RNZAF CFS - NA Harvard - Roundel question

[alanw]

Hi All,

Was Browsing the Air Force Museum Photo collection, and
came across this WWII Photo - no date, but the Roundels are interesting
in that the (assuming) Red centre is quite small in comparison to other
RNZAF Aircraft Roundels.

fotoweb.airforcemuseum.co.nz/fotoweb/archives/5003-Search-the-Collection/Collection/ALB931038003.jpg.info#?c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Search-the-Collection%2F%3Fq%3DScrap

Be interested to know any back ground on this?
Would it be possible that it's the same/similar time to when out P40's
wore the 1 inch red dot Roundel?

Thanks

Alan

[Dave Homewood]

No, if the date is correct that it's 1941, that's a year before we got P-40's and two years before the necessity to start altering roundels.

[Dave Homewood]

I am not sure the roundels are any different from other early war Harvards at the time, as applied in the factory, like these RCAF ones



Or NZ906 here (in the orthographic film odd shades) from HERE

[Damon]

I think these Harvard's are in the colours and markings as received from the factory in 1941 . Albeit some with red painted cowling and rudder to distinguish their home base. They would have the red dot in the centre as Japan was not in the war at this stage. Even when camouflaged later on the roundels still retained the red centre .

[alanw]

Hi Dave/Damon,

Makes sense now, seeing the additional Photos
posted.
Much appreciate your responses to my query

Thanks/regards

Alan

[tbf2504]

The roundels depicted in the photographs are standard RAF "A" roundels first placed on RFC/RAF aircraft in December 1914, adopted from the French roundel but with the colour order reversed Red/White/Blue from the centre. This was the standard roundel for the RAF up until 1940. The inner two colours White and Red were 3/5 and 1/5 of the diameter respectively. As our initial Harvards were direct allocations from
RAF orders the colour schemes reflected those of the RAF trainers.