"Info on 9 Sqn RNAS color schemes?" Topic

Getting tired of painting the basic British scheme, so I was researching some other colors on line when I ran across a painting of Brown's Sopwith Camel. RAFWEB says that other pilots in the squadron had different colored bands. Does any one know of any actual colors, otherwise I will probably go with blue and white to go with Brown's red. Also did all of the squadron's planes have the red and white tail surfaces, I know some sources don't show that at all but it looks good. I also wonder if the cowling was red on all the planes or would it have matched the bands on the plane?

Hi

It is easier to actually look at photos and make these decisions as what we are talking about is people doing non-reg schemes.

the way you do this is to look at other parts of the photo where you know the colors…rondels, grass, leaves, signs and then interpret the unknowns.

Rocky

What date? (Heck, Naval 9 or 209 RAF?) In '17 they had an absolute myriad of designs, predominantly in blue, grey and white, but by '18 they were settling down somewhat, and were in the process of adopting fairly "standard" markings by the time they became RAF. (Indeed, this is why most profiles of Brown's aircraft lack fuselage roundels – it happened to get photographed half-way through being repainted….) If it's 1918 you're going for, photos are pretty sparse, though – I can only find Gerard's (which defies description offhand, but is definitely red and white decoration) and Brown's in my usual references.

Dom.

Hi Dom, I looking for something contemporary to Brown's scheme when he dueled the Baron, that would be Spring '18 I think. I didn't know that naval aircraft were painted differently, was it only when they weren't serving on the western front, I thought even home defense squadrons were in the usual RFC colors.

Naval aircraft were supplied in the same usual PC10 colour, as far as I'm aware, but there was obviously more latitude on those squadrons for decoration.

Sorry like Dom I have a few details for late 1917 but not 1918. However, I'd go for 1917 as they are pretty and match browns for levels of decoration – check out Ospreys Aircraft of the Aces camel book.

They were still PC10, but in 1917 Naval 9 went really overboard on the personal markings, with designs plastered across the entire rear fuselage, tail and wings on a lot of aircraft, while Brown's flight were much more moderate, but all had red cowlings and a portrait of music hall act George Robey on the rudder….

By April 1918 most were in "official" markings, with just the odd hang-over from older schemes, so most likely is the regulation squadron markings – three white stripes, one forward of the fuselage roundel, 2 aft of it. These just go up the fuselage sides, they don't go onto the top or bottom. I can find a grand total of no photos of this period, so it's little more than educated guesswork, but would go with red cowlings and wheel covers for A flight, but only Brown's machine with the red and white tail and the inverted V on the wing, as these are probably flight leader markings.

Thanks all.

RNAS squadrons were not subject to the 'regulation' aircraft markings that characterized the RFC.

RNAS Aircraft often sported names of girl friends or other markings preferred by the pilot or by the unit.

When the RNAS coverted to the RAF, April 1, 1918 these traditions were often continued to the end of the war.

mjc