Dutch Colours, Camouflages and Markings

Unlike other countries, these branches had no real centralized paint system such as the German RLM or the American ANA. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t any unity between different aircraft types and military branches. It does however make it impractical to create a table with all the paints used. Therefore each individual scheme has it’s own little table with the paints used.

Luchtvaartafdeeling der Koninklijke Landmacht

The LVA (Luchtvaartafdeeling der Koninklijke Landmacht, Aviation Department of the Royal Armed Forces), was the Army Air Force and precursor of the Dutch Air force. They were tasked with defending the Netherlands and fought the German invasion in may 1940.

LVA, Khaki-Blue

Before early 1938, aircraft of the LVA were painted in a camouflage consisting of a khaki topside and blue bottom side. Some MLD land based aircraft also used this scheme.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka
LVA Khaki	LVA Khaki	FS-14064* RAL 6014				HTK-A193
	Upper surface camouflage of early aircraft select training and reconnaissance aircraft
LVA Blauw	LVA blue	FS-15189* RAL 5018				HTK-A332
	Lower surface camouflage or early aircraft Overall colour of training aircraft
Hemelsblauw	sky blue	FS-35250		45% XF-2 40% XF-8 7.5% XF-7 7.5% XF-19		HTK-A332
	Koolhoven used alternative to LVA Blue Body of the FK-58 prototype, with silver wings.

Used
Koolhoven FK-31	Koolhoven FK-46	Koolhoven Fk-49
Koolhoven Fk-51	Koolhoven Fk-56	Koolhoven Fk-58 (prototype)
Fokker D.XVII	Fokker D.XVI	Focke Wulf Fw-58
Fokker G.1 (prototype)	Fokker T.IX (prototype, khaki overall)	Bücker Bu-131

LVA Bruin-Beige-Groen

This Brown-Beige-Green camouflage is probably the most iconic Dutch camouflage. The switch to this new camouflage occurred with the introduction of the Fokker T.V in early 1938. Planes constructed before that date weren’t repainted.

It is not known why the underside of the planes were painted brown. Theories exist, such as it is because the LVA believed the colour to be less visible when caught in searchlights. However it’s quite the odd choice to paint all aircraft in a night camouflage, when none where optimized for night operations.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	Mr. Paint	AK real colour
Camouflagebruin	Dark Brown	FS-10059	H-047 C-041	XF-64	70.985	HTK-A087		RC068
	Upper and Lower surface camouflage
Camouflagebeige	Sandy Brown	FS-16360	H-336 C-336		70.979	HTK-A074		RC301
	Upper surface camouflage
Camouflagegroen	Dark Green	FS-14077	H-330 C-330	XF-11 XF-74		HTK-A246		RC286
	Upper surface camouflage
Anodiseergrijs	gray	FS-16320	H-307 C-307			HTK-A201		RC251
	Cockpit and fuselage interiors

Used	Planned	Possible
Fokker D.XXI	Dornier Do-215 (order of 24 machines)	Schelde S.21 (prototype under construction, but not (yet) ordered)
Fokker D.XXIII	Koolhoven Fk.58 (36 machines ordered)	Fokker G.2 (prototype under construction, but not ordered)
Fokker G.I		Fokker T.IX (interest shown in prototype, but not ordered)
Fokker T.V
Douglas DB-8A-3N

Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger

The Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger (ML-KNIL), the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (RNEIAAF) was the air arm of the Dutch colonial army. Initially, planes flown by the ML-KNIL had no defined camouflage pattern, with each type of machine either using it’s delivery scheme or no camouflage at all. The ML-KNIL was established in 1915 as the PVA-KNIL (Proefafdeling KNIL). In 1921 this was reorganized to the LA-KNIL (Luchtvaartafdeling KNIL). On March 30, 1939 the unit became a fully independent military branch as the ML-KNIL.

1921 ~ 1942 Trainers, Aluminium Dope

In January of 1921, the LA-KNIL recieved 8 Vickers Vikings. While wholly unsatisfied with the planes themselves and phasing them out by 1924, they were impressed by the dope: “5 coats of clear dope, 2 coats of red pigmented dope and 2 coats of aluminium dope.”

The coating would be made standard for trainer aircraft until 1942. Not every trainer however adhered to this standard however; Koolhoven FK-51’s had a chocolate brown fuselage, and (the only) Fokker S.IV was khaki.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	Mr. Paint	MRP
V 84	Matt Aluminium			XF-16				MRP-104
	Aluminium powdered cellulose dope, used for linen. Metal would be kept bare. V 84 Refers to the original dope on the Vickers Vickings.

until 1941 Operational Aircraft

Starting early 1920’s, aircraft were mostly ordered at Fokker, but also at Koolhoven. These were delivered in the scheme used by the LVA; Khaki, sometimes with blue.

