Ju88 A L1+GH of 1/LG 1 North Africa 1942
The Junkers Ju 88 bombers operating in Africa and the Mediterranean had a variety of camouflage schemes tailored to the specific conditions and operational requirements of these theaters. These schemes were variations on the standard Luftwaffe patterns, with adjustments made for the different environments and roles the aircraft performed.
Camouflage Schemes
African Scheme:
- Upper Surfaces: In the harsh desert environment, the Ju 88s often sported the “African” scheme, which included RLM 79 Sandgelb (Sand Yellow) on the upper surfaces to blend in with the desert terrain.
- Mottling: Some aircraft in this scheme were also mottled with RLM 80 Olivgrün (Olive Green) to further break up the aircraft’s outline.
- Lower Surfaces: The undersides were painted in RLM 78 Hellblau (Light Blue), a shade that provided concealment against the bright, clear skies typical of the region. For night operations, the lower surfaces were often painted black to reduce visibility.
Wellenmuster (Wave Pattern):
- Ju 88s operating against shipping, particularly in Norway and the Mediterranean Sea, sometimes featured the Wellenmuster scheme. This involved wavy lines or curves applied in RLM 76 Hellgrau (Light Grey) on the upper surfaces. The pattern helped break up the aircraft’s outline against the water and sky.
- In some cases, similar patterns in RLM 02 Grau (Grey) were applied to the bottom surfaces or engine cowlings to further disrupt the aircraft’s profile.
Identification Markings
- Mediterranean Theater Identification:
- White Band: Aircraft operating in the Mediterranean often carried a distinctive white band around the rear fuselage. This marking served as a quick identification feature for friendly aircraft.
- White Wing Tips: Some aircraft also had white paint applied to the bottoms of the wing tips for additional identification purposes.
- Non-Standardized Practice: The use of these identification markings was not strictly standardized. While some aircraft featured both the fuselage band and wing tip markings, others might only have the fuselage band.