U.S AIR FORCE titles ...A question

[Julien (UK)]

Some decal sheets have them in Black, and some in insignia blue.

Is there any time frame, air frame etc to say when they were which colour?

Cheers,

Julien

[UKPonchoMan]

Hi Julien,

They were (according to the technical orders) supposed to be Insignia Blue (FS15044), BUT there was also a "get out clause" that Black could be used if Insignia Blue was not available...

From the 1964 and 1978 TO 1-1-4...

"GENERAL SPECIFICATION FOR LETTERING AND NUMERALS USED IN MARKING AIRCRAFT.

Any style font/letter compatible with the vertical block type letter and arabic numerals of uniform size and shape should be used when applying markings on aircraft. (See Appendix A for construction of letters and numerals.) Unless otherwise specified herein, insignia-blue, color No. 15044, will be used for letters and numerals applied on aluminized, gray or white surfaces. Gloss black, color No. 17038, maybe used as a substitute for the insignia-blue. Insignia-white, color No. 17925, will be used on red aircraft finishes. Insignia red, color No. 11136, will be used on black finishes. Use Specification MIL-C-83286 Aliphatic Polyurethane. Use of decals, both gloss and camouflage, conforming to MIL-P-38477, Type I, Class 2, are authorized for use in lieu of polyurethane paint. This is a premasked type decal that is applied over the primer and then painted over. The premask material is then removed which leaves all edges of the decal sealed with the topcoat of paint. Optional use of a gloss or clearcoat applied underneath aircraft decals for adhesion purposes on camouflage aircraft is authorized."

[Jennings]

The T.O. says blue on a/c with full color markings, and most of them are blue, but there are instances where they were applied in black as well. On modern stuff in Boring Old Gray (BOG, FS 31111) are all black.