Combined with the knowledge of the Vickers Vicking dope, this led to a camouflage of khaki and aluminium.

Again, there were (individual) exceptions on this scheme.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka
LVA Khaki	Khaki	FS-14064* RAL 6014				HTK-A193
	Overall fuselage and lower wing colour.
Aluminium Dope	Matt Aluminium			XF-16
	Aluminium powdered cellulose dope, used for linen. Metal would be kept bare. V 84 Refers to the original dope on the Vickers Vickings. vertical, and horizontal stabilizers. On select aircraft, upper side of the (upper) wing.

1940 – Jong blad / oud blad

While the ML-KNIL initially didn’t use camouflage colours, a supply of a green paint and dope was kept from at least 1938 (often known as jong blad = young leaf, or camouflage green). This was to be used as a bomber colour if tensions were to rise. When the war broke out in Europe in late 1939, the ML-KNIL purchased extra Jong blad to be able to camouflage all operational aircraft. It would take until early may 1940 before the paint was actually applied however.

Due to rising tensions, a series of tests were conducted on 9 Martin 139’s between may and July 1940 to develop a camouflage scheme. Starting with overall Jong blad in may, but later also with oud blad and light grey. The scheme was officially adopted in august same year. For the new Curtiss H-75A-7 Hawk fighters it was decided that the grey underside was unnecessary, as their camouflage was only deemed for reduced visibility on the ground. Their underside was left in their aluminium delivery scheme. This was also extended to other planes later on such as the Brewster B-339 and Curtiss CW-21, who had their undersides painted aluminium, and the Lockheed L-212 who’s underside was left bare metal. The bottom leading edges of the wings and the engine nacelles were often camouflaged as well. The aircraft’s serial number was painted on the leading edges as well.

The names of these colours aren’t official, and can change between sources. The exact shade is also still debated.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	Mr. Paint	AK
Jong Blad	“young leaf” Dark green	FS-34079 Medium Green No. 42	H-309 C-309	XF-58	71.294	HTK-*016	MRP-101	RC027 AK11346
	upper side camouflage together with Oud Blad overall upper side camouflage of some Martin 139’s (applied may 1940-august 1940), potentially with light grey underside.
Oud Blad	“old leaf” camouflage green	FS-34102 Olive Drab No. 41	H-303 C-303		71.289	HTK-*021	MRP-102	RC083 AK11342
	faded heavily over time towards a lighter colour. upper side camouflage together with Jong Blad overall upper side camouflage of Lockheed (2)12 Electra
Mat Aluminium	Matt Aluminium			XF-16				MRP-104
	Underside colour of most aircraft. Aerial camouflage was deemed unnecessary for fighters, and camouflaging would only be used to reduce ground visibility, thus, making unnecessary to apply light gray to the overall metal delivery scheme. Some Martin 139 bombers had only the underside of the wings and stabilizers bare aluminium, with the fuselage and engine nacelles underside also painted with the upper camouflage scheme.
Lichtgrijs	Light grey	FS-36622	H-311 C-311		70.883	HTK-*039	MRP-104	RC254
	Underside colour of most martin 139 bombers.

aircraft	notes
Brewster B-339D Buffalo	Jong/oud blad upper sides with aluminium bottom
Lockheed (2)12	Delivered in aluminium, later camouflaged with Jong Blad only
Curtiss CW-21B	upper rear section of the canopy was painted transparent orange
Curtiss CW-22
Fokker T.IX	What If, Prototype was initially developed for the ML-KNIL.
Martin 139	Delivered in a yellow-blue scheme. Starting may 1940 this was replaced with overall Jong Blad on some planes and some Jong Blad with light grey undersides. From august new planes were painted with the two tone camouflage, with the previous machines also repainted again.
Curtiss 75-A7 Hawk II

Martin B-10 model 139 delivery scheme

The Martin model 139 bombers were delivered to the ML-KNIL in a flashy yellow-blue colour scheme, the same they were painted in in the US. From 1940 onward, this was replaced with the jong blad / oud blad camouflage pattern to reduce visibility.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	Humbrol	Mr. Paint	AK	MiG
Lichtblauw #23	light blue	FS-35109		XF-8		HTK-*156	109	MRP-238	RC234
	Overall fuselage and engine nacelle colour
Geel #4	yellow	FS-33538	H-329 C-329	XF-3	71.078	HTK-*066	069		RC008
	Overall wing, stabilizer and tail colour
Aluminium
	Interior colour.

