The Official Monogram U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide: 1911-1939

195 Pages·1987·109.9 MB·English

by  John M. Elliott

The OFFICIAL MONOGRAM
US NAVY &MARINE CORPS
AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE
Vol 1 1911-1939
e·
The OFFICIAL MONOGRAM
US NAVY &MARINE CORPS
AIRCRAFT COLOR GUIDE
Vol 1 1911-1939
.
,
John M. Elliott Mal USMC (Ret]
Copyright © 1987 by
Monogram Aviation Publications
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number86-62376
ISBN 0-914144-31-6
Printed in Hong Kong
All rights reserved
NopartofthiSbookmaybereproduced.storedInaretrievalsystemor
transmittedInanyformormeanselectronic.mechanical,photocopying,
recordingorotherwise.withoutpriorpermissionofMonogramAViation
Publications Bneftextquestionsforbookreviewpurposesareexempted
Published by Monogram Aviation PUlfItcations -:-;;:"~~7";~::~~
625 Edgebrook Drive, Boylston, Massachusetts 01585 -
CONTENTS
FOREWORD 7
INTRODUCTION 8
SECTION 1-AIRCRAFTCOLORING AND
PROTECTIVE COATING 14
CHAPTER 1 1911-1919 14
CHAPTER 2 1920-1929 22
CHAPTER 3 1930-1939 28
SECTION 2-NATIONAL AIRCRAFT INSIGNIA 44
CHAPTER 4 1911-1919 44
CHAPTER 5 1920-1929 52
CHAPTER 6 1930-1939 58
SECTION 3-IDENTIFICATION AND
RECOGNITION MARKINGS 72
CHAPTER 7 1911-1919 72
CHAPTER 8 1920-1929 82
CHAPTER 9 1930-1939 106
SECTION 4-MAINTENANCE AND SAFE1Y
MARKINGS 158
CHAPTER 10 1911-1919 158
CHAPTER 11 1920-1929 162
CHAPTER 12 1930-1939 166
SECTION 5-MERITORIOUS MARKINGS 172
CHAPTER 13 1911-1919 172
CHAPTER 14 1920-1929 174
CHAPTER 15 1930-1929 178
APPENDIX A-RACING AIRCRAFT 184
APPENDIX B-AIRCRAFT DESIGNATION 188
APPENDIX C-COLORS FOR AIRCRAFT 188
INDEX& PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS 192
LACQUER PAINT CHIPS 193
IIAircraft Factorygunnerytrainer. TG-1. builtin 1922.isb
( 'dattheNaval ReserveAirStationSquantum. Massachusetts..-u"·

FORWARD
The constantly changing colors and markings of US Navy
aircraftreflectattemptsatbetterrecognitionandoperation,as
well as the political and geographical influences affecting
military actions.
Eachhasbeenadoptedforaspecificpurposeafterthoughtful
consideration by officers of the Fleet and the Bureau of
Aeronauticsinanattempttostandardizecolorsandmarkings
throughoutthenavalservice.Theresultantregulationsofthe
1930's was an outstanding system for the time. After fifteen
years of experimentation, the Navy developed by 1939 the
mostsophisticatedsystemofmilitarymarkingsintheworld. It
worked well then becauseofthe comparativelysmall size of
naval aviation. However, the limited number of basic colors
never would have been able to keep up with the explosive
growthofthe1940's,soinawayitwasagoodthing thatth y
could gracefully giv way to the wartime light gray of 1941.
It has taken sixty years for some of this information to be
published,andmostofthespecificdetailsanddateshavenot
beenavailableuntilnowMajorElliotthasdoneanoutstanding
jobofassimilatingavastarrayofcomplicatedandsometimes
contradictory information, organizing it in a logical manner,
and making it available for the first time. This is particularly
gratifying to those of us who have lived through this period
and yet often have been frustrated by an inability to explain
what we have seen.
There is no doubt that this series of volumes will be the
Masterworkon this subject and the basic referenceworkfor
all to benefit from
William T Larkins
INTRODUCTION specifying, authorizing or even condoning these colorful
markings. In discussing these aircraft with those who flew
and crewed them, itappearsthatthere wasadesireto have
something just alittle different from the regulation markings.
