Hi Folks,

On behalf of a friend I'm requesting some information

He needs the colour scheme for a US navy R4D based in the Pacific mid to late war

Thanks Kev

According to THE DC-3 50 YEARS OF LEGENDARY FLIGHT by Peter M. Bowers, from February 1942 top and side coloring was a non-specular (dull finish) blue-gray that actually appeared to be a green-gray. Undersides were non-specular light gray, with the line of separation as on Army aircraft. However, most Navy R4Ds, being transfers from Army contracts, were delivered in Army colors (Dark Olive Drab No. 41 and Neutral Gray, Shade No. 43). A very few that went through Navy overhaul depots after 1943 received the later Navy coloring of dark sea-blue upper surfaces graduated through lighter shades down the sides to white undersides. All Navy R4Ds abandoned camouflage after WWII and some were in service with NMF before V-J Day.
With camouflage (non-specular, green and dark sea) and past the end of WWII the single word NAVY in one-inch figures on the vertical fin just above the serial number. Some NMF R4Ds enlarged this lettering to three inches.
The book provides several images of WWII R4Ds and most are in NMF, couple in green/gray and only one in tri-color dark-medium blue & white.

Thank you for the information, that's a great help

Cheers Kev