I am interested in learning more about the aicraft of 158 Squadron. In particular, I am a hobbyist and in researching my latest subject, I found that the Halifaxes of 158 Squadron seemed to bear a rather unique feature. Unlike most Halifaxes whose landing gear was painted black just like the underside of the aircraft, those of 158 Squadron appear to be painted a lighter color. Sometimes, in the case of the famous "Friday the 13th" LV 907, the undercarriage was painted a solid color, but other planes were painted with a variety of stripes. The big question is, what color were they painted? I've turned up many old black and white photos that indicate this, but so far I have only been able to guess at the color. The only wartime color photo I have found of a 158 S plane unfortunately did not include a look at the undercarriage.
I, and several others who have been researching this, find it rather surprising that none of the "standard" references seem to take note of this. It's apparently something the museum in Elvington also missed, but the photo evidence is compelling and indisputable.
I was wondering if perhaps someone may have records or a memory that might shed some light on this issue. While a color photo would be the "holy grail", even black and white photos or written descriptions are useful, as they provide further evidence of what I have uncovered so far.