Maritime Luchtvaartdienst

Water planes used by the MLD (Maritime Luchtvaartdienst, the Dutch navy Air Force) often sported a gray camouflage opposed to the regular LVA or ML-KNIL scheme.

Code	Alternative names	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	MRP	AK	Ammo MIG
Hollandgrijs	Holland Gray Hollandgrau 7107.02 Ikarol Decklack II RLM-grau 103/2	FS-14159 RLM-02	C-060 H-070		71.314 70.886	HTK-*023	MRP-050	RC265 AK11812	217
	Ikarol A: Overall scheme Ikarol B: fuselage colour, upper side of wings and stabilizers Do-24 interior
Hollandgrijs licht	Holland Gray light	FS-26440 ANA 602	H325 C325	70.986	71045	HTK-*048	MRP-098	RC220 AK11866
	Ikarol B: lower side of wings and stabilizers
Aluminium	7108.01 Ikarol Decklack silber 111/S
	Ikarol A lower side camouflage Side external floats (Fokker C.XIV-w, T.VIII-w)
Zwart	Black
	Bottom external floats (Fokker C.XIV-w, T.IV, T.VIII-w). unsure, might also be aluminium.

Ikarol A	Ikarol B
Dornier Do-24K-1 (first 18 machines; X-1 to X-18)	Dornier Do-24K-1 (machines X-19 and onward) and K-2
	Fokker T.VIII-w/G-2 (machines R-6 to R-24)
	Fokker C.XIV-w

Dornier Do-24 Du Pont Scheme

During 1940, the Dornier Do-24’s still in service were repainted with DuPont colours in a scheme similar to the ordered PBY-5 Catalina’s. This scheme is probably the most well known of the different Dornier liveries. The top was painted with DuPont 71-1945 and the bottom 71-021.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka	Humbrol	Mr. Paint	AK	MiG
Donkergrijs	Dark gray	FS-15042 Du Pont 71-19459	C-365	XF-17	70.898 71.091	HTK-*001		MRP-237		227
	Upper side camouflage
Melkwit	Milk white	Du Pont 71-021 Fs-24583	H-74	85% XF-2 15% XF-20	71.103	HTK-*092 HTK-*039	90	MRP-225	RC241
	Lower side camouflage

Fokker T.IV schemes

The fokker T.IV used it’s own camouflage pattern, with differences between the two batches. The 1st 12 machines with Lorraine-Dietrich 12E engines were initially delivered in a light gray overall camouflage. The 2nd batch of 12 T.VIa machines with Wright 1820 Cyclone engines was initially delivered in an overall aluminium dope colour.

At some point, the machines were repainted with a new top coat, Hollandgrijs for the T.IV and Olijfgroen for the T.IVa

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka
Marinegrijs	Marine Gray	FS-16440			70.986
	T.IV (machines T-1 to T12): Overall colour delivery scheme Underside and side colour of the revisited scheme
Hollandgrijs donker	Dark gray	FS-14159
	T.IV (machines T-1 to T12): topside colour of the revisited scheme
Aluminium	Aluminium				70.864
	T.IVa (machines T-13 toT-24): Overall colour delivery scheme T.IVa Underside colour of the revisited scheme
Olijfgroen	Olive green	FS-14151	H-58
	T.IVa (machines T-13 to T-24): Topside and side colour of the revisited scheme
Zwart	Black				70.950
	Bottom side floats

Fokker T.VIII-w delivery scheme

The Fokker T.VIII-w machines were delivered in two orders. The prototype and the first series of 4 machines, ordered 23-9-1938 were called the Fokker T.VIII-w/G-1. These five machines, registration R-1 to R-5 were delivered between 25-04-1939 and 13-09-1939 and were painted in a two tone gray colour. The 2nd series, the T.VIII-w/G-2 consisting of machines R-6 to R-11 were delivered in the Ikarol B scheme.

	Colour	equivalents	Gunze	Tamiya	Vallejo	Hataka
Grijze deklak	grey deck laquer
	Upper side of floats
Noordzeegrijs	north sea gray	FS-36231
	overall fuselage upper side of the wings
Zwart	Black			XF-1
	Bottom side floats
Aluminium dope	Aluminium	FS-27178
	Side of the floats Underside camouflage of the wings Overall Aircraft (R-1 prototype before delivery)

	Orange Circle
	1914-1921
	The LVA, the Dutch army air force, was officially founded in 1913. In 1914 the orange circle roundel was adopted, orange being the Dutch national colour after the royal family, the house of Orange. Application of the roundel differed per plane, but was usually in the six standard positions.

