USAF Camo

Here's a couple of suggestions:

Tech Order 1-1-4 EXTERIOR FINISHES, INSIGNIA AND MARKINGS, APPLICABLE TO USAF AIRCRAFT  (1994) (PDF file, 5.44Mb)

and http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/usalw_e.htm

Hi Tony,

 I can help with the Euro1 scheme, as that is what I was painting RF-4Cs, back in the '80s.

The pattern was the same as the earlier "wrap-a-round" with the tan color, but instead of the tan, we used the 36081 gray. The two greens were 34102 for the light one, and 34079 for the dark one.

The Phantom in my sig is one of the birds I helped maintain in that paint scheme.

 

Leon.

A great website to go to

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/  or

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_us.htm

and check out their past subjects, they have the colors used by the USAF & USN/MC

here's some info on the schemes, Lizard was used on the F-5 Aggressors, Euro 1 (Euro Gray FS 36091, Euro Green FS 34092 Meduim Green FS 34102) was used in the 80's but dropped for Ghost (Dark Ghost Gray FS 3620, Light Ghost Gray FS 36375), Gunship (FS 36118) or just plan AMC Gray (FS 36173) in the early 90's after Desert Storm, there also was South East Asia (SEA), SEA Wrap Around, South West Asia (SWA), Grape (Aggressor), Frog (Aggressor), Fulcrum (Modern Aggressor), Flanker (Modern Aggressor), Snake (Aggressor)

Phil_H wrote:

Here's a couple of suggestions: Tech Order 1-1-4 EXTERIOR FINISHES, INSIGNIA AND MARKINGS, APPLICABLE TO USAF AIRCRAFT  (1994) (PDF file, 5.44Mb) and http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/usalw_e.htm

Thank you for the link to T.O. 1-1-4, I do appreciate it.

But can someone tell me why a T.O. dated 1994 still has the F-106, the OV-10 and SEA schemes still in it?

72cuda wrote:

A great website to go to http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/  or http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_us.htm and check out their past subjects, they have the colors used by the USAF & USN/MC here's sLizard was used on the F-5 Aggressors,ome info on the schemes,  Euro 1 (Euro Gray FS 36091, Euro Green FS 34092 Meduim Green FS 34102) was used in the 80's but dropped for Ghost (Dark Ghost Gray FS 3620, Light Ghost Gray FS 36375), Gunship (FS 36118) or just plan AMC Gray (FS 36173) in the early 90's after Desert Storm, there also was South East Asia (SEA), SEA Wrap Around, South West Asia (SWA), Grape (Aggressor), Frog (Aggressor), Fulcrum (Modern Aggressor), Flanker (Modern Aggressor), Snake (Aggressor)

 

I must take issue on your FS numbers for the Euro1 scheme.

As stated in my earlier post, the Gray was 36081, the light green was 34102, and the dark green was 34079.

Unless other types of aircraft used the colors you mentioned, I will stand behind what I'm referring too, as these were the colors we were using in the 1984-1987 time period on our fleet of Phantoms.

 

42751 Corrosion Control Specialist

Leon.

Well remember your talking about F-4's that where pretty much retired from active duty (most Air Guard & Reserve units received them when AD units converted to F-16's) when the EURO 1 scheme had came out in full force, the A-10's, C-5's, C-130's,  C-141's, HH-60's, and even the F/A-16's (short lived F-16's with a GAU-8 gun pod mounted on the centerline pylon) was painted with FS 36081 (early versions where FS 36118), FS-34092 & FS 34102 only the F-4's had the moded schemes of the tri-color EURO 1 (both greens where the SEA's and the tan was changed to FS 36081 (or FS 36118 depended on what dark gray was on hand), as with the USAF A-7's they only had a Dual Color and the SAC planes had their own version but was FS 36081, FS 36118 & FS 34086, the B-1B's, FB-111A's had this scheme while the BUFF's had the old Camo or FS 36118, most of the F-4's I've been around in the 80's at Nellis where either SEA wrap around or EURO 1 with FS 36118 gray (because the USAF was still trying to figure out which gray to go with and the FS 36118 was the dark gray being used on the F-16's and it was in abundent on the stock shelves at most bases and 36081 was a new color so 36118 was used until the 36081 stocks where meet) instead of the FS 36081 gray, but I agree the F-4 T.O. states FS 34079, FS 34102, FS 36081 for the F-4, but for the others their T.O. states FS 34092, FS 34102, FS 36081 or FS 36118 and if you look at pictures of the other aircraft wearing EURO 1 their colors are different then the F-4's the dark green is a touch lighter then the 34079

Cuda, I have to say you have a wealth of knowledge on this subject, and I will defer to most of what you have said.

