by Steve Mackenzie
Tomahawk AN416 'J' 'Hepsa-bah' with S/Ldr Peter Jeffries, it's pilot thru most of it's career, eventually going to Alan Rawlinson when he took over command 2 Nov 1941, Jeffries being promoted to acting Wing commander to lead No.2 Operational Wing (a grouping of 3 RAAF and 112 Sqns for Operation Crusader). We will see this one again later. Photo AWM.
In this second part I will pick up from when they started to repaint the Tomahawks in Desert colours, more appropiate to the region the unit was now operating in.
Tomahawk IIb Desert colour scheme
The factory scheme of Dark Earth and Dark Green over Sky, (DuPont substitute paints per part 1) was modified by overpainting the Dark Green with MAP Midstone. The lower surfaces seem to have remained in Dupont 71-021 Sky Grey in many cases. Others seem to have been repainted in a light Blue (a bit darker looking in images). The Azure Blue colour, famous for being used later in the Desert scheme was still fairly new and likely in short supply in 1941 but was seen on a few airframes towards the end of 1941. Serials were Black. Standard RAF roundels of the time were applied in the usual six positions ( 'B' type upper wing, 'C' type under wing and 'C1' for the fuselage) and 3 colour fin flashes (equally divided into 3 segments). Spinner colours were initially still all over the shop, but the well known Red spinners seem to have been standardised in Nov, likely as a recognition aid for the upcoming Operation Crusader.
A note on the colouring behind the rear quarter windows. This area was considered part of the external camouflage and was painted in the predominant external colour to that area, usually the Dark Earth colour but sometimes Dark Green (and of course impossible to differentiate in B/W images). Even though the demarcation between the two upper surface colours ran through this area, it was painted in all one colour and not split between the two when painted at the factory. However when the RAF Midstone was applied later over the Dark Brown for the Desert scheme, on occasion they would remove the glass and also repaint that area in Midstone. Two tone paint in that area happened very occasionally when doing their repaints, although none of my examples have it.
I don't intend to give a 'blow by blow' description of the air operations as Paul McGuiness covers that in detail in his article (see Refs at the end) but to concentrate on details of some of the Tomahawk airframes involved and their markings.
AN314 'Go It Gertie'
Tomahawk AN314 in flight showing the odd matchup on the nose. Photo AWM 010231.
Tomahawk AN314 'Go It Gertie' Maintenance work, a rare chance to see both sides of an airframe. Photo AWM 010214.
In Part 1 of this pair of articles we saw 'Woof' Arthur's Temperate painted airframe AK378 'Go It Gertie'. His later replacement airframe was AN314 in Desert colours but with a small twist in that the nose panel with the name has been transferred from an airframe that was painted in 'A' pattern instead of the factory 'B' pattern. That is why the demarcations do not match up along the panel lines on the nose.
Tomahawk AN314 'Go It Gertie' showing details of the nose, colours and name. Spinner still appears to be Dupont 71-021 Sky Grey, lower surfaces are a bit darker so a light Blue, but not as dark as Azure Blue like the airframe in the background. Photo AWM 010195.
My profile of Tomahawk AN314 'Go It Gertie'. Spinner still appears to be Dupont 71-021 Sky Grey, lower surfaces are a bit darker so a light Blue, name 'Go It Gertie' in Black.
AK382 'Tindian'
Tomahawk AK382 belonged to Tom Trimble and he named it 'Tindian' (Tin Indian), closeup of the nose insignia.
Tomahawk AK382 starboard profile. Once again the lower surfaces look darker than Dupont Sky Grey so I have assumed light Blue.
The man himself sitting on the wing of 'Tindian'. Above three photos courtesy Tom Trimble.
My profile of Tomahawk AK382 'Tindian'. Dark Earth (Dupont ), RAF Midstone and light Blue. Spinner Red with Black serials and code 'V' in Grey. Standard roundels in six positions plus fin flashes. Indian with Reddish skin.
AM410 'G'
Now for something a little different. The 'G' on AM410 is a very unusual shape. Also rather than the usual Dark Green or Dark Brown behind the rear quarter windows which was painted on at the factory (as this area was considered part of the external camouflage), when applying the Midstone paint, they have repainted this area in Midstone. Also there is not the usual green patch behind the serial.
Somebody must have enjoyed painting that odd shaped 'G' as this screenshot from AWM Film F04912 shows. This is not the same airframe as it carries an 'A' pattern, showing a complete repaint, and the rear windows' colour is as per the factory.
My profile of Tomahawk M410. Dark Earth (Dupont ), RAF Midstone and light Blue. Spinner Red with Black serials and code 'G' in Grey. Standard roundels in six positions plus fin flashes.
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