czech693 Posted June 30, 2023 Posted June 30, 2023 (edited) How far in advance did the Allies paint the D-Day markings. It would have been a huge task to paint every airplane and glider, not to mention the millions of gallons of paint required. I would think that they wouldn't have wanted to do it too soon as it would have alerted the Germans that something was coming since they had already tipped their hand with the specical Dieppe raid markings. Edited June 30, 2023 by czech693
ShamrockOneFive Posted June 30, 2023 Posted June 30, 2023 They did it the morning of. Yes, it took enormous organization but painting the aircraft was just a small piece of an absolutely massive project that had been 2+ years in the making. 1
1CGS LukeFF Posted June 30, 2023 1CGS Posted June 30, 2023 14 minutes ago, ShamrockOneFive said: They did it the morning of. Yes, it took enormous organization but painting the aircraft was just a small piece of an absolutely massive project that had been 2+ years in the making. No, actually it was June 4 for the fighters and bombers and June 3 for the transport units. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/stripes-d-day 1 1
ShamrockOneFive Posted June 30, 2023 Posted June 30, 2023 2 minutes ago, LukeFF said: No, actually it was June 4 for the fighters and bombers and June 3 for the transport units. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/stripes-d-day That's interesting and not at all what I've read on the subject. I'll have to have a read and compare.
1CGS LukeFF Posted June 30, 2023 1CGS Posted June 30, 2023 Just now, ShamrockOneFive said: That's interesting and not at all what I've read on the subject. I'll have to have a read and compare. Yes, there's a big section on the topic in Shore's 4-volume work on the 2nd Tactical Air Force, and he confirms those dates as well. 1
czech693 Posted June 30, 2023 Author Posted June 30, 2023 (edited) I think it would have been June 4th since the original invasion date was June 5th, but was postponed 24 hours due to weatlher. And, it couldn't have been the morning of since the airborne drops started after midnight on June 6th (but was originally planned for after midnight June 5th). Still, it would have been a massive task. They must have grounded all aircraft to get it done. And, I can see why the transports were done a day before since they had to take-off the night before, so they had to be ready by the night of June 4th. Edited June 30, 2023 by czech693 1
Skycat1969 Posted June 30, 2023 Posted June 30, 2023 Also remember that precision wasn't a concern. Very often crews slapped the stripes on with a broom, and planes took off with the paint not yet fully dried. (Or so I've read in the popular history magazines.)
1CGS LukeFF Posted June 30, 2023 1CGS Posted June 30, 2023 2 hours ago, Skycat1969 said: Also remember that precision wasn't a concern. Very often crews slapped the stripes on with a broom, and planes took off with the paint not yet fully dried. (Or so I've read in the popular history magazines.) Yeah...I'm going to say that's not accurate. ? It's not like they slapped some paint on these things and then 60 minutes later they were dropping paratroopers over Normandy.
Rjel Posted June 30, 2023 Posted June 30, 2023 While I agree the perfect looking D-Day stripes on modern Warbirds and even skins (mine included) made for this sim, probably don't represent what was actually done in the lead up to June 6th. But, given that most fighter and medium groups were stationed at well established bases, it's hard to believe they wouldn't have access to spray guns and other painting equipment to help speed up the work. We've all seen some slopping looking D-Day paint jobs, but I've also seen some pictures of the Fourth FG Mustangs supposedly taken on D-Day that look much more professionally done. 1
migmadmarine Posted July 1, 2023 Posted July 1, 2023 You can certainly see photos of sloppy ones even in the process of application, but I certainly doubt that they took off wet.
Skycat1969 Posted July 1, 2023 Posted July 1, 2023 Hearsay at best, but ... Quote a member of my club was on stripe duty in England on D-Day for the B-26 the subject happened to come up on what they did, after looking at one of my models paint jobs.he told me mine were way too neat,they used mostly rollers but in some cases they used a small mop and as strait as they could painted the white over the black panel.in some cases just the white stripes on the olive drab, they had just finished the last of his squadron when it was go time so a few headed out with wet paint on the wings https://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-warbirds-warplanes-200/11523366-how-would-you-hand-paint-invasion-stripes.html
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