Paul Lucas takesairinga lookin aatmodellingone of themagazine,most controversialthe coloursubiectsof Olive everDrabto have had an Left: C-47 Dakota, 43-16299, on a test flight from the Long Beach factory prior to delivery to USAAF circa 1943/44. This classic photograph shows to excellent effect, the various shades of Olive Drab and Medium Green applied at the factory. See the illustration below for further details. (USAAF) to 516. No 515 Khaki was the overall aircraft finish which was based on PC10. This colour was incorporated into Air Service Specification 24-106A in May 1920 which contained both matt and gloss colours. Meanwhile, the War Department had introduced US Army SpeCification 3-1 in November 1919, to cater for the camouflage requirements of the Army. This specification included a colour called Olive Drab No 22. In November 1925, Specification 24-106 was revised to use the colours contained in Specification 3-1 and No 515 Khaki was replaced by Olive Drab No 22. In colloquial terms, this Following on from the September issue, 'IPMS Colour Cross~Reference Guide' by colour could be described as being a (Vol 23/7), which covered the 'Olive David H Klaus. Anyone needing a more greenish brown. Green' shade used on late war USAAF detailed account of the development and Olive Drab No 22 then remained the and Lend-Lease RAF aircraft, a summary use of Olive Drab is advised to consult standard overall finish for USAAC aircraft of what we think we know of Olive Drab these excellent volumes. until the USAAC first of all modified it by might be of interest. The following adding yellow wings, before ceasing to interpretation leans heavily on four The history of Olive Drab use it altogether when blue fuselages published sources which between them Olive Drab appears to have its origins in were introduced in 1934. Even though contain a considerable amount of the aircraft finish PC10 which was the USAAC no longer used the colour, it information drawn from primary sources. commonly applied to British aircraft remained in Specification 3-1, and when They are:- 'The Official Monogram US during the First World War and found its Spec 3-1 was revised in 1943, this colour Army Air Service and Air Corps Aircraft way into United States service with the was retained, but re-designated as No Colour Guide Vol 1 1908-1941' and adoption by the United States of the de 108 and was later included in ANA 'USAAF Aircraft Markings and Havilland DH 4 bomber. In April 1919, Bulletin 166 in December 1943 as ANA Camouflage 1941-1947' by Robert D the US Army Air Corps, (USAAC), adopted 504. This was a gloss finish and was not Archer; 'The Official Monogram US Navy the finishes contained in 'US Army apparently used for camouflage purposes. & Marine Corps Aircraft Colour Guide Vol Catalog No 4 Paints and Varnishes' which The USAAC began to develop matt 2 1940-1949' by John M Elliott; and the contained sixteen colours numbered 501 camouflage colours for use on aircraft
Above: This C-47 Dakota illustration is based on the colour photograph below left, and shows 43-16299 as it appeared on a test flight from the Long Beach factory prior to acceptance by the USAAF. The fuselage and mainplanes as far outboard as the engines are a brown shade of Olive Drab whilst the mainplanes outboard of the engines, tailplanes and fin appear to be a green shade of Olive Drab with blotches on them in a true shade of green. The interpretation of this is that the fuselage is painted ANA 613 Olive Drab, whilst the wings and tailplane are finished in Dark Olive. Drab 41 with Medium Green 42 blotches. It is not readily apparent from the photograph whether the undersurfaces are Neutral Gray 43 or ANA 603 Sea Gray. 602 during 1930, and in 1931 Specification Dark Olive Drab 41 which was an almost unsatisfactory for some reason, as in No 14057 'Paint, Water Dry' was issued identical colour to Dark Olive Drab 31, ie February 1943, they requested that it be for temporary camouflage paints. No a shade of dark green. changed and a new colour adopted. The colours were specified, but colours were Dark Olive Drab 41 was therefore the new colour was to be from TAC ES-680 to be matched to those of Spec 3-1. standard uppersurface camouflage (whatever that might have been - does Following further trials, in August 1932, colour applied to USAAC aircraft when any reader out there actually know?), Spec 14057-A was issued followed by America entered the war in December where it was apparently listed as Class Spec 14057-B in March 1938. 