Historygenerallyiswritten with the "broad brush"treatment, Strangely, such flagrant violations of regulations by acom
but it isthe minutedetailsthatcatch ourinterestgiving lifeto mand so close to the Bureau of Aeronautics and Chief of
an otherwise dull historical subject. Such is the case in a Naval Operationswastolerated forso manyyears. Noother
study of aircraft insignia and markings. squadron in Naval aviation had such flexibility in its aircraft
markings for such along time.
Manydiscussions,eventothepointofbecomingarguments,
aswellasnumerousarticleshavebeenwrittenonthevarious In compiling the data for this study several formats were
types and specific periods of aircraft markings. This study considered.Thetaskofassemblingallthevarieddirectivesin
attempts to cover the broad field of color schemes and chronological orderand presentingthe multitudeofdetailed
protective coatings, markings, and insignia used on United changessoon becameoverwhelmingandconfusing.Atthat
StatesNavy1MarineCorpsaircraft.Itisrealizedthatinafield point itwasdecidedto presentspecifictypesofmarkingsas
as broad as this inevitably there will be some omissions or aunit.Therefore,thesubjectmatterhasbeensubdividedand
possibleincorrectinterpretationoftherecords.Thesepoints, presented by sections and chapters to make it easier to
it is hoped, will be researched, noted and reported by the follow the changes in a particular type 'of marking. The
readers so that we may all enjoy the completely factual section breakdown is:
presentation in arevised issue.
1. Aircraft Coloring and Protective Coatings;
My research has been carried out along several general 2. National Aircraft Insignia;
lines.Wheneverpossible,originalNavy,MarineCorps,Army 3. Identification, Recognition Markings;
NavyorAirForce-Navydirectives,MilitarySpecificationsand 4. Maintenance, Safety Markings;
official correspondence have been used as the authority. In 5. Meritorious Identification Markings.
the absence of those documents, photographs, secondary
Eachsectionisbrokendownbychapterscoveringaspectific
sourcematerial,thememoryofthosewhoparticipatedinUS
ten yearperiod. Forexample,Section2Chapter6coversall
Navalaviationaswellastheserioushistorian1collectorhave
the changes and instructionsontheuseand application of
been my guides. Inthe interestofaccuracy, an attempthas
the national aircraft insignia from January 1, 1930, to
been madetoverifyallpointsthatarebasedon memorywith
December 31,1939. Therefore, to check markings during
several parties
thisperiod,itisonlynecessarytochecktheappropriatechap
Innumerousinstancesaphotographdoesnotconformtothe terineachsectionplusaquickcheckofthepreviouschapters
directives of the period. This study has been written in the to determine what markings authorized earlier were still in
vein of "do as I say, not as I do" in an attempt to present effect.Photographsanddrawingsareincludedineachchap
accurate information regarding howtheaircraft should have tertoshowexceptionstotherules,aswellastoillustratewhat
been painted. It is realized that there have been many "odd isspelledoutinthedirectives.
ball" paintjobs. Somewere aresult ofspecial occasionsfor
The drawings prepared for this study are stylized versions
which nonstandard markings were used, incorrect interpre
designed to depict the type and placement of insignia and
tationofthedirectives,andtardinessinmakingachangedue
markings rather than to portray a specific aircraft of a
to more important commitments. Others were based on
particularunit.ItshouldberememberedthattheoriginalNavy
economy or another seemingly valid reason to those
instructionsalwayshavebeenofthisgeneralnaturebecause
involved aswell asapersonal desireforaparticularmarking
ofthenumerousmodelsandvariationsofeachmodel.Ihave
which did not conform to the prescribed system.
followed this practice.
