Austro-Hungarian Camouflage

[2996 Victor]

Hi all,

First of all, I do realise that this is probably one of the more contentious aspects of World War One aviation modelling circles!

As I have a few LFT subjects planned, I've been going back through my limited library. Basically, the only reference I have left (after The Great Book Purge during my ill-fated marriage ) is the 12-part series of articles by Dr Martin O'Connor that appeared in the Cross & Cockade Great Britain Journal from Vol.17 No.1 (1986) and Vol.19 No.4 (1988).

At this stage I'm not concerning myself with the hexagon camouflage, but rather with the splotch/swirl camouflage found on Phonix aeroplanes that Dr O'Connor referred to as Pattern B. According to Dr O'Connor, these could be primarily brown or primarily green. His researches were supported by interviews with surviving Austro-Hungarian veterans, which are largely credible, and fabric samples from Rodney Gerrard, which are perhaps less so.

All that was published 35 or so years ago. What I would like to know is if there have been any appreciable changes in the view of Austro-Hungarian camouflages in the intervening period, or is Dr O'Connor's work still the standard?

Many thanks for any help!

Kind regards,

Mark

[JamesAPrattIII]

books:
Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918 by O'Conner

Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of WW I by P M Grosz

both excellent sources

Note I think the Phonix DI were painted with Brown swirl on top and the DIIs had dark green swirl on top

[2996 Victor]

books:
Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1914-1918 by O'Conner

Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of WW I by P M Grosz

both excellent sources

Note I think the Phonix DI were painted with Brown swirl on top and the DIIs had dark green swirl on top

Hi James,

many thanks for the info - the maddening thing is I used to own both of those books, but while married I was encouraged to sell them as "you don't need those any more". Ho hum! Think I need to source replacement copies.....

I think you're right about the brown and green camouflage being applied to D.I and D.II aircraft respectively.

Thanks again and best regards,

Mark

[2996 Victor]

I've been very lucky and found a copy of Dr O'Connor's "Air Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire". Being a bit of a book snob what's even better is that the only marks on it are a couple of tiny scuffs on the dust jacket, such as you might find on a book in a bookshop: it's absolutely pristine! It even smells the same as the copy I bought new 25+ years ago What's even even better is that it didn't break the bank.

Happy days

Cheers,
Mark