Hi Mike a bit of cross purpose here. The original post is asking about "Ground Equipment blue" a totally different animal to RAF Blue /Grey (tint 33 later 633). Demarcation within the RAF between MT vehicles and other non-airborne equipment known from that date as Ground Support Equipment (GSE) took place in 1948. The demarcation took place as due to its growing complexity a new trade group was set up in the RAF to deal with GSE and a suitable official given to it. (Prior to that date all non airborne equipment used outdoors was all painted as has been stated in the thread .) At the time (1948) RAF Blue /Grey was reintroduced as the standard UK colour for MT vehicles. However, the equipment now categorised as Ground Support Equipment was painted in "Traffic Blue". At the discretion of Station's O.C. Operations the tops of equipments and MT vehicles, primarily used on airfields was to be painted gloss golden yellow, a measure first introduced in the mid war years. Circa 1968 MT & GSE used solely on an airfield was to be painted overall golden yellow with the exception of fire/crash vehicles and ambulances. However Blue /grey for MT and Traffic Blue for GSE continued in use for items not solely used on the airfield. Noteworthy although much GSE & MT did go all yellow, repainting was to be on an as required basis and was not completed before we had yet another policy change and the IRR matt Green was introduced. You say traffic Blue 69 ceased in 1948 ? it was still called traffic blue in RAF Air publications well into the early 1970s, The paint boffins who used to reside at RAF Brampton were adamant in response to my nagging that it was the 1964 review that finally saw it renamed and renumbered.
We must also consider even if it had disappeared from the BS issued in 1948 any contractor looking for what were in those days lucrative contracts would simply produced it to the spec in their records and quite legally could have identified it as BS 381 (1930 ) tint 69.
regards TED ps see the photo I posted earlier in the thread which is a perfect comparison of the 2 colours.
|
30-11-07, 22:43
Threaded Mode