The latter is particularly apparent in the Quantico-based
The Burgess-Dunnewas one ofthefirst US Navyaircraftto
MarineCorpssquadronsduringthe period 1931 to 1938.An
be camouflaged in 1915/16. In an attempt to insure
extensive search has failed to locate official directives
accuracy in painting this aircraft an extensive search of the
8
Jrdswasconducted. Inadditiontoallknownphotographs At first Naval aviation units were organized into squadrons
f(
ttl show the design developed by Mr. William Andrew duringWorldWarI.Theirdesignationwasbynumberorletter
M Kay, a mural designer by profession, correspondence such as Squadron 1and Squadron A, as w II as long titles
fr l Vice Admiral PNL Bellinger and Clifford L Webster, such as the 1st Marine Aeronautic Company (seaplane) or
tll 'lofwhomflewtheaircraftanddescribedthecolorswere theF-5SquadronofthePacificFleetAirDetachment.Mostof
111 1uable. Personal papers of Captain Ken Whiting, who theselitleswerelimitedtoelementsoftheNorthernBombing
'lted the project, were made available by his daughter Group in Europe or training squadrons in the United States.
Edna W Nisewaner. All of this data was meticulously Theyappeartohavebeenprimarilyoflocalsignificancewith
piledintothepaintingbyDavidPowerwhichitisbelieved no overall organization. None carried over into the postwar
s accurate as can be produced period
enever possible original aircraft drawings as well as Thebeginningofaformal systemappearedinFebruary1919
Jt )tographsoftheactualaircrafthavebeen usedasaguide with the formation of the Air Detachment, Atlantic Fleet
'le production of the colored art work In a few cases composed of the Shipplane, Seaplane and Kite Balloon
!
Istic license" has been used as in the DH-4B painting. divisions A similar Pacific Fleet Air Detachment with the
, author has in his collection photos that show all the same organization was established in September 1919
lrkings depicted in this painting, on DH-4Bs.in Santo Squadron numbers corresponded to the ship divisions to
'1
)( mingo. However, it cannot be positively stated that serial whicheachwasattached.All MarineCorpssquadronsatthis
I Jrnber A-5835 did carry squadron designation 1(j) 2. time were identified by letters starting with Squadron A
Ilowever there were only five operational DH-4Bs in the
MarineCorpsaviation unitsatQuantico,Va.on December1,
juadronatthattime,includingA-5835, sothepossibilityofa
1920, were redesignated Flights C & D 2nd Air Squadron,
rrect match is quite good. The author assumes all
Flights E&F3rd Air Squadron The units deployed to Santo
;ponsibility for these few slight changes to history.
DomingoandHaitiwereredesignatedonJanuary1,1921,as
Flights A & B 1st Air Squadron and Flights G & H 4th Air
DEVELOPMENT OF US NAVAL AVIATION Squadron
e growth of Naval aviation with all the changes and Navyunitswereredesignated,merged,inactivated,disestab
mmands involved could easily require a book of its own. lished, appeared and disappeared from the records, not
Ie following explanation therefore can only provide a brief always with an explanation. General Order No. 30, effective
tory The primary purpose though isto provide an under- July 12, 1920, provided for the organization of Naval forces
1ndingoftheorganizationofNavalaviation.Directiveshave afloatintotheAtlantic,PacificandAsiaticFleets.Withinthese
t en issued by commands at all levels and it is hoped that units the type forces were designated Battleship, Cruiser,
I ,s will help the reader to understand where all these units Destroyer, Submarine, Mine, Air and Train. The Air Detach
and in the chain of command as well as the squadron ments within each fleet became Air Forces.
~signations and the letters representing them.
WiththecreationoftheBureauofAeronauticsonAugust10,
'le US Marine Corps is a component of the Navy Depart 1921, all aviation activities were consolidated in the one
ent, notof the US Navy. As such, directives issued at the Bureau. The Chief of Naval Operations had operational
liureau level are applicable to both branches of the Naval control, while the Bureau of Aeronautics had technical
Service. control of the aircraft and their use.
v'l/hen aviation first entered the US Navy, it was treated as ChiefofNavalOperationsletter,SerialNo.26983datedJune
mother addition to the existing organization Bureau of 17, 1922, introduced the use of letter symbols to indicate
-,onstruction and Repair had cognizance of the airframe squadron mission, established new titles and assigned
Iv'hile Bureau of Steam Engineering had cognizance of the numbers in sequence according to the order in which each
lowerplant, just asthough theaircraftwereanotherclassof unit of a given type was authorized. These designations
'essel. The designation of aircraft was treated by class
1itially until the system became too cumbersome.