1941. It is interesting to note that where 204. Specification 14057-B included a most of the other colours listed in It is possible that this might have had colour numbered 31 called Dark Olive Bulletin 41 had particular pigments something to do with the Army-Navy (A-N) Drab. This colour is said to have been in specified for use in their make up, Dark porcelain enamel aircraft colour use since the earlier 1932 issue despite Olive Drab 41 did not; its pigmentation standards which were introduced in 1938 not being listed therein. Dark Olive Drab was described as being optional. This and, as the name suggests, were to be No 31 was used with Neutral Gray No 32 implies that it did not matter which used to control all gloss paints supplied as part of the camouflage schemes pigments were used as long as the final to both the Army and Navy for which were applied to twenty-one P-36As colour matched the standard. aeronautical use. The A-N standard which were demonstrated at the 1939 The implication of this is that batches contained a gloss olive drab shade which National Air Races held at Cleveland, of Dark Olive Drab 41 supplied by appears simply to be known as A-N Olive Ohio, between 2 and 4 September 1939. different paint manufacturers might have Drab which would appear to be a very This was apparently done as a public used different pigments, which might similar colour to that requested by the relations exercise as it was thought that have had different weathering Army. with most of Europe about to go to war characteristics, thus giving rise to a great Being a gloss, the A-N Olive Drab was using camouflaged aircraft, the American deal of the confusion which exists about not really intended as a camouflage public would be reassured by the sight of the nature of this colour. It must finish and was dropped along with all the modern USAAC aircraft which were also therefore be emphasised that Dark Olive other A-N colours with the introduction of camouflaged. Drab 41 was a dark green colour when ANA Bulletin 166 in December 1943 in (Ed note: see the recent SAM Colours new. which the Olive Drab was that from Spec 'Combat Colours - No 3: P-36jP-40 in By way of confirmation as to the dark 3-1 No 108 which became ANA 504. USAACjUSAAF service 1937 to 1945') green hue of Dark Olive Drab 41, in By the time of this public display, the March 1942, Britain agreed to accept More changes USAAC had been undertaking aircraft Dark Olive Drab 41 in place of Dark Green The US Army request for a change in the camouflage trials for some time, and by on aircraft being built in the United States colour of Olive Drab applied to the the end of 1939 it would appear that the for Britain under Lend-Lease, which were uppersurfaces of aircraft was approved first tentative conclusions were being being camouflaged in the Temperate by the JAC in early March 1943. Within a drawn which suggested that a dark olive Land Scheme of Dark Green and Dark month or so of this decision, the US Army green colour was most suitable for the Earth. This was done in the interests of revised its Specification 3-1 in April uppersurfaces and a mediym grey colour standardisation which it was thought 1943. The new revised issue inGluded was most suitable for the undersurfaces. would ease production problems. It would twenty-eight gloss colours, twelve semi As a result, with the war situation in appear that Dark Olive Drab 41 was gloss colours and thirty-two matt colours Europe worsening in the spring of 1940, therefore only very slightly different in which included the JAC agreed Army-Navy the decision was taken to apply colour to the RAF's Dark Green. Aircraft gloss and camouflage colours. camouflage to Curtiss P-40s, (the United Included in the Standard was a table States' most modern fighter), on the Colour Consolidation giving the new Spec 3-1 designations for production line. The colours used were In July 1942, the issue of standardising the matt camouflage colours and cross taken from SpeCification 14057-C issued colours used by the newly named United referencing them to other Standqrds. in December 1939 and were Dark Olive States Army Air