But I will say one thing about the Phantoms, is that I will agree that most of the C and D models were in the reserve or guard in the 80s, but the Phantoms we had were the Photo Recon models, and were most definatly being used in front line service, and I was assigned to an active duty regular USAF base. The Recces and the F-4Gs were the holdouts in the Phantom line, because of there specific missions.

We did have a reserve unit based with us that flew the F-4Ds, and they were painted the same as our RF-4Cs. And the 36081, was the ONLY gray we EVER used. From the time we started to repaint the tan on the wrap-a-round, it was that color.

Now, I do realize that I'm focused on what my experiences were, at my base, and that other bases my have done differently. But we were 12th AF HQ., and I'm sure that we were setting an example for other units to follow. I can't remember how many times we had plane go through the paint hanger, just so it could be taken to a CO competition, and we ALWAYS had the best looking birds, and we were very proud of that fact.

Please share you background with me, so I can better understand your knowledge base.

As you can see from my AFSC (42751) that I was the guy who actually applied the paint to the planes, so I do know what I'm talking about, on my end. And I respect everything you have said, i just feel you're selling the Phantoms a little short.

When the EURO I paint scheme first came out, the colors used were FS 34079, FS 34102 and FS 36118.  The FS 36118 was used only a short time, less than six months, when they switched over to FS 36081.  These colors were refered to as the EURO II paint scheme.  It was later just called the EURO scheme.  From then on these were the three colors used on the F-4 until they went to the Hill Gray scheme in the late 80's. 

The reason I know this is I was stationed with the 52nd TFW at Spangdahlm AB Germany and aircraft F-4E, 74-1052, was being prepared for a "Gunsmoke" exercise.  When we went to touch it up, the two grays did not match.  We contacted Hill AFB and they told us of the switch in paints.  We had ordered and received the correct colors for the current paint scheme, which was FS 36081.  We had to send the aircraft to Bitburg AB, which had a full paint barn and get the aircraft repainted in the correct colors.  

No Foul No Harm on the F-4's I too worked them (D's to be exact) back in the day (went in the USAF in '82 and still in {Active Duty '82-'86 then the Reserves '90 to present and been associated with the USAF in the between years) but for what I ment was that most of the F-4's in USAF's inventory where phased out or being phased out of Active Duty in the mid to late 80's and the most abundent Rhino's where the "E" models and their day was coming soon when the change from SEA scheme to the EURO scheme came down and the AF really didn't hold the F-4 to their new EURO paint scheme and allowed the scheme to be more or less a modified SEA scheme with a dark gray that was dark tan and the SEA pattern was not changed like on the rest of the inventories EURO 1 pattern (it looks more squiggley then the SEA's), I know the RC's & G's flew in Desert Storm and the "G's" where brought back from AMARTS or being sent to AMARTS ( the F-4G's where being phased out when the call came out) for their purpose on Weasling SAM sites but no other airframe was around to do that job at that time in USAF's history, now they have the Block 50/52 F-16C's just for that job, and the "RC's" where being retired around '92 or '93ish with great regret because there was no other replacement for it, but like I said the USAF likes changes I've been in 3 different AFSC's since 1982 423X0 A/C Electrical Systems Specialist, 454X6 & 2A6X6 Electro/Environmental Systems Technician but if you see I've done the same job, but let's get back to the subject and look at the F-4's they wore so many colors, first they where SEA, then A/C Gray or EURO 1, then Hill Scheme (2 tone Gray)

End of service life.  Two grays.

 

The F-4 wore more colors than mentioned 72cuda.  When the F-4 first entered USAF service it was painted in the Gull Gray over White.  The first F-4C and RF-4C aircraft were painted that way.  Then came the SEA, SEA Wraparound, EURO, Hill Gray and some were painted in ADC Gray.  Tyndall AFB has a F-4 Heritage Flight with the paint scheme used by the USAF.  Here are four of their six aircraft.  At the time this picture was taken a RF-4C was being painted in Gull Gray over White and a F-4E was being painted in ADC Gray.

Berny;

I couldn't verify if the early "C's" where painted the Gull Gray & Gloss White but I have pix of the F-110 in that scheme, so that's why I had not mentioned it, and like I said before the Smokin' Joes had worn so many colors it's hard to keep track of them let alone the USAF's schemes, and you have the USN/MC's, and the other nations colors flown on them too it'll make one nuts to keep track of them all