Pe-2/Pe-3 camo evolution

Petlyakov Pe-2 unusual polichromatic camouflage in July 1941

Updated on August 9, 2011

Between the many photos shot by German soldiers in the first months of war, there are some depicting the remains of Pe-2s of a whole unknown unit that painted its planes with its own camouflage. It seems that the planes were surprised on their air ground by an attack.

One of the photos is dated 21-07-1941; this suggest that the planes could have painted immediately before the war outbreak and the release of the order to camouflage all planes with green and black only.

Thanks to AR and KL for their well-documented help.

	The colors could have been: green (probably the A-19f or AII green already utilized for Pe-2s before the war outbreak) black another dark color, possibly dark green B3 or some mix; it can't be excluded that this was non-standard tobacco brown; light grey AE-9 or AII light grey; this is not effective on the ground, but could have been intended as imitating clouds inflight; an alternative interpretation considers some non-standard light sand or cream as the lighter color, or even both grey and sand bands, undistinguishable on bw photos. On many planes, the colors are accurately brush-painted, and have a semigloss finish. The prop blades appear painted black, a progress over prewar use to leave them unpainted.
	Plane n.12 is the only one whose photo let clearly see a red star on the fuselage side. Besides, the camo is soft and looks mottled on the fuselage close to the tail, and look very different from that of the other planes of the unit.
	Another image of plane n.12. It's difficult to interpretate the discontinuity in shade on this side of the fuselage.
	Here we see a depression on the ground, close to some planes, where many Russian bombs with their wood canisters were abandoned. Plane n.24, the best documented of this unit, is visible here.
	Plane n.24 shows traces of fire of the fabric-covered tail control surfaces, probably due to vandalization by German soldiers. Note the irregularities of the light grey, so accurately painted on all other planes; this is probably due to some drybrushing with green paint in order to reduce its visibility on the ground. A small red star is barely visible on the tail, overposed to the dark mottle.
	Below: The painting of the nose is strange; it's unclear if it's original, or resulted from vandalism and deterioration.
	Again, plane n.24 in even worst condition. The camouflage looks to extend under the fuselage.
	This image of 24 from behind, although poor, allows to understand how was the camouflage on the left wingroot.
	Here is a sketch of the painting of plane 24. Where unclear on the photos, the camouflage was continued on the base of photos of similar planes and by guessing. The dotting of the grey surfaces and on the nose probably was added in a second time, so we can extrapolate a variant where the grey was immaculated.
	Plane n.27. The camo pattern is somewhat different from n.24; it has many outlines on common, but colors look exchanged.
	Plane n.27. The contours of the camo are similar to that of n°. 24, but the colors appear exchanged. The camo seems not to extend under the fuselage. Note that, while the most part of the demarcation lines appear hard, some are clearly soft.
	An interpretation of the camouflage of plane 27. Note some soft border lines.
	An alternative interpretation considers the lighter color as non-standard cream or light sand, and the darker color as non-standard tobacco. In favour of this idea, one can consider that 29 LaGG-3s were painted in factory n.21 with a polichromatic camo including sand, brown, grey, green and black, so it's not absurd to suppose that something similar was done on Pe-2s too. It's possible that, on these Pe-2s, there are two shades of light color (possibly grey and sand) undistinguishable on bw photos.
	On the back of this photo, there is written: "Monoplane 28, 21.7.41". No any number is visible on the fuselage, although the position should be about where the shadow of the soldier is. A small 7 looks visible on the tail., close to the blotch. Note that the plane was partially covered by grass or nets after the belly landing, when the ground was still in Soviet control; this seems to confirm that the camouflage wasn't very effective on the ground, because of the massive presence of light grey.
	A dismantled plane with paint still in good condition.
	Another dismanted plane after a belly landing.
	Another (or the same?) plane after a belly landing.
	Crashed rear section of plane white 35, that has many points in common with n.24. Surprisingly, it looks that on this plane the camo could be extended under the fuselage. The light color of the camouflage appears just a bit darker than the original light blue of the undersurfaces.
	Another image of 35. the undersurface of tail looks chipped, leaving to see a darker color. Possibly, in a first time the dark camouflage was extended under the tail surfaces, then someone changed his mind and they were repainted light blue that started to chip away.
	This clear image let clearly see the hard lines of the camouflage and the black outline around the red star.
	Remains of a Pe-2, perhaps n.35.
	Plane n.33 seem to feature a soft camouflage.
	Left: Plane n.44 looks to have been put upside down by a bomb explosion on the ground. Unusually, the camo lines appear soft. Below: piece of wing of an unidentified Pe-2 of the same unit; unlike n.44, this looks to have his camo extended on the sides of engine nacelles. The black outline of the star is visible.
	The sad remains of another Pe-2, that received not any luck by his original painting. The tail star is not visible in its usual positioning, or perhaps it's lower than usual, confused in the dark spot.