Force, (USAAF), the Reading down the TAC ES-680 column Drab 31 on the uppersurfaces and United States Navy, (USN) and the British in this table, Class 204 is listed as being Neutral Gray 32 on the undersurfaces. were taken a stage further when the Joint the same as ANA Olive Drab, (the change This olive drab colour can best be Aircraft Committee, (JAC), reviewed a requested by the US Army and agreed by described as being a shade of dark chart which contained all the colours in the JAC), and US Engineers colour No 9. green. use by the USAAF, the USN and the The new SpeCification 3-1 designation Dark Olive Drab 31 was also used in British. Between them, these Services number was No.319. conjunction with another shade of olive, used several different colours which in As the term TAC ES-680 Class 204 is Light Olive Drab 35 which was added to many cases were only slightly different somewhat obscure, the best indication of Spec 14075-C from March 1940 as an from each other. It was thought that the the colour of this new Olive Drab lies with interim camouflage scheme on a small production of aircraft would be greatly US Engineers colour No 9. This was the number of Douglas A-20s. This was a simplified if some measure of colour used by the US Army as a basic lighter shade of green produced by standardisation could be agreed upon which overall finish on its Armoured Fighting adding 10% Chrome Yellqw to Dark Olive necessitated the use of fewer colours. Vehicles which was taken from US Army Drab 31. However, this scheme was not The JAC agreed that a single Engineers Standard T-1213 where it was found to be any more effective than using Standard which amalgamated similar designated No 9 Olive Drab. Dark Olive Drab 31, and Light Olive Drab British and American colours would Even as the JAC was agreeing to the 35 seems to have seen little further use. greatly simplify the whole system and a US Army's request for a change in the list of thirteen colours which were to be colour of the Olive Drab being applied to Bulletin 41 retained was drawn up, one of which was its aircraft for camouflage purposes, US The final results of the Army Air Corps Dark Olive Drab 41. This list confirmed Army Engineers Standard T-1213 No 9 camouflage trials were finally the use of Dark Olive Drab 41 in place of was already being applied as camouflage promulgated in Air Corps Specification Dark Green in the British Temperate Land to front-line aircraft in North Africa. 24114 'Camouflage Finishes for Aircraft' Scheme and now additionally also in Despite the USAAF having some of Its introduced at the end of October 1940. place of Dark Slate Grey on aircraft built aircraft in that Theatre camouflaged in This Specification introduced Air Corps in the United States and delivered to the British Desert Scheme, and others in Bulletin 41 'Colour Card for Camouflage Britain camouflaged in the Temperate the USAAF desert scheme, HQ Northwest Finishes' which promulgated the new Sea Scheme. African Air Forces made the decision to matt colours for permanent camouflage With Dark Olive Drab 41 accepted as change the basic camouflage of all the paints. The uppersurface camouflage a standard colour by the JAC, the US aircraft in its command during March finish specified for USAAC aircraft was Army apparently found it to be 1943. The new basic camouflage 603 scheme was Specification T-1213 No 4 transports such as the C-47 Dakota and intended as FS 34087 was a much Field Drab and Spec T-1213 Olive Drab aircraft supplied to Lend-Lease closer match to the ANA colour. No 9 on the upper surfaces with the customers did retain camouflage. The only guidance we have on the undersurfaces being finished in a pale (Ed note: see the '2 TAF 'Olive Green' subject is that irrespective of which blue made by mixing one eighth of a pint mystery' in SAM 23/8 September 2001). colour was being used, 1, 2, or 34087, it of Blue Spec 3-1 No.307 with one gallon ANA 613 Olive Drab was used for was considered to bea 'temporary' of white. It would appear that the anti-glare panels on natural metal colour which was to be controlled by the uppersurface colours at least were finished aircraft as well as a camouflage US Army Coatings and Chemical applied using paint intended for use on colour for the rest of the war and Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground, AFVs. This