Post War Colours - West Germany

A decade after the end of World War Two West Germany joined NATO, One year later, in 1956 the German Air Force (as part of the Bundeswehr) was re-formed and was initially equipped with American aircraft. For the most part, like many air forces of the time, aircraft were natural metal.

During the 1960s aircraft began to be camouflaged using paints from the RAL numbering system. Conveniently, an aircraft's whole camouflage scheme is described using a 'Norm' system which is appended with a number corresponding to a year when the camouflage scheme was introduced. When Norm 83 was introduced, the Luftwaffe began its transition to using American FS paint codes.

Norm 62 / 72

RAL 6014 Gelboliv
RAL 7012 Basaltgrau
​RAL 7001 Silbergrau
RAL 2005 Leuchtorange (hi visibility fluorescent orange)

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F027410-0011, Flugzeuge F-104 Starfighter, JG 74

Norm 76

RAL 9005 Tiefschwarz (jet black)
RAL 6014 Gelboliv (yellow olive)
RAL 7012 Basaltgrau (basalt grey)
RAL 7001 Silbergrau (silver grey)

Norm 81

RAL 6014 Gelboliv (yellow olive)
RAL 7012 Basalt Grey (basalt grey)
RAL 7039 Quarzgrau (quartz grey)
RAL 7030 Stone Grey

Norm 83

RAL 6003 Olivgrün (olive green)
RAL 7021 Swartzgrau (black grey)
FS34070 Forest Green