horizontal, was to be painted NS Insignia White. (i.e. lower points of tangency).

"The vertical or curved surfaces of the hull or fuselage, between the NS Sea Blue color of the upper surfaces and the NS Insignia White of the lower surfaces, were to be graduated in tone from the NS Sea Blue to the NS Insignia White by means of either of the following methods:

" (A) By blending the two colors over the intervening area in such a manner that there was a gradual transition in the tone without noticeable demarcation between the colors. In any case, the tone of the curved surfaces, where they approached the vertical, was to be approximately that of the NS Intermediate Blue color.
"(B) By the use of NS Intermediate Blue over the intervening area, blending into the two adjacent colors in such a manner that there was a gradual transition without noticeable demarcation between the colors.

"On small fighters method A was preferred, however, on large flying boats method B was thought to be more practicable.

"The areas of the hull or fuselage normally in the shadows cast by the horizontal airfoils, were to be counter-shadowed from NS Insignia White at the airfoil root by gradually darkening the tone until the paint was the same color as the adjacent fuselage areas. In no case, however, was pure NS Insignia White to extend beyond lines tangent to the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil root which were fifteen degrees from the horizontal (i.e., lines forming an acute angle with the wing).

"Vertical surfaces of the rudder assembly and vertical fin were painted with the NS Intermediate Blue color."

Elliot writes of this SR-2c in somewhat more detail on pages 34 through 36:

"SR-2C, Specification (or Exterior Colors. Insignia and Marking of Naval Aircraft dated January 5. 1943. Directed that aircraft be painted with the new basic camouflage scheme. This was the most elaborate camouflage used on US Naval aircraft during World War II. It must be remembered that the basic directive applied to all aircraft, everything from a small F4F to a large PB4Y. The variations used were extensive because of the complexities involved In properly applying it. This scheme utilized the general principle of Counter-Shading/Counter-Shadowing.

"When a round object is seen from the side with the light coming from above (the most common way of seeing an aircraft) the shaded bottom blends gradually into the lighter upper portion. Counter-Shading Is accomplished by painting this object dark at the top and light at the bottom and then gradually blending the two together. The rounded surface appears to have lost its form and is a flat medium gray when lighted from above.

"The effect of the shadows cast by the horizontal airfoils on the fuselage can be minimized by lightening the color of the areas where these shadows normally fell. This is the principle of Counter-Shadowing.

"This camouflage scheme required the use of semigloss Sea Blue. nonspecular Sea Blue, intermediate Blue and nonspecular Insignia While. All horizontal airfoil surfaces seen from above were finished in semigloss sea Blue. The slight shine of these surfaces tended to match the changing shine of the sea. Care had to be taken not to apply this semigloss to the rounded surfaces of the fuselage, the hull, or the leading edges of airfoils where it would cause glare. Nonspecular Sea Blue was applied over the top portion of the fuselage and around the leading edge of the airfoils extending approximately 5 percent aft on the top surface. All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from below were painted nonspecular Insignia White, Aircraft with wings that folded so as to expose the lower surfaces to visibility from above had these surfaces finished in Intermediate Blue. Vertical surfaces of the fin and rudder assembly were finished with Intermediate Blue. The sides of the fuselage were graduated from the nonspecular Sea Blue at the top to the nonspecular Insignia White at the bottom so that there was no noticeable line of demarcation between the colors. The tone of these curved surfaces where they approached the vertical was approximately Intermediate Blue. Care had to be taken not to let the white move up the side beyond a line the tangent of which was 30⁰ from the horizontal because of glare. Engine nacelles were treated the same as the fuselage.

"Areas of the fuselage normally in the shadows cast by the by the horizontal airfoils were Counter-Shadowed with nonspecular Insignia White at the airfoil root which gradually darkened in tone until the color was the same as the adjacent fuselage area. In no case could pure nonspecular Insignia White extend beyond lines tangent to the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil at its root which were 15⁰ from the horizontal.

"Camouflaged floats were to be painted nonspecular Sea Blue on the top surfaces down to the chine. and nonspecular Insignia White on the bottom surfaces up to the chine.

"This basic scheme could be modified at the discretion of the Force Commander for other than ship-based aircraft."

And Elliott goes further on page 38 in a discussion of the requirements of the follow-on SR-2d effective 5 March 1944 as it addressed outboard wing surfaces for folding wing aircraft:

"The instructions concerning painting of folding wings was specified in more detail. Aircraft having wings that fold so as to expose the under surface to view from above, such as the F4U, were to have the visible surface painted nonspecular Intermediate Blue. The Blue of the outer panel being blended into the white of the center section inboard of the wing fold in order to prevent carrying any white onto the surface that could be seen from above and cause glare when the wings were folded, Of course aircraft which had wings would normally fold but had no folding mechanism installed, as in the case of some FGs built with fixed wings for the Marine Corps, did not have to be painted in this manner. However, in the interest of simplicity for the manufacturer and to eliminate the necessity of stocking two types of wings in the supply system, it is believed that all outer wing panels were painted Intermediate Blue on the under surface by the manufacturer. Aircraft having wings that fold so as not to expose the under surface to view from above, such as the TBF, continued to have the entire under surface painted white."

