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| Macchi C.202 of Regia Aeronautica 168ยช Squadriglia, 54° Stormo CT, Tunisia, circa 1943. |
by Vincent Guerino
Only general directions were laid down by the Italian Air Ministry regarding camouflage schemes during World War II. There were no standard colors that were mandatory and no detailed instructions were issued as to how the colors were to be applied. As a result one could see in the same operational theater, and even within the same squadriglia, some aircraft with large blotches, and others with small blotches, while both the density and the number of blotches varied.
This was done in order to obtain the greatest simplicity, as the rigger had neither to follow rigid instructions nor to use only standard colors that could not easily be obtained in operational theaters.
Camouflage Colors and Schemes
Under Surfaces: Light blue, gray or very pale green.
Upper Surfaces (Most Usual Colors): Dark green, used as an overall color at the beginning of the war on CR.42, MC.200, G.50, S.M.79. This was usual on aircraft operating over the sea (torpedo bombers). This color was the standard factory finish but was often overpainted in the field by groups, which could alter it at will; olive green, light green, brown, sand and earth were used in conjunction with this (see below); white, light blue-gray and aluminum were used on floatplanes and trainers (wing upper surfaces of floatplanes were often painted white and red converging stripes), and in the latter part of the war these aircraft were camouflaged.
Many schemes were employed, using these colors, on upper surfaces:
- Earth or sand background and brown, dark green or olive green blotches (also used in combination). Applicable to North Africa, Sicily, Greece (Mediterranean scheme).
- Light green background with dark green, olive green or brown blotches (also used in combination). Applicable to northern Italy, Europe, Russia (Continental scheme).
- Dark green or olive green background with light green and earth blotches. One of these colors only used for mottling, not in combination. Applicable to northern Italy, Europe, Russia (Continental scheme).
It was common to see aircraft painted in incorrect schemes for the theater in which they were operating. This was due to the rapid moving of groups from one theater to another.
Interior Colors
Usually cockpit interiors were painted with a medium green (called "verde mela"—apple green) anti-rust varnish. Instrument panels were dark gray or matt black.
S.M. 79 cockpit interiors were sometimes finished in matt aluminum, fabric being doped matt silver. Fire extinguisher bottles were red.
Interiors of undercarriage and bomb bay doors were green or matt silver. Legs and wheel hubs were matt silver, sliding parts bright silver.
Propeller blades were weathered and matt aluminum color on both surfaces, except those of aircraft fitted with Daimler-Benz engines which had black blades with yellow tips.
National and Unit Insignia
Wings
Before entering the war (1939) and for the first period of the war (early 1940), black fasces and outer ring, white background on upper surfaces, white fasces and outer ring, black background on under surfaces (sometimes fasces had a separate ax handle, at other times it was omitted).
First year of the war (June-December 1940), black fasces and outer ring, white background on both upper and lower surfaces.
From December 1940 until 8 September 1943 (end of Regia Aeronautica, which was divided between R. S. I. Air Force and Co-Belligerent Air Force), black fasces and outer ring against camouflage background on both upper and lower surfaces.
Fuselage
Combat fasces on both sides of fuselage or engine cowling.
White cross of Saxony on rudder, with coat of arms in center or on upper vertical bar; this was a decal and was sometimes omitted. Lengths of arms of cross were not standard.
The following markings were not standard. They varied at different periods of the war, and between squadrons. Sometimes they were omitted altogether.
Fuselage Identification Band
This was used after mid-1940 and became practically standard on Axis aircraft operating in the Mediterranean area. Its color was usually white, sometimes yellow (in Russia) or black (on bombers during raids over Malta). It was not used on aircraft of the Italian Corps based in Belgium during the Battle of Britain.
Squadriglia Number
This was on the rear fuselage in various styles. Colors were black or white.
Individual Aircraft Numbers
Colors were black, white or red. These numbers were sometimes painted so that the individual number was placed on the fuselage band, e.g. "231-3" on port side and "3-231" on starboard side.
Squadriglia or gruppo markings, usually on fuselage band.
Pilot's Dress
Pilot's dress and helmet were normally brown. In North Africa, dress was khaki (shorts were often worn) and helmet white.
Torpedo bomber crews wore cork-block belts as life belts. They also used the orange-yellow German life jacket. Parachutes and harness were gray-green, seat belts dirty white.
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| Macchi C.202 of the 17th Gruppo in Pantelleria, 1943. |
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4/R6, 150 Gr, 365 Sqn, White 365-1, WNr 19566, Sicily, Italy, January 1943. |
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/Trop, 150 Gr, 365 Sqn, White 365-14, WNr 19566, Sicily, Italy, February 1943. |
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| Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2, 150 Gr, 365 Sqn, White 365-8, Sicily, Italy, 1943. |
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| Reggiane Re 2000. |
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| Italian pilots with Bf 109, 365 Squadron, Sicily, January 1943. |
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| Torpedo being prepared for a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. |
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| Fiat G.50. |
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| Fiat CR.42 Falco. |
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| Fiat CR.42bis Falco. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saetta. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saetta. |
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| Fiat G.50bis. |
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| Italians loading the 12.7 mm machine gun of a Macchi C.200 Saetta in Castelvetrano, Sicily. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saettas. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saetta. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saetta. |
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| Macchi C.200 Saettas of the 386th fighter squadron during the summer of 1942. |
