Il-10 camo of ww2 by Tessitori

Il-10 camouflage during the Great Patrioctic War
by Massimo Tessitori

Updated on November 25, 2008

When one looks for photos and profiles of Il-10, usually he finds images of planes with solid dark green upper and side surfaces, and maybe markings of some post-war allied countries of the Soviet Union.
In recent time, thanks to the monographs of Rastrenin, Gordon and Komissarov, some old wartime photos showing camouflaged Il-10s captured my attention, and the book "Colors of the falcons" of Jiri Hornat has given the keys for an interesting interpretation.
Here are two drawings, fom that book, showing official Soviet templates for Il-2s in two versions:

This template of 1943 shows Il-2s in a three-shades camouflage:

Light greyish-brown AMT-1

Green AMT-4

Dark grey AMT-12

with undersurfaces

Light greyish blue AMT-7

This template of 1945, for Il-2s and Il-10s, shows a two shades camo made with:

Light greyish-blue AMT-11

Dark grey AMT-12

with undersurfaces

Light greyish blue AMT-7

Other schemes are thought to have been used on Il-2s, as green/dark brown and green/black, but are not mentioned on such templates.
Let's see a gallery of photos:

This image suggests an impressive resemblance of the camo to the 1943 template, a three-shade scheme.
Unfortunately, the nose is covered by a cover, and tail markings are not visible.

This image, although unclear on the fuselage, shows clearly a three-shade camo on the wing leading edges.
The camo looks not perfectly resembling the 1943 template.

This image should delete any doubt on the existence of a three-shade camouflage, although here the lighter shade looks exchanged with the medium shade of most photos.
The position of the dark band on the nose sides is the same in all observed photos, while variations are observed in front of or behind it.
Note the white writing on one prop blade only.

This image, although unclear, seems to show a light nose, a thin medium-shade band and then a dark band behind it.
Perhaps the image was shot with a red filter, so the darker color could be green, and the medium color could be dark grey; this is consistent with the unusually light shade of the red star and the dark look of undersurface.
Noteworthy is the camo on the side of the cockpit.

The image opf the first plane suggests a light band on the nose, followed by a thin medium color band and then a dark one.
The rear fuselage looks on shadow and shows clearly only the markings.

Another photo of the same unit. This image shows clearly the markings, but not the camo; it could be compatible with a two-shade scheme, and was interpreted as green-dark brown on the profiles of the Aviakollekcia monograph.
Being the shape of dark bands identical to that visible on other photos, one can think that it should be the same three-shade camo.

The photo of this two-seater is compatible with a two-shade camo (dark grey-light grey?), but the resemblance of the dark band on the nose suggests that it should be the usual 3-shades camo.

Again, the photo of this two-seater is compatible with a two-shade camo, but the resemblance of the dark band on the nose suggests that it should be the usual 3-shades camo.

On the base of the 1943 template and photos, I've drawn such scheme as likely for Il-10s.
Not all the planes appear identical.

At present time, this interpretation appears reasonable. I can't assure that it's right, or that it depicts all Il-10s utilized in the GPW. It would be interesting to find if Il-10s were really painted with two-greys scheme, but none available image of Il-10s fits with the 1945 grey/grey template at all.

Update of November 25, 2008.

Although the camo scheme shown here has not resemblance to the 1943 templates, this image is a proof of the existence of 3-shades camo on Il-10s.
It has resemblance to the first photo of this page.
Note the white wingtips.
From Krilya Rodini

	This image suggests an impressive resemblance of the camo to the 1943 template, a three-shade scheme. Unfortunately, the nose is covered by a cover, and tail markings are not visible.
	This image, although unclear on the fuselage, shows clearly a three-shade camo on the wing leading edges. The camo looks not perfectly resembling the 1943 template.
	This image should delete any doubt on the existence of a three-shade camouflage, although here the lighter shade looks exchanged with the medium shade of most photos. The position of the dark band on the nose sides is the same in all observed photos, while variations are observed in front of or behind it. Note the white writing on one prop blade only.
	This image, although unclear, seems to show a light nose, a thin medium-shade band and then a dark band behind it. Perhaps the image was shot with a red filter, so the darker color could be green, and the medium color could be dark grey; this is consistent with the unusually light shade of the red star and the dark look of undersurface. Noteworthy is the camo on the side of the cockpit.
	The image opf the first plane suggests a light band on the nose, followed by a thin medium color band and then a dark one. The rear fuselage looks on shadow and shows clearly only the markings.
	Another photo of the same unit. This image shows clearly the markings, but not the camo; it could be compatible with a two-shade scheme, and was interpreted as green-dark brown on the profiles of the Aviakollekcia monograph. Being the shape of dark bands identical to that visible on other photos, one can think that it should be the same three-shade camo.
	The photo of this two-seater is compatible with a two-shade camo (dark grey-light grey?), but the resemblance of the dark band on the nose suggests that it should be the usual 3-shades camo.
	Again, the photo of this two-seater is compatible with a two-shade camo, but the resemblance of the dark band on the nose suggests that it should be the usual 3-shades camo.