P-38 mottled skin?

[Soulyss]

This might be one of these things that we may never know.

Certainly possible, of course Guppy/Corkyjr may have been right from the get go with his guess about some random pilot talking his crew into painting up his plane.

[oakranger]

Certainly possible, of course Guppy/Corkyjr may have been right from the get go with his guess about some random pilot talking his crew into painting up his plane.

It certainly not standard AAF or RAF mottled skin where it is common on Luft 109s, 88 and 87 Africa group long with many Italies planes.

[Guppy35]

The first thing that came to mind were these A20s flying in Tunisia.  Clearly done in theater.  You'd almost have to bet that they may have started on a 38 or two to test out the camo as well.

[oakranger]

The first thing that came to mind were these A20s flying in Tunisia.  Clearly done in theater.  You'd almost have to bet that they may have started on a 38 or two to test out the camo as well.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Thanks for posting that. That is a great shot from that angle.

There is a B-25 that goes by the nicknamed "Patches." This bird had over 300 mission, five belly landings and over 400 patched holes from flak. The crew painted over the hole patch with zinc-chromate that you could clearly see. It would look like it is a camo skin. Been trying to find pix of that B-25.

[Soulyss]

Did a little digging and "Patches" served in the MTO with the 321st Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Squadron.  The 57th Bomb Wing (which the 321st was part of) keeps an actually really nice website going with a fairly extensive gallery and mission log.

http://57thbombwing.com/index2.php


I did a little digging through the galleries and found a couple pictures.





Going to poke around a little more, my uncle served with the 321st and that website was really useful in tracking down some photo's and mission logs.

[oakranger]

Did a little digging and "Patches" served in the MTO with the 321st Bomb Group, 446th Bomb Squadron.  The 57th Bomb Wing (which the 321st was part of) keeps an actually really nice website going with a fairly extensive gallery and mission log.

http://57thbombwing.com/index2.php


I did a little digging through the galleries and found a couple pictures.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Going to poke around a little more, my uncle served with the 321st and that website was really useful in tracking down some photo's and mission logs.

Great find.  I been at the web site about a year ago.  They must have posted the pic since then. 

[lyric1]

The first thing that came to mind were these A20s flying in Tunisia.  Clearly done in theater.  You'd almost have to bet that they may have started on a 38 or two to test out the camo as well.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Most likely painted very much Like the Brazilian A-20's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/damopabe/2832129118/in/pool-a20/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/523949447/

[Guppy35]

Most likely painted very much Like the Brazilian A-20's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/damopabe/2832129118/in/pool-a20/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tailspin_tommy/523949447/

The USAAF A20s are 1942-3 time frame so prior to the Brazilian birds.  We had a thread about those desert A20s on the skinners forum a long time ago.  I think Greebo was going to try and do one if I remember right.

[Bodhi]

Dan,
I witnessed first hand some mottled paint work on some early birds in the SEA theater.  They are going to appear in the future. 

[Guppy35]

Dan,
I witnessed first hand some mottled paint work on some early birds in the SEA theater.  They are going to appear in the future. 

Bastage!

[Babalonian]

I stand corrected.  Your eyes are better then  mine

Caption says these are birds being assembled in England at Speke.  These would have been on the move to North Africa so that camo bird would most likely have been one of them, unless it's a recce 38.  Can't tell if it's a gunned version or not and the image doesn't scan and blow up very well.

(Image removed from quote.)

Looks like a retrofit/maintenance more than an assembley operation going on in that photo.... the more I stare at it and pick it apart, the more I'm certain of it.

[lyric1]

No images of it in the 14th FG history.  I have seen images of  MTO A20s that had similar splotchy camo.  Could be it was a one-off.  I don't think it was anything done group wide.

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread it is the place where this post belongs though.

Just stumbled across this picture.
Looks like they may have had several aircraft painted like this.









This guy seems to know what squadrons as well.

http://forum.armyairforces.com/14th-FG-P38-in-curious-desert-camouflage-m207590.aspx

[Widewing]

Anyone recognize this Lightning? I know what it is, and what became of it. So, it's a quiz for our P-38 gurus.....

[Arlo]

Not the 'droop-snoot.' Too much plexi.



http://www.444thbg.org/ranslebenguido.htm

[Guppy35]

Anyone recognize this Lightning? I know what it is, and what became of it. So, it's a quiz for our P-38 gurus.....

(Image removed from quote.)

Before she was stripped to bare metal