was probably the first use of remained in ANA Bulletin 157 until 1964, Maryland, and might be open to some the new brown shade of Olive Drab. when it was replaced by the FS 595A variation. All that can be said about this, Whether its use bore any relationship to colour which was closest to it. is that over the years this confusing the JAC's decision to make the change anomaly and 'temporary' status of these for the whole of the USAAF is not known. Federal Standard 595 colours in FS 595 has done nothing to Federal Standard 595 has its origins in help our understanding of the Olive Drab ANA Colours an attempt by the post-war American saga! However, the anomaly was Following the JAC agreement on the new government to bring many different colour removed from FS 595B with the 1, 2, and aircraft colour Standard, colour cards for standards used by different branches of 34087 designations all being dropped. the new Standard were issued from May the government together into a single In FS 595B, ·the colours formerly 1943. Despite the issue of the colour Standard which was to be used by all known as FS 595A 14087 and 24087 cards in May 1943, the adoption of the government agencies. are now known as FS 595B 14086 and new ANA colours is not widely recognised The result of this was the issue of 24086 respectively, and are still dark as taking place until September 1943, Federal Standard TT-C-595 in January green with a brown tint; and FS 595A when Army-Navy Aeronautical Bulletin No 1950. In this new Standard, ANA 613 34087 is now FS 595B 34088 which is 157 'Colours; List of Standard Aircraft Olive Drab, as used by the now still a brown with a green tint. Camouflage' was issued which officially independent United States Air Force, Thus, the only shade of Olive Drab replaced Bulletin 41 and all previous A-N (USAF), the USN and presumably the US which has a near equivalent in FS 595B colours for aeronautical use. In the ANA Army for aeronautical use, was brought today is ANA 613 Olive Drab/FS 595B Bulletin 157, the new ES-680 Class together with US Army Spec 3-1 No 319, 34088 which was the replacement for 204/US Army Engineers Standard T• which was used by the US Army on its Dark Olive Drab 41 introduced in 1943. 1213/Spec 3-1 319 Olive Drab was AFVs and issued the Federal Standard TT• Because Dark Olive Drab 41 was given the ANA designation number 613. C-595 designation 3412. In March 1956, replaced by ANA 613 Olive Drab in 1943, Thus from April 1943, it appears that TT-C-595 was superseded by FS 595. In there is not, and never has been any FS ANA 613 Olive Drab, US Army Corps of the new Standard, TT-C-595 3412 was re• 595 equivalent of Dark Olive Drab 41. Engineers Specification T-1213 No 9 designated FS 595 34087. Anyone who Any which might have been published in Olive Drab, and US Army Specification 3• cares to look this up in FS 595 or FS various books and articles over the years 1 Olive Drab No 319" were all one and 595A will discover it is a shade of brown. are the book and article authors' own the same colour. The best way of trying to Unfortunately, the new FS 595 opinion(s) which might be based on describe this olive drab colour is as a 34087 colour was not identical to the old anything from having compared an issue brown. TT-C-595 3412 colour, thus,in the of FS 595 with a Standard of Dark Olive The question is, how soon did this process of making the switch between Drab 41, to nothing more than hearsay new ANA 613 Olive Drab begin to find its standards, the true shade of the wartime with the same information being way onto production aircraft? Whilst ANA ANA 613 Olive Drab was 'lost' from FS repeated from one place to the next. Bulletin 157 did not officially promulgate 595 and FS 595A. This was true of the change until September 1943, the almost all the colours which were The browns change was authorised in March 1943, transferred from TT-C-595 to FS 595, so Catalog No 4 No 515 Khaki (PC10) and colour cards were being issued in there is no direct link between a colour in (1919-1925) Overall finish; May 1943. Therefore it must be FS 595 and its predecessor. Thus an FS SpeCification 3-1 Olive Drab No 22 (1925 assumed that it would be possible for the 595 colour is only a near equivalent and -1934) Glossy overall finish; new 'brown' shade of Olive Drab to begin