USAAF WW2 codes
Vic Flintham
line, for USAAF codes used during WW2? This is for a serious research
project.
Thanks in anticipation
--
Vic Flintham
The reliable cold-war military aviation site
http://www.vflintham.demon.co.uk
Steven P. McNicoll
"Vic Flintham" <vfli...@VFLINTHAM.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7pT+WcAd...@vflintham.demon.co.uk...
>
> Can anyone please point me towards a reliable source, preferably on-
> line, for USAAF codes used during WW2? This is for a serious research
> project.
>
USAAF codes? Could you elaborate a bit?
Stephen FPilot Bierce
>
>Vic Flintham wrote...
>>
>> Can anyone please point me towards a reliable source, preferably on-
>> line, for USAAF codes used during WW2? This is for a serious research
>> project.
>>
>
>USAAF codes? Could you elaborate a bit?
Do you mean the two-letter squadron codes for units of the ETO and MTO
campaigns? Use of such coding was limited to the 8th, 9th, 12th and
15th Air Forces. I know the "Mighty Eighth" book has all the squadron
codes for the 8th AF.
An on-line source...I wonder if you could try the Air Force Museum?
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/index.htm
Shall reconnoiter some and report back. Hope this helps!
Stephen "Stone Tepid" / "FPilot" Bierce
steel chair handler for the nWMo / Fribble & Company / IPMS #35922 RDF /
AEUG / SCM / SPL Titanic / Marquessa Deceptrix
"Thou Shalt Not Burfle."--Equibus's Commandment, as told to Matt Mikas
Vic Flintham
<ronca...@writeme.com> writes
>
>"Vic Flintham" <vfli...@VFLINTHAM.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:7pT+WcAd...@vflintham.demon.co.uk...
>>
>> line, for USAAF codes used during WW2? This is for a serious research
>> project.
>>
>
>USAAF codes? Could you elaborate a bit?
>
>
The codes I am interested in are the fuselage codes carried by most if
not all aircraft in 8th AF and probably 9th AF and for all I know other
AFs around the globe during WW2. Purpose was to identify the unit. For
example Q6-* was carried by B-24s of 4 Sqn 34 Group; MX-* by P-47s of 82
FS 78 FG, where in each case * was the individual aircraft letter. I
don't need the individual aircraft letters or serial tie-ups, just the
unit identifiers and the types to which they were applied (in some cases
front-line units also applied their codes to communications types).
Thanks in anticipation of any help. If there are no such sites, in due
course I shall invent one with what information I am able to glean.
Steven P. McNicoll
>
> The codes I am interested in are the fuselage codes carried by most if
> not all aircraft in 8th AF and probably 9th AF and for all I know other
> AFs around the globe during WW2. Purpose was to identify the unit. For
> example Q6-* was carried by B-24s of 4 Sqn 34 Group; MX-* by P-47s of 82
> FS 78 FG, where in each case * was the individual aircraft letter. I
> don't need the individual aircraft letters or serial tie-ups, just the
> unit identifiers and the types to which they were applied (in some cases
> front-line units also applied their codes to communications types).
>
> Thanks in anticipation of any help. If there are no such sites, in due
> course I shall invent one with what information I am able to glean.
>
I know of no such site, and I know of no complete listing.
Bill Shatzer
On 7 Aug 2000, ArtKramr wrote:
-snips-
> >I know of no such site, and I know of no complete listing.
> I can tell you how my plane was marked if that would help. It had a big white
> triangle on the tail indicating it was from the 344th Bomb Group. On the
> fuselage it was marked K9J, K9 for the 494th squadron and J for this
> individual plane which carried the nose art "Willie the Wolf". So you can
> assume that the tail marking is the group and the fuselage markings are
> sqadron and plane. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Well, I can provide the remainder of the 9th AF B-26 squadrons. In
alphabetical order, they are:
AN 553rd BS DR 452nd BS ER 450th BS FW 556th BS
KS 557th BS KX 558th BS PN 449th BS RG 552nd BS
RJ 454th BS RU 554th BS SS 451st BS TQ 558th BS
VT 453rd BS WT 456th BS YA 555th BS YU 455th BS
H9 586th BS K5 584th BS K9 494th BS O8 575th BS
N3 496th BS P2 572nd BS T6 573rd BS U2 598th BS
X2 596th BS Y5 495th BS 4L 574th BS 4T 585th BS
5W 587th BS 6B 599th BS 7I 497th BS 9F 597th BS
The 12th AF B-26s did not use squadron codes but rather a system of
colored "battle numbers" and colored fuselage bands.
