P-40E-1/Kittyhawk IA Curtiss Camouflage

[Andreas]

Dear All,

I`m confused about camouflage applied by Curtiss on P-40E:
Several publications indicating that all 1500 built P-40E-1 are indentical to Kittyhawks IA (under LendLease). As to Dana Bell`s research, ALL those P-40E-1/Kittyhawk IA were delivered by Curtiss in British Standard Colours; but obviously there were some P-40E-1 in USAAF colours painted Olive drab/Neutral grey?! But its very unlikely that those aircraft have been repainted in the field...
Has anybody more information about this issue?
Any help/comments are highly appreciated!

Cheers
Andreas

[Mark Joyce]

Hi Andreas,

I believe the "P-40E" was produced for the Army Air Corp and thus was at least initially painted the standard OD/NG prevalent at the time, whereas as you mention the "P-40E-1" is identical to the Kittyhawk IA and thus came from the Curtiss factory in the standard British camo colours.  I'm guessing that any definite P-40E-1 that is OD/NG would have been repainted in the field. 

Sorry, it sounds like I'm repeating your question and not giving any new information, but that's the best I can do now!  If I can find absolute documentation in my references, which I haven't been able to do yet, I'll let you know.
HTH,

Mark

[Andreas]

Mark,

thanks for your suggestions. Camouflage colours are a difficult matter, especially repaintings in the field with only black&white photos on hand. Unfortunately in this case there`s also a lack of information what colours the Curtiss factory applied, which colours have been used on which serial no. etc.
Anyway, thanks again for your reply!

Andreas

[P-40 Admin]

One thing with the paint the factory used, they didn't stick exactly with the colors specified by the military, they would just have DuPont get it close.