USAAF Camouflage Reference Contents:
WW2 USAAF Sea Search Camouflage (1941-1945)
The Sea Search scheme, or so-called ASW camouflage, was a modification of the standard early-WW2 camouflage scheme where the undersides were painted with Insignia White No. 46 instead of Neutral Gray No. 43. Insignia White No. 46 is an off-white color with a tint of sepia. However, it can look just like plain white, especially in wartime photos.
The Sea Search scheme still assumed Dark Olive Drab No. 41 for the upper surfaces, with Medium Green No. 42 blotches on the wing and tail edges. The demarcation line between the colors ran higher on the sides of the fuselage (compared to the regular early-WW2 scheme), forming distinct waves and passing into the fins. This camouflage scheme was used exclusively on USAAF aircraft assigned to anti-submarine missions.
WW2 USAAF ASW Camouflage Color Guide
- Insignia White No. 46: Each time a new standard was introduced, small changes were made to Insignia White. Insignia White No. 46 has a slightly warmer tone of white with a slight ivory touch compared to its post-war successor FS 17875.
- Dark Olive Drab No. 41: A dark olive camouflage color that varied from dark green to grey-brown as it worned and faded in the sun. In 1943 this color was replaced by the ANA 613 Olive Drab.
- Medium Green No. 42: A moderate green color with a slight bluish tint. In 1943 it was also replaced by ANA 612 Medium Green, but unlike Dark Olive Drab No.41 and Insignia White No. 46 the shade remained almost the same.
Original Paint | No. 46 Insignia White |
No. 41 Dark Olive Drab |
No. 42 Medium Green |
Scheme | |||
General | Lower | Upper | Blotches |
Paints | |||
Gunze Aqueous | H316* | (H78) | (H302) |
Gunze Mr. Color | C316* | (C38) | (C302) |
Humbrol | - | (66) | (149) |
Model Master | 1745* | - | (1764) |
Revell | - | - | (48) |
Tamiya | - | XF-62 | (XF-26) |
Vallejo Model Air | 71.279* | 71.316 | (71.124) |
Vallejo Model Color | (70.820) | - | (70.895) |
AKAN | (73146) | - | (72037) |
AK Interactive | AK 2052* | AK 2201 | AK 2202 |
AK Real Colors | RC222* | RC259 | RC260 |
AMMO by Mig | - | A.MIG-237* | (A.MIG-238) |
Colourcoats | ACUS10 | ACUS15 | ACUS16 |
Hataka | HTK-_043* | HTK-_004 | HTK-_019 |
Lifecolor | UA 148* | UA 005* | UA 008* |
Mission Models | MMP-104* | MMP-091 | (MMP-028) |
Mr. Paint | MRP-135* | MRP-139 | MRP-140 |
Xtracolor | X141* | - | (X114) |
Xtracrylix | XA1141* | - | (XA1114) |
Arcus | - | - | 525 |
Photos of Aircraft in WW2 USAAF Sea Search Camouflage



References to USAAF Sea Search Camouflage:
- Archer, Robert D. and Archer, Victor G., USAAF Aircraft Markings and Camouflage 1941-1947, Schiffer Publishing (1997)
- Bell, Dana, Air Force Colors Volume 1 1926-1942, Squadron/Signal Publications (1995)
- Elliot, John M., The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide Vol 2 1940-1949, Monogram Aviation Publications (1989)
- Rodrigo Aguilera, The World Wars.net