	Orange Circle on White Background
	1914-1921
	Likely to improve visibility of the roundel against darker background colours, the roundel would sometimes be placed on a white background square.

	Tricolour roundel
	1921-1939, 1945-now
	In 1921 the Dutch switched the current roundel. (although not in use from slightly before WW2 to after the war.) The fin flash was not always used, leaving the tail bare. The positions of the segments would only be standardized from December 29, 1932 onward.

The PVA-KNIL, the precursor of the Dutch East Indies air force ML-KNIL, was established in 1914. This revealed issues with similarities between the Dutch and Japanese roundel. Army Commander Lt. General van Rietschoten therefore decided on January 15, 1920 that the roundel should be changed:

At the end of the fuselage, between the motor and the empennage, a red-white-blue rounder with an orange circle in the middle. The stabilizer is to be divided in same-with red-white-blue horizontal bands.

Wings: on the lower and upper wing, the red segment points towards the leading edge.
Body: The white segment has to point downwards.

This decision was solidified by the governor-general via Gouvernementsbesluit No. 45 of December 15, 1920.

The official decision however makes no note of the orientation of the sectors. The size of the orange circle is also described as “much smaller”, leaving the actual size open to interpretation. As a result, the order of sectors would vary, as would the size of the orange interior dot. Although it would mostly be 1/4 ~ 1/5 of the diameter. This be officially determined until Koninklijk Besluit No. 90 of December 29, 1932. The size of the orange circle would be 1/5th of the diameter and the sectors would be as shown in the image above.

The rudder bands would be dropped in December 5, 1938

	Experimental roundel
	1938
	An alternate proposal for the roundel change was tested in 1938. While it was painted on a Fokker D.XXI as a test, no photographs are known.

During exercises in September and October by the MLD in the East Indies, experiments were done with aircraft camouflages. This also showed that the roundel in it’s current form was rather visible, mostly the white sector. On May 3th, 1938 a request from the Navy Commander In the East Indies.

Multiple options were considered:

1. Make the white sector transparent, showing the camouflage instead
2. Increase the size of the orange dot
3. Introduce an orange sector, reducing the size of the others.

This resulted in an experimental roundel at the end of 1938, as shown here.

	Temporary revival of the Orange Circle
	September 1939
	For reasons unknown, a few Fokker T.VIIw planes were temporarily adorned with an Orange Circle roundel.

	Orange Circle with Black Border
	September 1939
	Another picture of Fokker V.VIIw airplanes with an odd roundel, likely orange. Again, it is not known why. An experiment, a wrong interpretation of the new directions?

	Transition roundel
	1939 (?)
	A solid orange triangle, overlayed on the circular roundel. Only encountered on a Fokker D.XXI with number 227. Why this roundel this roundel was painted this way is unknown. Maybe a temporary paint shortage to over paint the old roundel, or a misinterpretation of instructions.

	Neutrality triangle
	1939-1942
	On Each wing (on the upper surface of the upper wing, on the lower surface of the lower wing, and with monoplanes on the upper and lower surface), as well as on both sides of the fuselage of the airplane, applied over the entire width of the wing and the full height of the fuselage, at each a orange colour, an equilateral triangle with a black border, the latter with a width of 10cm. The centre of the triangle lies on the wings halfway the distance between the side of the wing and the fuselage. On the sides of the fuselage halfway the distance between the rear of the lower wing (c.q. the wing with monoplanes) and the centreline of the horizontal stabilizer. On the wings the triangle points backwards with the points, on the fuselage downwards. The rudder wholly orange, surrounded by a 10 cm wide black border. The above shall enter into force on 1 October 1939 at 00:00. – Koninklijk Besluit No.1 of September 23, 1939

When tensions rose before the 2nd world war, the Netherlands changed their roundel to the orange triangle to avoid confusion between Dutch, French and British planes.

Throughout the war in the Dutch indies the roundel got less and less pronounced over time. Around August 1940, the rudder and upper wing roundel were dropped.

	Flag roundel
	1942-1949
	In the Indies, the neutrality triangle would be changed again in 1942 to prevent possible confusion with the Japanese solid red Hinomaru roundel. It was used until Indonesian independence in 1949.

	Bordered Flag roundel
	1945-1949
	After liberation, planes were adorned with flags of 1000x600mm, with a 100mm white border. The border was to prevent confusion with japanese aircraft of the AURI, which were painted red-white markings. The border did not apply for bare metal aircraft

Usage of nose art was commonly done by the ML-KNIL. Officially it was forbidden by headquaters in Meldbourne. This rule was however not really followed.

1 NEI Transport Squadron

16 Squadron

18 Squadron

37 Squadron

120 Squadron

320 Squadron

321 Squadron