Elliott, on page 39 tells us that Amendment 1 to SR2-d issued 13 March 1944 decreed:

". . . Aircraft painted in the standard three-tone camouflage were now to be overall glossy finish. Whenever semigloss or nonspecular paint had been specified in the basic instructions, these colors were to be glossy. This change to the glossy finish was made to improve aerodynamic characteristics aw well as make upkeep easier. Fighter aircraft were now to be painted overall glossy Sea Blue. " (Underlining is mine, not Elliott's.)

Doll addresses the next requirements SR-2e of June 1944 which defined the appearance of carrier-based aircraft through the end of the war (indeed, I can remember when Navy fighters and such were the overall gloss sea blue into the early 1960's . . . I have a builder's display model of a McDonnell F3H Demon cast in all sea blue plastic), simply stating on page 71:

"With the issuing of this document, all USN carrier based aircraft were to be painted overall Glossy Sea Blue. However, many bombing and torpedo planes retained the tri-color basic camouflage scheme until the final day of fighting."

Doll is correct, it is not at all difficult to find photographs from August 1945 of a few TBMs and, not as many, SB2Cs operating from TF-38 carriers off the coast of Japan sporting the tri-color scheme. While sure as my fingers are on the keyboard someone will find a photo of one, I don't recall ever seeing this phenomenon with carrier-based F6Fs and F4Us during the same operations. The ones I've seen were uniformly of the overall gloss sea blue variety. I suspect that the exclusive appearance of fighter in overall glossy sea blue was due the that scheme being in place some months before becoming a requirement for the VB & VT types. It may also have a lot to do with availability and introduction of newer aircraft into the program . . . remember there was a constant chain of some 25 CVEs bringing new aircraft out to replace losses, and in larger numbers, what were referred to a "duds," planes that were but marginally operational and needed to be replaced, usually from overstressing or engines worn out in fighter operations. The replacement program also, in my opinion, lessened the number of SB2Cs wandering about in a tr-color scheme as frontline squadrons were receiving later model -4s and brand new -5s, whether they wanted them or not, culling out what older -3s were still around and even early -4s. TBMs operating with the fast carriers, on the other hand, were all -3s and -3Es,

Elliot draws pretty much the same conclusion regarding the earlier use of overall gloss sea blue on fighters in his comments on SR-2e on page 44:

"SR-2e. dated June 26, 1944, with an effective date of October 7, 1944, spelled out for the first time the color schemes for use on all types of aircraft. All carrier-based aircraft were now to be painted glossy Sea Blue overall. No mention was made for similar shore-based aircraft. Because of this, many combat-type aircraft continued to carry the basic nonspecular camouflage scheme throughout the war. This was a more common practice with the dive and torpedo bombers than with fighter aircraft which had been specifically mentioned in an earlier directive."

Hope this provides some clarification.

 

[syscom3]

Referencing two sources:

Doll, Thomas E.; Jackson, Berkley, R Jackson; and Riley, William A, Navy Air Colors – United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol 1 1911-1945, Squadron Signal Publications, 1983. [hereafter "Doll"]
and
Elliott, John M., MAJ USMC (Ret), The Official Monogram US Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2 1940-1949, Monogram Aviation Publications, 1989. [hereafter "Elliott"]

Doll addresses the outer wing undersurface issue on page 54:

"BuAer directive Aer-E-257 1-DMC, F39-5, VV, FF12, 063 183.
This directive called for all carrier and ship-based aircraft to be painted the same as patrol planes; which was NS Light Gray on the bottom surfaces, and on surfaces viewed from above, NS Blue Gray. The line of demarcation between the two colors was to be an irregular, wavy line with one color blending into the other color so as to avoid a sharp, definite line between the top surface color and the bottom surface color. This blended line was interpreted in various ways depending upon the painter. Examples of the soft blended line show up in period photographs as do examples of a not-so soft blended line of demarcation. In reality it probably didn't make that much difference. Specific instructions regarding aircraft with upward folding wings were also issued. Aircraft that had wings that folded in such a manner that exposed the undersurfaces to view from above were to have these exposed parts painted with the NS Blue Gray color. Aircraft covered by this order were the Douglas TBD-1 and the Vought SB2U series."

