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Camouflage
Generally, there could be hard to determine exactly which colors and what kind of pattern was used on Freccia fighters and fighter- bombers. This is not a problem with the G.50 alone but, I am afraid with many of other type of Italian planes. Problem begins from the prototype. Many of sources stated that the first prototype were overall silver but there is also other possibility that plane were in light cream overall. This color was in widely use by Italian forces home and abroad and in the moment of G.50 prototype appearance that color, named Bianco Ivorio, was official livery for the first line combat planes. Later, prototype was recamouflaged by adding of new color on plane. One of color had very light appearance and it seems to be that the original cream paint was left as background color. Anyway, final answer could not be given. Aircraft had red panel on cowling which was extended to the horizontal tail. National insignia was standard for the period, four roundels on wings and tri- color flag on vertical.
First block, with all round view canopy, which were based at Roma- Chiampino
airfield, were painted standard for the home based landplanes. Topside in green
color, with grey undersurface area. Green color, named Verde Mimetico, was
ranged around emerald in hue, intensity and tone. There should be noted that
close observing of photos without doubt indicated that the colors applied on the
home based and those used on abroad were not the same even in the case that
camouflage pattern look the same. Correct details of the colors could be noted
as well there was couple of green colors in use. However, from the first
produced block some aircraft were selected and shipped to Spain for combat
evaluation. Initially, aircraft wear sole ochre color on the topside, Giallo
Mimetico. Soon they all got camouflage mottle in green color but sometimes were
appearing spots in brown color. Insignia were Spanish, black circles on wings in
four position and white painted vertical rudder with black St. Andrew cross.
Later in service, wing insignia were replaced with standard Spanish post war
roundels, red-yellow-red color.
Whole set of 35 G.50 delivered to Finland was finished in somehow unusual pattern. Camouflage consisted of topside ochre color with mottle in green. Underside was in grey. That kind of pattern proved not suitable for operating over northern landscape and they were soon recamouflaged in domestic colors. New scheme had green solely on top surface. Color was Vihrea Olivin. Some later, all G.50 got standard Finish pattern with topside patches of Vihrea Olivin and Musta (black) and underside in Valean Sininen (light blue). National insignia was blue swastika superimposed on white roundel. No insignia were carried on verticals. On the fuselage was registration in black color, beginning with FA and followed with two digit number.
Aircraft deployed to Albania to take a part in operations against Greece was in
standard home based livery, with topside Verde Mimetico. During the service
airplanes got camouflage mottle. This was one of several field modifications
done on camouflage during the G.50 service. For example planes from 354.
squadriglia got ochre mottle over green or brown mottle over green. There were
also planes with new pattern with base green color and topside mottle in brown
and ochre. Special markings on Albania based planes were red disc on wheel cover
but some planes had two color discs in same place.
New combat theatre, Belgium, widely introduce new camouflage color. This color pattern had ochre color on topside with mottle in green and brown color ( Marrone Mimetico). Actually, this kind of pattern was in use in Mediterranean area. Applied top colors green and brown were appeared as a mottle but also in a form of tiger- like stripes. The same pattern was later adopted on African theatre but there could not be stated that identical colors were used. Anyway, difference could be noted on green color and it look to be olive green. As always, lower surface remained in mid grey color, Grigio Mimetico.
Autumn
1941 bring completely new colors and camouflage, which replace all of the
previous mentioned. New colors were Verde Oliva Scuro ( Dark Olive Green),
Nocciola Chiaro ( Medium Tan) and Grigio Azzuro Chiaro ( Medium Grey). Some
sources stated that these colors were made under the influence of the German
camouflage colors. Basically, two camouflage patterns were used. One for home
based planes with Verde Oliva Scuro solely on the topside and the other one
with topside patches in Verde Oliva Scuro and Nocciola Chiaro. In both way
underside were Grigio Azzuro Chiaro. Second scheme was mostly used on Africa
theatre but after retreating of Italian units, this kind of pattern could be
also noted on G.50 on home land.
National insignia consisted of roundel with three stylized fasces and vertical tail insignia. Roundel and fasces inside was in black color. Inside could be white color and that kind, with white back ground were mostly used on underside of wings. These roundels were used only on wings in two or four position. Their position and background depends from theatre or units. In the first time of war they were only on undersides of wings. There is a number of photos on G.50 from Albania and Belgium where could be noted that no kind of markings were applied on top wing surface.
Initially, top wing insignia was with white back ground and that was
reintroduced on bis model. Bis, did not always have insignia in four wings
position. But there is also difference as well some units used that insignia in
only black without white back ground. For example, planes from 352. Squadriglia
had insignia in four wing position with white background and some planes from
the same unit had it on underside only. On the many photos could be noted that
planes from 151. and 162. squadriglia had insignia on undersurfaces only, in
black borders. Samples were a lot and no rule could be determined in the
applications of wing insignia.
In first time of G.50 service on vertical tail was used wide tri color flag. Colors were national, red-white-green, with red on the trailing edge. In the white field, on upper part was positioned crest of house Savoia. This crest was used on tail no mater of insignia changes. From 1940 tri color flag was replaced with wide white cross, which spread over the whole vertical. In 1941 were introduced new smaller cross, which was positioned on vertical rudder only. But many of planes operating in Africa continue to use old wide cross. There was one more type of cross, wide and short length and this type was in very limited use.
On the fuselage side, under the cockpit, were placed fascist emblem, “stema di stato”. On blue background was brown sheaf with white axe and all roundel had black outline. On the back of the fuselage was inscription G.50 and registration number. Until the bis model that was black inscription in two rows. On the early bis model could be noted the same inscription in single row and yellow color. The white color is also possible but on the sole survivor in museum in Serbia I have note this inscription in yellow. Planes delivered to Finland had only four digit number.
Special theatre markings present white band around fuselage. It was placed behind the cockpit and vertical tail but some had it just behind the cockpit. This kind of marking were introduced when the Italy enter second world war and had to be used as a quick recognition in combat. Interesting those units in Belgium did not wear that recognition bands on fuselage but on the engine cowling. Cowlings on the planes on the Mediterranean and African theatre, mostly was paint in yellow. Similar markings were also used on Croatian and Finland’s G.50. Croatian’s plane had yellow band around fuselage and yellow tip under the wings. Finland’s planes had also yellow band around fuselage but also was used on engine cowlings.
Croatian national insignia used on G.50 was ‘sahovnica”. It consisted of chess
plate square insignia, with red and white fields. One small was carried on the
top of the port wing and was 282x282 mm size. Two large was positioned under the
wing and was 700x700 mm size. On the vertical stabilizer was of the medium size
420x420 mm. All of them had thin black outline. On fuselage were four digit
yellow numbers, 200 mm high, with black shade.
Regarding to the observation of the preserved plane interior colors are as follows. Light grey color was on the engine gear box as well inside of the engine cowling. Completely cockpit interior was also painted in the same color. Unfortunately, I could not trace this color in any of publication. Color could be described as a light gull grey. Color which could be identified as Verde Anticorosione is used inside ammunition compartment in fuselage as well on access door. Color is close to the FS595b 34272. Interior of the armament bay, on the top side of the fuselage is also in light grey. All colors used on interior surface were semi gloss. Landing gear bay was in the underside camouflage color.
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