not an exact match for any earlier colour. A-N Olive Drab (1938-1943) Gloss finish to appear on new production aircraft An excellent example of this is the old Specification 14057 Light Olive Drab 35 anytime from April 1943 onwards. Spec 3-1 Olive Drab No 22 which was re• (1940-?) Matt camouflage finish; During the period when the change designated Spec 3-1 No 108 in April ANA 504 Olive Drab (1943 - 1964) Gloss from Dark Olive Drab 41 to ANA 613 Olive 1943 and was listed in ANA Bulletin 166 finish; Drab was being made, it would appear in December 1943 as ANA 504 Olive ANA 613 Olive Drab (1943-1964) Matt that it might be possible for both colours Drab. ANA 504 Olive Drab followed a camouflage finish. to be used on the same aircraft at the similar path to ANA 613 being put Although all of these colours were slightly same time. One instance of where this together with four other colours and different in hue, in the author's opinion, appears to have happened is shown in issued the TT-C-595 designation 1405. in modern FS 595B terms, they are all my illustration of the Dakota given here. TT-C-595 1405 then became FS 595 and near FS 34088, except Light Olive Drab How long this transition period went on is FS 595A 14087. Unfortunately, in the 35 which is similar to FS 595B 14255 also open to question. process, the true light greenish brown but darker. colour of the original Spec 3-1 colour was Introducing Natural Metal lost and the modern FS 595 dark The greens It is not known to what extent ANA 613 brownish green looks nothing like it. Specification 14057 Dark Olive Drab 31 Olive Drab was used as a camouflage It is at this point that FS 595 (Circa 1932-1940) Matt camouflage finish by the USAAF because in October becomes confusing. It is expected that finish; 1943 the USAAF decided to dispense FS numbers which are identical except for Bulletin 41 Dark Olive Drab (1940-1943) with camouflage and return its major the first digit, (ie 1, 2, or 3 which denote Matt camouflage finish; combat aircraft to a natural metal finish. a gloss, satin or matt finish respectively), ANA 624 Olive Green (Circa 1944-1949) This change in policy met varying should be the same colour. However, Matt camouflage finish. amounts of opposition from various front whilst 14087 and 24087 were the same line units which wished to, and indeed colour, a dark green; 34087 was a Olive Drab for models did, continue to use camouflage right up greenish brown! As a consequence, when As most model paint manufacturers to the end of the war. ANA 504 was replaced by FS 14087, it is make a colour which they call 'Olive In addition to this, troop carrying not clear whether this is what was Drab', the best advice from a modelling 604 point of view is probably to go for one and Air Corps Colour Guide 1908-1941'), allowed to use their discretion as to with a green cast for Dark Olive Drab 41, be aiming for a colour which is just a little which pigments to use when formulating and one with a brown cast or one which lighter and more brown than 34079; the Dark Olive Drab 41, there would probably matches FS 595A 34087 or FS 595B FS 595 colour which it should come as have been minor variations in this colour 34088, for ANA 613 Olive Drab. no surprise to learn is an excellent match from one manufacturer to another so it is Modellers looking for an FS 595 for RAF Dark Green! impossible to be too precise as to what reference for Dark Olive Drab 41 should, It is possible to obtain a an accurate mix would be. The overall (in the author's opinion, based upon the representative colour for Dark Olive Drab impression should however be of a dark colour chip for this colour given in Robert 41 which is a very close match to the green. Archer's Monogram 'US Army Air Service chip for Dark Olive Drab 41 mentioned An acceptable match for ANA 613 Below: USAAF C-47 Dakota, 42-100766, previously, by a mix of between ten and Olive Drab is available straight from the 4U/D, 'Ully Bell 1/', circa June 1944, twelve parts Humbrol 159 Matt Khaki tin in the form of Humbrol 155 Olive Drab showing how the ANA 613 Olive Drab has Drab and one part 33 Matt Black. as this is FS 595B 34088. weathered, revealing the original Bulletin 41 Olive Drab underneath. (USAAF) Because manufacturers were apparently Paul Lucas
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