Mosquito B IV DZ353 GB-E of No. 105 Squadron RAF
The de Havilland Mosquito, one of the most versatile aircraft of World War II, went through several changes in its camouflage and markings throughout its service, reflecting shifts in operational requirements and roles.
Early Service (1941):
- When the Mosquito entered service in 1941, it was camouflaged in Dark Green and Earth Brown over Sky. This was the standard RAF scheme at the time.
- The B Type roundel (54 inches in diameter) was applied to the upper wing surfaces, and a C1 Type roundel (36 inches in diameter) was placed on the fuselage sides. Squadron codes were painted in Medium Sea Grey, measuring 36 inches in height.
- The serial numbers were black, 8 inches high, and aligned with the upper surface camouflage boundary. A fin flash (24 inches) in red, white, and blue was painted on either side of the vertical tail fin, with the red segment leading.
Early Bomber Versions (1942):
- Early B Mk IV Series I bombers retained the original camouflage but had a unique demarcation on the engine nacelles. The upper and lower color separation followed a curved line down the nacelle, rather than a straight line.
- The spinners and propellers were initially black.
July 1942 Marking Changes:
- In mid-1942, the bomber Mosquito’s scheme was changed to Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the under surfaces.
- Sky squadron codes and a Sky band around the rear fuselage, along with Sky spinners, were introduced briefly in 1942 to make the aircraft appear as fighters. However, this made the Mosquito too conspicuous, and the Sky elements were removed by autumn.
- Some Mosquitos were seen with Slate Grey instead of Ocean Grey during this transition, though this was rare.
- Certain Oboe-equipped Mosquitos (used for precision bombing) had Night Black under surfaces, with soft demarcations. These aircraft often bore two thin white lines around the fuselage for identification.
Post-War and Late War Schemes:
- By the end of the war, Mosquitos assigned to Tiger Force, which was intended for operations against Japan, were planned to have a Night Black lower surface and a high fuselage demarcation, with white upper surfaces. However, the war ended before this scheme was needed.
1950s Bomber Mosquitos:
- In the 1950s, Night Black was used on the lower surfaces, while Dark Sea Grey covered the upper surfaces. The demarcation line was sharp and high up on the fuselage sides, running parallel to the centerline and sweeping up toward the vertical fin.
- Serial numbers were initially red but later became white. They were applied midway on the fuselage and appeared under the wings, typically 30 inches high and 18.75 inches wide, positioned around the drop tanks.
- The national insignia reverted to the D Type roundel, with bright post-war colors. These were applied to the fuselage sides and upper wings, with 36-inch diameter roundels on the fuselage and 54-inch roundels on the upper wings.
- Some post-war bombers were painted aluminium overall, with black serials and codes.