Kev i have the italy scheme book if you need it... the first image of the war time pics (in post #2) imho is desert stone with a black / brown disrupive... going off the building behind it which will either be white or light stone
basically its the scheme i have chosen for my carrier too.... from my readings many carriers painted in the scheme had served in North africa and sicily (Op Husky) prior to Italy (Op Avalanche).
I love the light mud scheme too which was my fall back scheme to keep in with my grandads timeline..