WWII Italian airmen uniform / flight suit colors.

OK I found it in one of my books that has an Italian AF uniform in Libya 1940. The uniform was overall white linen with a matching white padded helment. His boots were black and gloves appear to be leather. It notes that this is the summer unifrom and it would be olive-green during the winter.

I found alike with a photo from the USAF Museum
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/rapilot.htm

Hope this helps if not very late.

derekms,

Thank you for the information. And I'm still working on the model so any information is never too late

Cheers
Thom

Italian navy pilots according to painting insructions in Italeri kit show:Helmet and short leather jacket -Brown:Pants-light gray with flat black boots.

QUOTE: Originally posted by derekms OK I found it in one of my books that has an Italian AF uniform in Libya 1940. The uniform was overall white linen with a matching white padded helment. His boots were black and gloves appear to be leather. It notes that this is the summer unifrom and it would be olive-green during the winter. I found alike with a photo from the USAF Museum http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/rapilot.htm Hope this helps if not very late.

That doesn't make any sense. Why would it be white in the summer and OD in the winter? Not jumping down your throat, or course, just wondering why they would do that...

RadMax 8 - I believe the white flight suit was to reduce heat in the summer (North Africa especially) as light colors reflect heat.. As for OD in the winter I don't know how much it snows around Italy, but I live in Ohio and around here during the winter you probably only have snow on the ground less than 20% of the time so OD probably is a better winter camo than white by playing the odds (Just my Guess).