Elliott has this to say on this same scheme on page 29:

"The Blue Gray painting instructions were further modified on August 20, 1941, when Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, directed that all carrier-based aircraft in Aircraft, Battle Force, be painted nonspecular Light Gray except for those surfaces seen from above, which were to be painted nonspecular Blue Gray, A definite line of demarcation between the light Gray under surface and Blue Gray upper surface was to be avoided by feathering in the two colors. Aircraft such as the TBD-1, which had wings that folded so as to expose the undersurfaces to visibility from above, were to have those surfaces painted Blue Gray. These instructions covering the Blue Gray and Light Gray color scheme were further expanded on October 13, 1941, to Include all fleet aircraft."

Doll then addresses the popularly referred to "tri-color" scheme on pages 60 – 61:

"The next exterior color change came about with the issuing of Specification SR-2c on 5 January 1943. The effective date of SR-2c was 5 January 1943. The effective date of SR-2c was 1 February of the same year. The new scheme outlined in SR-2c called out that:

"All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from above should be finished in Semi-Gloss Sea Blue color.

"All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from below should be finished in the NS Insignia White color.

"The leading edge of the wing was to be countershaded between the two colors, using NS Insignia White and NS Sea Blue. The NS Sea Blue should extend back on the top of the wing surface approximately 50?o of the wing chord. When aircraft had wings that folded, so as to expose undersurfaces to view from above, these visible surfaces were to be painted NS Intermediate Blue.

"Upper hull or fuselage surfaces extending down to a line, the tangent to which is approximately sixty degrees from the horizontal, was to be painted NS Sea Blue. (i.e. upper points of tangency). Lower hull or fuselage surfaces extending up the side to a line, the tangent to which at any point is not more than thirty degrees from the horizontal, was to be painted NS Insignia White. (i.e. lower points of tangency).

"The vertical or curved surfaces of the hull or fuselage, between the NS Sea Blue color of the upper surfaces and the NS Insignia White of the lower surfaces, were to be graduated in tone from the NS Sea Blue to the NS Insignia White by means of either of the following methods:

" (A) By blending the two colors over the intervening area in such a manner that there was a gradual transition in the tone without noticeable demarcation between the colors. In any case, the tone of the curved surfaces, where they approached the vertical, was to be approximately that of the NS Intermediate Blue color.
"(B) By the use of NS Intermediate Blue over the intervening area, blending into the two adjacent colors in such a manner that there was a gradual transition without noticeable demarcation between the colors.

"On small fighters method A was preferred, however, on large flying boats method B was thought to be more practicable.

"The areas of the hull or fuselage normally in the shadows cast by the horizontal airfoils, were to be counter-shadowed from NS Insignia White at the airfoil root by gradually darkening the tone until the paint was the same color as the adjacent fuselage areas. In no case, however, was pure NS Insignia White to extend beyond lines tangent to the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil root which were fifteen degrees from the horizontal (i.e., lines forming an acute angle with the wing).

"Vertical surfaces of the rudder assembly and vertical fin were painted with the NS Intermediate Blue color."

Elliot writes of this SR-2c in somewhat more detail on pages 34 through 36:

"SR-2C, Specification (or Exterior Colors. Insignia and Marking of Naval Aircraft dated January 5. 1943. Directed that aircraft be painted with the new basic camouflage scheme. This was the most elaborate camouflage used on US Naval aircraft during World War II. It must be remembered that the basic directive applied to all aircraft, everything from a small F4F to a large PB4Y. The variations used were extensive because of the complexities involved In properly applying it. This scheme utilized the general principle of Counter-Shading/Counter-Shadowing.

"When a round object is seen from the side with the light coming from above (the most common way of seeing an aircraft) the shaded bottom blends gradually into the lighter upper portion. Counter-Shading Is accomplished by painting this object dark at the top and light at the bottom and then gradually blending the two together. The rounded surface appears to have lost its form and is a flat medium gray when lighted from above.

"The effect of the shadows cast by the horizontal airfoils on the fuselage can be minimized by lightening the color of the areas where these shadows normally fell. This is the principle of Counter-Shadowing.

"This camouflage scheme required the use of semigloss Sea Blue. nonspecular Sea Blue, intermediate Blue and nonspecular Insignia While. All horizontal airfoil surfaces seen from above were finished in semigloss sea Blue. The slight shine of these surfaces tended to match the changing shine of the sea. Care had to be taken not to apply this semigloss to the rounded surfaces of the fuselage, the hull, or the leading edges of airfoils where it would cause glare. Nonspecular Sea Blue was applied over the top portion of the fuselage and around the leading edge of the airfoils extending approximately 5 percent aft on the top surface. All horizontal airfoil surfaces viewed from below were painted nonspecular Insignia White, Aircraft with wings that folded so as to expose the lower surfaces to visibility from above had these surfaces finished in Intermediate Blue. Vertical surfaces of the fin and rudder assembly were finished with Intermediate Blue. The sides of the fuselage were graduated from the nonspecular Sea Blue at the top to the nonspecular Insignia White at the bottom so that there was no noticeable line of demarcation between the colors. The tone of these curved surfaces where they approached the vertical was approximately Intermediate Blue. Care had to be taken not to let the white move up the side beyond a line the tangent of which was 30⁰ from the horizontal because of glare. Engine nacelles were treated the same as the fuselage.

