rear roundels question

[Ali Fish]

i heard that some pilots during wartime would grey out the rear roundels. in order to not provide the enemy a means of estimating distance by taking measurement from it.

 

1. is that true ?

2. what did it look like?, as id like to recreate it.

[-Rudel-]

You might have a better resource about it in England, as mostly bombers and some 51s flying to the UK were greyed out as such once arrived. There were no official orders, but perhaps field orders.

 

Many will argue that it is just grime splattered from the exhaust/oil/fuel stains from the engines. And that is true....but there are pictures floating around (mostly bombers) with the grey star and bars clearly showing it's not grime as you can see overspray. As for the true purpose, I'm not sure.