What colour was that again

[Mike Cecil]

Tony,

Had a quick look at what I drafted back in the mid-80s (!) about the subject of painting medical vehicles. In short:

AIF ME: no distinction in the camouflage instructions, but all medical vehicles to display a Geneva Cross in prescribed places.

AMF (AIF+AMF, etc late 1941/early 1942 onwards): Initially, camouflage instructions (eg AMF Mech Instruc - 301) included medical vehicles, but this created quite a furor about painting cammo on a veh AND a big red cross on a white circular background (nice aiming point). An amending instruction was issued on 18 Feb 1942, stating that med vehs were not to be cammo painted, and were to display the Geneva cross.

In July 1942, a further instruction (MI-319) was issued stating that vehicles displaying the Geneva cross were not to be camouflaged, and where they had been, immediate action was to be taken to repaint them, presumably KG3 overall. Medical vehicles are then excluded from cammo instructions for the remainder of the war.

I don't remember seeing anything about vehicle dark green specifically in relation to medical vehicles, but some areas/commands used that as a basic colour instead of KG3, so that may be what you have seen reference to, ie, finish of medical vehicles in those areas to be Veh Dark Green, without disruptive camouflage.

Dental Units were an exception and were still under discussion in 1944. Their own Unit vehicles and installations were to display the Geneva cross, but not temp accommodation or temporarily assigned vehicles - a real each way bet!!

Mike C

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

In July 1942, a further instruction (MI-319) was issued stating that vehicles displaying the Geneva cross were not to be camouflaged, and where they had been, immediate action was to be taken to repaint them, presumably KG3 overall.

Yes I had a look at the November instruction when the camo colours were changed again and this time it specifically states Khaki Green for medical vehicles:

"All mechanical vehicles are to be painted in disruptive camouflage, except A.A.M.C. vehicles which are to be painted Khaki Green with Geneva Crosses."

So I think my mind must be playing tricks on me Mike, because I recall Vehicle Dark Green as a general instruction, unrelated to any specific area or command. It's very annoying because it's stuck in my mind quite firmly!

Something else I've been meaning to ask is when was DBG introduced? I have 1949 in my head but I have no idea where it came from!