RAF pilot uniform - 2 TAF

[Guest]

Hi all;

A quick uniform question, as I have a figure to paint! Does anyone know if RAF 2 TAF pilots wore RAF blue-grey or army khaki battledress, or both? Grateful for any answers!

[stona]

They were RAF personnel and surely wore RAF uniforms and equipment.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Not so, apparently. Often khaki was worn to prevent confusion between RAF blue/grey and german uniforms - or so I'm told!

[stona]

Not so, apparently. Often khaki was worn to prevent confusion between RAF blue/grey and german uniforms - or so I'm told!

I'm playing the devil's advocate because I honestly don't know the answer to your question but where would the confusion arise? I've seen several photos of captured RAF pilots in the company of their Luftwaffe counterparts and vice versa and just can't see it.

Here's an example.

Caulton and Jabs met again and became friends much later,after the war.

These MPs have identified this unhappy pair! Actually this is much earlier and not really relevant but it's a great photo!

I still think that the pilots would have flown in RAF uniform,not least because were they to be shot down and captured that would be their safest bet. Let us know what you find out.

There is a very famous picture of Erich Hartmann standing infront of his Bf109G-10,supposedly on the occassion of his 350th victory,in which he is wearing a camouflaged jacket....just to confuse things!

If the Germans did it.......

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

I recall reading the the RAFT boys in Africa wore the shorts and shirts as worn by the Army . As to if it was official or not...?

I can only imagine they where more comfortable that woollen RAFT trousers !

For what its worth, Tamiya in their tropical Spitfire have apology in shorts and shirt sleeves. Paint guide also suggests khaki as the colour.

Ian M

[stona]

One of Chris Thomas' 2nd TAF books would have the answer. Maybe ask on Britmodeller,Thomas definitely posts there from time to time.

Cheers

Steve

[mossiepilot]

Hey Snapper,

I got interested in your question, and I think it depended on where they were posted.

When I googled 2 TAF this is one of the sites that I found -

W/O BERNARD D. ALLEN

Which shows W/O Bernard Allen of 113 Sqn.

He has the RAF "chip hat" and dressed in a desert? uniform.

Don't know if it's of any help, but it's and interesting uniform combination.

Best of luck with your search.

Tony.

[Guest]

Morning Snapper

Going to paint a few figures myself soon to place alongside my completed models to give scale. So very interested in this question.

So found these. Seems the answer is choose as you think looks right. Looks as though you could have a figure in RAF blue & one in khaki. Got Typhoon at War some where but cannot find the book.

In your example, if I was portraying a Typhoon pilot in the Normandy period then I'd personally go with khaki army battledress rather than blue War Service Dress to highlight the issue of khaki uniform to 2TAF aircrew, in which case I'd only apply rank insignia. Check out "Typhoon at War" for good period photos.

Àlthough common 'knowledge' says that the RAF (groundcrew) used Khaki in Normandy -I`ve a Veteran friend who swears he wore blue. He even recites the anecdote about the dust making it look like German field grey, and him being mistaken for the enemy!

raf blue was the common uniform in use in the normandy ops. units issues with kharki had it withdrawn and were issued blue. they landed under fire on the beaches wearing coller n tie! the exeption to this was of course the regiment.

for the bit about been mistaken for lufty blue oh yes!! happened afew times from the resistance to yanks shooting at them.

2TAF aircrew commenced wearing khaki in 1943 during the run up to D-Day. Khaki was the predominant uniform during ops in June/July 1944. Replacement pilots coming in to replace tour-expired crews and those KIA or wounded don't appear to have been issued khaki so the squadrons often appear as a mix of colours beginning quite early on. All supported with ample photos from the period. I highly recommend the "2nd Tactical Air Force" series by Chris Shores as well as "Typhoon and Tempest" by Hugh Halliday. "Day of the Typhoon" by John Golley recounts the daily grind of Normandy ops thru Nov 44 as a Tiffy pilot and the photos and narrative also show the slow transition from khaki to blue.

[Guest]

Tecdes; many thanks for your reply - that's what I was after! So, the answer seems to be that I can paint him how I like! Personally, I'd prefer to see the RAF dressed in blue, especially as I'm ex-RAF myself. But then again, khaki would provide a bit of interest to the scene (I'm doing the MDC resin Typhoon with their pilot figure next to the aircraft). Maybe khaki top and blue trousers??

[Guest]

Yes a good mix Snapper.

I would guess with all the supply problems & then distribution to forwards airfields there was a real hotch potch. I would bet that some of the pilots got hold of army stuff to suit their needs. A lot must have depended on the weather as during the winter it was needs must & the array of garments must have been enormous. I would also think the views of senior officers would have been paramount in the clothing selection or not selection as the case may be.

Laurie

[Guest]

I've just found a reference that says that 2 TAF pilots were issued a set of each - blue and khaki. Khaki was specified during D-Day and immediate days around it, and then again for the push westwards, and again finally for the Rhine crossing operations. I think my chap will wear a mix!

[stona]

Thanks for that excellent information,I never knew that. A nice mix 'n' match would certainly look good.

Cheers

Steve