[WWI] Oliver Colin "Boots" Leboutillier's Camel(s)/209 Squadron Marking Practice

[Sean Brian Kirby]

Hello, List!

Long time, no talk. Am currently working on Eduard's Camel, and intend to do
a U.S. mount.

I'd long wanted to do a replica of the aircraft Wilfred "Wop" May was flying
on 21 April, 1918. See, I'd assumed it'd have a red nose, which of course
looks neat on a Camel. (Well, what doesn't look neat on a Camel?) From what
I've seen, though, this may not have been the case. As an aside, does anyone
know if the fighter with "Lcy" painted beside the cockpit might have been
this plane?

On to LeBoutiller's aircraft... The depictions I have seen of the fighter he
flew on 21 April show multiple stripes just aft of the cockpit and a
camouflage green nose. This, of course, was a 209 Squadron Camel. Are there
any good photos of this fighter? I haven't been able to find any, so far.

I have, however, seen a photograph of what surely must be a different Camel.
The cowl, in the main, is a dark color, perhaps red. It is incredibly
doubtful this was a green-painted cowling, as there is a bare section at the
bottom of the cowl, which clearly shows the engine-turned finish of bare
metal. Obviously, This is not an effect that would have been created at the
factory, thus ruling out, in my mind, a green cowl. It is also stated to be
a 209th bird. This fighter also features two-colored wheel covers, perhaps
red-and-white or red-and-silver.

Was Captain Brown's Camel red-nosed because he wasa flighter leader? Or were
209 Squadron Camels marked with red cowlings? I would love to figure out the
proper markings for LeBoutillier's fighter with the overpainted bare-metal
cowl. Anyone out there have any thoughts on any of the matters I've raised
for discussion? Many thanks...


Sean
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