It was rapidly discovered that aircraft flying at night were vulnerable to the glare of searchlights. Some unofficial experimentation was done and, paradoxically, it quickly emerged that black was not the best shade for concealing an aircraft. The night-fighters of 50 Squadron, RFC, were given all-black finish in 1916, while the F.E2b/d night-bomber squadron in 1917 and 1918 preferred lampblack mixed with varnish.
By 1917, it was felt that an official investigation, by the RFC station at Orfordness, into the most suitable colour to be used, was necessary. In January 1918, a report was produced which concluded that: “…over land and sea…a black or PC10 machine is seen as a black silhouette...the suggested colour…Nivo…appears to strike the mean, and for general night work we consider provides a camouflage which it would be difficult to improve on.”
Black aircraft could not reflect light, whereas Nivo, (NIght Varnish Orfordness), reflected light in approximately the same power as both land and sea. After much trial work had been undertaken on verifying the durability of the new varnish, Nivo was approved in the autumn of 1918.
However, the war ended before any aircraft in the new scheme actually flew in action.
In the same report, Orfordness drew attention to the paradox of applying roundels with white circles to night-flying aircraft. In September 1916, in an effort to render identification of night-fighters easier, the following order had been circulated to the RFC’s Home Defence squadrons: “The attention of all concerned is directed to the following distinctive marking, which it has been decided shall be adopted for black-winged night flying aeroplanes: on top and bottom wings [a] white circle the same size as the blue circle used in the marking of day machines.”
However, the report made by Orfordness in January 1918 unsurprisingly recommended that the white area in a roundel should be obliterated by extending the blue and red portions of the roundel. On 1 November 1918, this recommendation, which specifically included the order that the narrow outer white circle be likewise obliterated, was confirmed and enforced.
RFC NIVO - NIght Varnish Orfordness
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I posted these pics of a British & NZ FE2b's in a thread regarding Series 6 but seeing Foz has posted this info on NIVO thought it would be useful to repeat the pics here. Both are finished in Black.
Originally Posted by gully_raker
Well it makes a change from "What Colour was PC 10?" 
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