This Pink P-40 Isn’t Photoshoped-It Was Actually Brilliant Camouflage

Lookin’ Fabulously Invisible.

Aviation technology, as well as tactics and strategies, saw an incredible push forward during World War II as air superiority was the primary focus of both powers. Bombing strategic targets to hinder the other side’s ability to operate their war machine was critical which is why the biggest dogfights the world has ever seen took place during that time. This was also a time of great experimentation in all aspects of flight right down to the color schemes of the aircraft.

For the most part, it all made sense. Navy aircraft typically had a light blue belly to match the color of the sky and clouds while the tops were darker blue to mix in with the water when getting spotted from above. On the Easter Front, camo was more greens and browns to mix in with fields, trees, and mountains.

So where does the pink come in?

In the case of the Supermarine Spitfire above, certain squadrons were sent out on missions during dusk and dawn when the sky turned a pinkish hue. In order not to be recognized from above, the pilots were trained to fly right under cloud cover and from below, blended in with the pink background. It’s really that simple.

We were fortunate enough to find an actual video of such a color scheme on YouTube. It was uploaded in 2009 and showcased an airshow dedicated to the Flying Tigers. One of the leading aircraft was a pink P-40 which belongs to Mrs. Suzanne Delano Parish who was a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilot) during World War II. After the war, she co-founded the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Michigan and acquired the Warhawk you’ll see in the video below.