Cheers and all,
ArtKramr
>From: "Steven P. McNicoll" ronca...@writeme.com
>Date: 8/6/00 6:04 PM Pacific Daylight Time
>Message-id: <sos2tel...@corp.supernews.com>
>
I can tell you how my plane was marked if that would help. It had a big white
triangle on the tail indicating it was from the 344th Bomb Group. On the
fuselage it was marked K9J, K9 for the 494th squadron and J for this
individual plane which carried the nose art "Willie the Wolf". So you can
assume that the tail marking is the group and the fuselage markings are
sqadron and plane. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Arthur Kramer
Las Vegas NV
PeterT
<vfli...@VFLINTHAM.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>In article <sok2h6b...@corp.supernews.com>, Steven P. McNicoll
><ronca...@writeme.com> writes
>>
>>>
>>> Can anyone please point me towards a reliable source, preferably on-
>>> line, for USAAF codes used during WW2? This is for a serious research
>>> project.
>>>
>>
>>USAAF codes? Could you elaborate a bit?
>>
>>
>Thanks for the reminder - too close to the subject to be explicit.
>
>not all aircraft in 8th AF and probably 9th AF and for all I know other
>AFs around the globe during WW2. Purpose was to identify the unit. For
>example Q6-* was carried by B-24s of 4 Sqn 34 Group; MX-* by P-47s of 82
>FS 78 FG, where in each case * was the individual aircraft letter. I
>don't need the individual aircraft letters or serial tie-ups, just the
>unit identifiers and the types to which they were applied (in some cases
>front-line units also applied their codes to communications types).
>
>Thanks in anticipation of any help. If there are no such sites, in due
>course I shall invent one with what information I am able to glean.
The best source I know is "Squadron Codes 1937-56" by Michael J.F.
Bowyer and John D.R. Rawlings, Patrick Stephens Limited, 1979, GBP 6.95,
ISBN 0850593646. Long OOP, but possibly available s/h from the usual
booksellers - that's how I got mine.
Additional material in Airfix Magazine Volume 15 no. 1, September 1973.
There was a series of articles in "Aviation News" (RIP), covering pre-
war codes, and some updates.
Vol. 15 issue 7; vol 16, issue 17, vol 17, issue 2, and vol. 19 issue
22.
The book covers British and Commonwealth forces, plus USAAF units.
How do I know all this? I just happen to have a copy of the book, and
inside it is a punch card (remember them?) with additional notes on it.
BTW Vic, I live not too far from you if you would like a peek!
--
Peter Twydell
Walt
<ronca...@writeme.com> wrote:
>
>"Vic Flintham" <vfli...@VFLINTHAM.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:AcvgbDAt...@vflintham.demon.co.uk...
>>
>> The codes I am interested in are the fuselage codes carried by most if
>> not all aircraft in 8th AF and probably 9th AF and for all I know other
>> AFs around the globe during WW2. Purpose was to identify the unit. For
>> example Q6-* was carried by B-24s of 4 Sqn 34 Group; MX-* by P-47s of 82
>> FS 78 FG, where in each case * was the individual aircraft letter. I
>> don't need the individual aircraft letters or serial tie-ups, just the
>> unit identifiers and the types to which they were applied (in some cases
>> front-line units also applied their codes to communications types).
>>
>> Thanks in anticipation of any help. If there are no such sites, in due
>> course I shall invent one with what information I am able to glean.
>>
Try these sites:
http://www.pyker.dircon.co.us/index.htm
http://heavybombers.com
http://fightertown.org
http://tacair-press.com/research.shtml
#1 is a site for 8th AF fighter Groups
#2 is a site for Heavy Bomber Groups
#3 is a general fighter site
#4 use to have a complete listing of WW2 codes, I believe.
Most of these cover Europe. Pacific fighter stuff is pretty hard to
find.
Hope this helps. And good luck.
Walt
Vic Flintham
>
>The best source I know is "Squadron Codes 1937-56" by Michael J.F.
>Bowyer and John D.R. Rawlings, Patrick Stephens Limited, 1979, GBP 6.95,
>ISBN 0850593646. Long OOP, but possibly available s/h from the usual
>booksellers - that's how I got mine.
>
>Additional material in Airfix Magazine Volume 15 no. 1, September 1973.
>
>There was a series of articles in "Aviation News" (RIP), covering pre-
>war codes, and some updates.
>Vol. 15 issue 7; vol 16, issue 17, vol 17, issue 2, and vol. 19 issue
>22.
>
>The book covers British and Commonwealth forces, plus USAAF units.
>
>How do I know all this? I just happen to have a copy of the book, and
>inside it is a punch card (remember them?) with additional notes on it.
>
>BTW Vic, I live not too far from you if you would like a peek!
Peter
Thanks - I keep trying to e-mail you directly without success. Please
e-mail me for a personal response. Regards