"Areas of the fuselage normally in the shadows cast by the by the horizontal airfoils were Counter-Shadowed with nonspecular Insignia White at the airfoil root which gradually darkened in tone until the color was the same as the adjacent fuselage area. In no case could pure nonspecular Insignia White extend beyond lines tangent to the leading and trailing edges of the airfoil at its root which were 15⁰ from the horizontal.

"Camouflaged floats were to be painted nonspecular Sea Blue on the top surfaces down to the chine. and nonspecular Insignia White on the bottom surfaces up to the chine.

"This basic scheme could be modified at the discretion of the Force Commander for other than ship-based aircraft."

And Elliott goes further on page 38 in a discussion of the requirements of the follow-on SR-2d effective 5 March 1944 as it addressed outboard wing surfaces for folding wing aircraft:

"The instructions concerning painting of folding wings was specified in more detail. Aircraft having wings that fold so as to expose the under surface to view from above, such as the F4U, were to have the visible surface painted nonspecular Intermediate Blue. The Blue of the outer panel being blended into the white of the center section inboard of the wing fold in order to prevent carrying any white onto the surface that could be seen from above and cause glare when the wings were folded, Of course aircraft which had wings would normally fold but had no folding mechanism installed, as in the case of some FGs built with fixed wings for the Marine Corps, did not have to be painted in this manner. However, in the interest of simplicity for the manufacturer and to eliminate the necessity of stocking two types of wings in the supply system, it is believed that all outer wing panels were painted Intermediate Blue on the under surface by the manufacturer. Aircraft having wings that fold so as not to expose the under surface to view from above, such as the TBF, continued to have the entire under surface painted white."

Elliott, on page 39 tells us that Amendment 1 to SR2-d issued 13 March 1944 decreed:

". . . Aircraft painted in the standard three-tone camouflage were now to be overall glossy finish. Whenever semigloss or nonspecular paint had been specified in the basic instructions, these colors were to be glossy. This change to the glossy finish was made to improve aerodynamic characteristics aw well as make upkeep easier. Fighter aircraft were now to be painted overall glossy Sea Blue. " (Underlining is mine, not Elliott's.)

Doll addresses the next requirements SR-2e of June 1944 which defined the appearance of carrier-based aircraft through the end of the war (indeed, I can remember when Navy fighters and such were the overall gloss sea blue into the early 1960's . . . I have a builder's display model of a McDonnell F3H Demon cast in all sea blue plastic), simply stating on page 71:

"With the issuing of this document, all USN carrier based aircraft were to be painted overall Glossy Sea Blue. However, many bombing and torpedo planes retained the tri-color basic camouflage scheme until the final day of fighting."

Doll is correct, it is not at all difficult to find photographs from August 1945 of a few TBMs and, not as many, SB2Cs operating from TF-38 carriers off the coast of Japan sporting the tri-color scheme. While sure as my fingers are on the keyboard someone will find a photo of one, I don't recall ever seeing this phenomenon with carrier-based F6Fs and F4Us during the same operations. The ones I've seen were uniformly of the overall gloss sea blue variety. I suspect that the exclusive appearance of fighter in overall glossy sea blue was due the that scheme being in place some months before becoming a requirement for the VB & VT types. It may also have a lot to do with availability and introduction of newer aircraft into the program . . . remember there was a constant chain of some 25 CVEs bringing new aircraft out to replace losses, and in larger numbers, what were referred to a "duds," planes that were but marginally operational and needed to be replaced, usually from overstressing or engines worn out in fighter operations. The replacement program also, in my opinion, lessened the number of SB2Cs wandering about in a tr-color scheme as frontline squadrons were receiving later model -4s and brand new -5s, whether they wanted them or not, culling out what older -3s were still around and even early -4s. TBMs operating with the fast carriers, on the other hand, were all -3s and -3Es,

Elliot draws pretty much the same conclusion regarding the earlier use of overall gloss sea blue on fighters in his comments on SR-2e on page 44:

"SR-2e. dated June 26, 1944, with an effective date of October 7, 1944, spelled out for the first time the color schemes for use on all types of aircraft. All carrier-based aircraft were now to be painted glossy Sea Blue overall. No mention was made for similar shore-based aircraft. Because of this, many combat-type aircraft continued to carry the basic nonspecular camouflage scheme throughout the war. This was a more common practice with the dive and torpedo bombers than with fighter aircraft which had been specifically mentioned in an earlier directive."

Hope this provides some clarification.

Thanks Leonard!

 

[waroff]

drawings to illustrate Leonard's post
Source: Vought F4U-1