
https://maritime.org/doc/
Under "Single Topic," look just below the USS Missouri Salvage Report, and notice Ship Camouflage Instructions, and Ships-2. However, read that paragraph closely...it is not just Ships-2. You should also see a link to a 1953 handbook:
Ship Concealment Camouflage Instructions, NAVSHIPS 250-374, 1953. camo1953.pdf (15 MB PDF)
I can't link it directly because it's a pdf, which is why I am giving you the whole index. 1953 is late Korean War, but from what I have studied of it, not much changed between 1946 and 1956. Tracy's site has a 1946 document instructing the Pacific Fleet to paint into number 27 Haze Gray. The Atlantic Fleet would have followed around that time. 1956 is when the Federal Standard color system came into use. So, between those dates, the 1953 manual is a "typical" representation of painting instructions for the period.
For both of the gray measures given, deck instructions are:
"(2) Apply smooth Dark Gray Deck type A (Stock No.
G52-P-1406-50) or non-skid Dark Gray Deck type B (Stock
No. G52-P-1408-50) to steel decks and all other horizontal
steel surfaces exposed to aerial observation."
Basically, the late war neutral grays remained in use in this period, now with new stock numbers, and perhaps slightly different names (though Number 27 Haze Gray remains named that to this day, with official CIELAB color space coordinates defining it very specifically.)
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Always wanted to recreate the scene in Bridges At Toko Ri where Forney and Gamidge take their last flight from the deck of an LST. And yes this month’s Naval History magazine confirmed an LST did have on board a flight detachment for air rescue as well as her other duties maintaining minesweepers. I will assume the LST was painted in Navy Gray and the helo gloss Sea Blue but what color of the deck for the LST?
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