Deck Numbers on USS Independence (CVL-22) circa 1944??

[Robswashashore]

Hello all.  One of my late mother's cousins was a Wildcat pilot on the USS Independence CVL-22.  I am putting a 1/700 model together of this carrier and was wondering if the large deck number was present when she was in the Pacific in late 1944.  If so, was it black or white?  I have seen photos without the number and also with a black one.  The decal with the kit is white...

Thanks and regards,

 

Jean

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Jean,

 

When she came out of the shipyard after her modernization in July 1943, she had a new grey paint job with small white hull numbers

 

JULY 1943

 

JULY 1943

Off Mare Island in July 1943, the Independence shows the forward end of her blister as well as the forward end of her hangar deck. The original CVL design called for a bridge and pilot house in that area, which later housed only a secondary steering station.

Photo and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

 

Later in 1943 she picked up a camouflage pattern but still retained her hull number

 

Spring/Summer 1944

USS Independence around mid-1944, with Design 8A camouflage, the colours probably being those of Measure 32. The support structure for the four smokestacks is clearly visible. Photo USN.  Photo and text from Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy, by Stefan Terzibaschitsch. 

(NOTE THE SMALL HULL NUMBER IN WHITE)

 

But months later she had been repainted with no hull number and in a camouflage pattern before heading out for Pacific duty in Summer 1944

 

JUNE 1944

USS Independence (CVL-22) off Hunters Point in June 1944. Independence shows the unusual tumble-home hull form of her class. The deck cargo consists of twin-engined Lockheed PV-1 Ventura patrol bombers en-route to the combat area. USN photo.  Photo and text from U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History, by Norman Friedman.

Late December 1944

The lead ship of the Independence class, USS Independence (CVL-22) is seen from the port side on 30 December 1944, while leaving Ulithi, the Pacific anchorage. The camouflage pattern here is Measure 33 Design 8A. The colors appear to be Navy Blue (5-N), Ocean Gray (5-O) and Light Gray (5-L) with Pale Gray (5-P) used in some places as counter shading. The most prominent panel of pale gray under the bow flight deck overhang was commented on by Everett Warner during his survey of the Pacific Fleet as being too visible, so may have been darkened before this photo. This photo was taken from USS Hancock (CV-19).  National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-300095.

 

Photos from navsource.com

[Salvage Sailor]

Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-170024 Camouflage Measure 32-33 series, Design 8A

Link -->  USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22)

 

 

Title: Camouflage Measure 32-33 series, Design 8A

Description: Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for small aircraft carriers of the CVL-22 (Independence) class. This plan, approved by Captain Henry A. Ingram, USN, is dated 9 December 1943. It shows the ship's port side. USS Independence (CVL-22) and USS Bataan (CVL-29) were painted in this camouflage design, but the colors applied are not specified on the drawing, and may have varied. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Catalog #: 80-G-170024

 

 

Notes on Camouflage Measures USN

USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22)

 

Measure 14 (Shakedown - July 1943), as depicted in the Dragon 1/350 kit

All vertical surfaces—5-O Ocean Gray;

Pole masts & other slender upperworks above the superstructure—5-H Haze Gray (US 05);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

Flight Deck—Flight Deck Stain 21 (US 11);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03);.

Boot-topping—Black (C 02);

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

Other paint Measures used on USS INDEPENDENCE during WWII

 

Measure 21 (July - November 1943 and again in 1945)

All vertical surfaces—5-N Navy Blue (US 08);

Flight Deck—Flight Deck Stain 21 (US 11) through late 1944; thereafter Revised Flight Deck Stain 21, same as  20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03)

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

Measure 33/8a (1944)

This scheme differed from port to starboard.

Vertical camouflage pattern—5-O Ocean Gray (US 06), 5-N Navy Blue (US 08), and 5-L Light Gray (US 13);

Flight Deck—Revised Deck Blue, same as 20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);  

Countershading—5-U White (C 03);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03).

Boot-topping—Black (C 02);

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

[mikie]

1 hour ago, Salvage Sailor said:

Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-170024 Camouflage Measure 32-33 series, Design 8A

Link -->  USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22)

 

 

Title: Camouflage Measure 32-33 series, Design 8A

Description: Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for small aircraft carriers of the CVL-22 (Independence) class. This plan, approved by Captain Henry A. Ingram, USN, is dated 9 December 1943. It shows the ship's port side. USS Independence (CVL-22) and USS Bataan (CVL-29) were painted in this camouflage design, but the colors applied are not specified on the drawing, and may have varied. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Catalog #: 80-G-170024

 

 

Notes on Camouflage Measures USN

USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22)

 

Measure 14 (Shakedown - July 1943), as depicted in the Dragon 1/350 kit

All vertical surfaces—5-O Ocean Gray;

Pole masts & other slender upperworks above the superstructure—5-H Haze Gray (US 05);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

Flight Deck—Flight Deck Stain 21 (US 11);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03);.

Boot-topping—Black (C 02);

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

Other paint Measures used on USS INDEPENDENCE during WWII

 

Measure 21 (July - November 1943 and again in 1945)

All vertical surfaces—5-N Navy Blue (US 08);

Flight Deck—Flight Deck Stain 21 (US 11) through late 1944; thereafter Revised Flight Deck Stain 21, same as  20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03)

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

Measure 33/8a (1944)

This scheme differed from port to starboard.

Vertical camouflage pattern—5-O Ocean Gray (US 06), 5-N Navy Blue (US 08), and 5-L Light Gray (US 13);

Flight Deck—Revised Deck Blue, same as 20-B Deck Blue (US 10);

All external steel decks & steel horizontal surfaces—20-B Deck Blue (US 10);  

Countershading—5-U White (C 03);

Hangar Deck—#20 Standard Deck Gray (US 02);

Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads—5-U White (C 03).

Boot-topping—Black (C 02);

Underwater hull—Norfolk 65-A Antifouling Red (US 14).

 

I did some research on WWII Navy camouflage schemes a couple of years ago. I found it to be a fascinating subject. I had never thought much about it before then. 
Mikie