United States Army Air Force & United States Naval Color Chips 1908 - 1941

The following color chips are scanned directly from the Monogram Aviation Publishing Book

The Official Monogram US Army air Service & Air Corps Color Guide 1908-1941

Robert D. Archer

 

Please note that these are scanned images of the actual color chips.  The settings on the scanner have rendered them as accurately as possible, but may not necessarily be reproduced with complete accuracy.  The settings of your computer monitor will also affect the rendering of these images as you see them, and in a less precise fashion.  These digital approximations will give you as the Aero-Historian, Modeler, or War Bird Owner a general guideline, and a good idea of the particular color, and it's hue compared with other colors mentioned in research articles, and books.

Please also note that while these are the digital approximations of the official chips, colors seen on an individual aircraft are subject to photograph quality, the particular batch of paint used on the aircraft, and the weathering, and general climactic conditions the aircraft operated, as well as maintenance preformed upon the aircraft.  You may quite literally have two aircraft on the same assembly line that are of different hues, but conforming to the specifications, or 2 or more conflicting aircraft liveries within a squadron, wing, or air force dependant upon how old the aircraft are, or local supply factors.  Happy modeling, and research!!!  (Use your back button to come back to this page.)

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2

3

1 Initial US Army Air Service, and USAAF Colors

2 These are the USAAF primary colors used prior to the USAAF reducing all tactical aircraft to Olive Drab, and Neutral Gray. 1930s

3 These represent USAAF colors late 1930s (top row), and the USN Colors Pre-war until appx.  1926-1940.

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