Ref.: AKIN-2230
US Navy and USMC Aircraft Colors
At the end of December 1940, all carrier-based type aircraft of Naval aviation were ordered to be painted Light Gray overall. In August 1941, it was decided that the upper surfaces of carrierbased aircraft belonging to the Battle Force of the Pacific Fleet should be painted in Blue-Gray, whilst their lower areas would retain the Light Gray colour. In the coming months, more aircraft were gradually ordered to be painted in this scheme. The case was clarified in February 1942, when all fleet and shorebased aircraft were ordered to be painted in Blue-Gray/Light Gray scheme. In January 1943, a new tri-colour camouflage scheme for carrier-based aircraft was introduced, this consisting of Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue and Insignia White colours. The painting scheme for fighter aircraft was simplified to Dark Sea Blue overall in mid-March 1944. This order was expanded to include all carrier-based aircraft in June 1944, and would remain valid until the mid-1950s. AK2231 M-485 Light Gray AK2232 M-485 Blue-Gray AK2233 Sea Blue AK2054 Intermediate Blue AK2052 Insignia White AK2234 Dark Sea Blue