442 Squadron Yellow Mustangs
by Vic Scheurman
Sometime during May 1945 some Mustang Mk IV fighters of 442 Sq., RCAF had non-regulation coloured trim added to their aircraft canopy frame, top of cowling, spinner, and in one case the fuselage codes. I started my research using the photos in "442 Squadron History". During the process, I concluded that the trim colour was yellow. The conclusion was reached after comparing known colours on these Mustangs with the trim colour. In the picture of Y2-B (ref. A, p.45) and Y2-T (ref. A, p.48) it was the yellow of the fuselage roundel that appears to match the trim colour. At this time I was not aware of the 1" outline around the codes of Y2-B, 'Edmonton Special'. 
Shortly after completing my research I received a phone call from Dave Fletcher. While the conversation started with Harvards (what else!) I got around to the story of 442's coloured Mustangs. Dave then mentioned that a friend of his had been researching the subject for some time, and had talked to someone who had actually painted the aircrafts' trim colour, and was sure it was yellow. I got the contact informatiuon and in due time spoke to Capt. John Nelson, CAF. John had the incredible luck of running into the actual ground crewman at a 442 Sqn. reunion held at CFB Comox on Vancouver Island. This individual stated that it was yellow that he had painted on these aircraft. John then asked if I had noticed the 1" trim around the Y2-B codes. I went looking for the trimmed codes, and if you look closely at the upper photoo on page 44 of reference A, you can just pick out the coloured border around the Y. 
In time I prepared the profiles in this article and sent a copy to Arrow Graphics. They have used the information to produce two sheets. D-43-48 features the natural metal Y2-A, and D-34-48 has my favouite "edmonton Special' with the yellow bordered codes. 
References
A - 442 Squadron History, Capt. Grant MacDonald & Capt. Terry Strocel 
B - RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft, S. Kostenuk & John Griffin 
C - Arrow Graphics, RR 1, York, Ontario, N0A 1R0 
