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1909-1919 System
examples - Curtiss S-1, E.D. LUSAGH, Vought VE-8
U.S. Army Air Service, Army Air Corps and Army Air Forces AircraftOn August 1, 1907, the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army was created, although the first aircraft was not accepted until August 2, 1909. During the period from 1909 to 1919, there was no organized system of designation for Army aircraft; all aircraft were operated by the designations of individual manufacturers.
1920-1947 System
In 1919, the Aeronautical Division became the Army Air Service (USAAS), independent from the Army. At this time a system of designation was adopted utilizing 15 basic mission symbols, along with other miscellaneous symbols, followed by a design number. This system was officially adopted after the Army Re-organization Act of June 4, 1920, which made the USAAS a component of the Army. New mission symbols were added, modified mission and status symbols were introduced, and eventually, the original 15 became obsolete. The USAAS became the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) under the Air Corps Act of July 2, 1926; the General Headquarters of the Air Force (G.H.Q. AF) was formed on March 1, 1935 to alleviate some of the responsibilities of the USAAC. On June 20, 1941, Army Regulation 95-5 created the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), with the USAAC and the G.H.Q. AF as its principal parts, although the G.H.Q. was discontinued on March 9, 1942. During the period of World War II, many new mission symbols were added, redesignated, overlapped, and discontinued, resulting in many ambiguities and confusions. However, as a result of the National Security Act of September 18, 1947, the USAAF became the U.S. Air Force, and was completely separated from the Army. In this act, a "division of duties" was established that prohibited (prohibits) the Army from operating any fixed wing, jet-powered attack aircraft, or tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The Army did test the limits of this agreement in evaluating aircraft such as the T-37, A-4, Fiat G.91, Northrop N-156, Grumman Gulfstream I/II, XV-6, and XV-4. The act also established a new designation system; this system was modified and adopted by all branches of service on September 18, 1962 (refer to Joint Service designation system).
examples - PW-9D NBL-1 Y1C-37 FP-80C
Status - - Y1 -
Modified Mission - - - P
Basic Mission PW NBL C F
Design Number 9 1 37 80
Design Series D - - C
ORIGINAL 15 MISSION SYMBOLS
PW Pursuit-Water cooled (to P) I 1921-1928
PN Pursuit-Night II 1921
PA Pursuit-Air cooled III 1922
PG Pursuit-Ground attack IV 1922
TP Tandem Pursuit V 1922
GA Ground Attack VI 1920-1922
IL Infantry Liaison VII 1919
NO Night Observation VIII 1925
AO Army Observation IX 1924
CO Corps Observation X 1922-1924
DB Day Bombardment (to LB) XI 1920-1923
NBS Night Bombardment-Short distance XII 1921-1924
NBL Night Bombardment-Long distance XIII 1923
TA Trainer-Air cooled XIV 1921-1924
TW Trainer-Water cooled XV 1920-1923
Miscellaneous Symbols Adopted 1919
A Ambulance 1919-1925
M Messenger 1919-1921
PS Alert Pursuit (Special) 1923
R Racer 1921-1923
T Transport 1919-1923
SYMBOLS ADDED AFTER ORIGINAL 1919 SYMBOLS
Status Prefixes
E Exempt (Bailment to USAAF Contractor) 1946-1947
G Permanently Grounded 1924-
R Restricted 1943-1947
X Experimental 1925-
Y Service Test 1928-
Y1 Aircraft purchased with "F-1" funds instead 1931-1936
of USAAC appropriations
Z Obsolete 1928-
Modified Mission Symbols
C Transport 1943-
F Photographic reconnaissance 1945-1947
K Ferret 1944-1947
T Trainer 1943-
V Administrative/V.I.P. transport 1945-
Basic Mission Symbols
A Aerial target 1940-1941
A Attack & light bombardment (to B,F) 1926-1947
B Bombardment 1926-
BC Basic Combat trainer (to AT) 1936-1940
BG Bomb-carrying Glider 1942-1944
BLR Bombardment-Long Range (to B) 1934-1936
BT Basic Trainer (to T) 1930-1947
BQ Controllable Bomb - ground launched 1942-1945
C Cargo transport 1925-
CG Cargo Glider (to G) 1941-1947
CQ Target Control(to D modified mission symbol) 1942-1947
F Photographic reconnaissance (to R modified 1930-1947
mission symbol)
FG Fuel Glider 1944-1947
FM Fighter Multiplace 1935-1942
G Gyroplane (to O,R) 1935-1939
GB Glide Bomb 1942-1947
GT Glide Torpedo 1942-1947
HB Heavy Bombardment (to B) 1925-1927
JB Jet-Propelled Bomb 1943-1947
L Liaison (formerly O) 1942-1962
LB Light Bombardment (from DB; to B) 1924-1932
O Observation (to L) 1924-1942
OA Observation Amphibian 1925-1947
OQ Aerial Target - non-man carrying (to Q) 1942-1947
P Pursuit (to F) 1925-1947
PB Pursuit Biplace 1935-1941
PG Powered Glider 1943-1947
PQ Aerial Target - man-carrying(formerly A,to Q) 1942-1947
PT Primary Trainer (to T) 1925-1947
R Rotary Wing (to H) 1941-1947
S Supersonic/Special Test (to X) 1946-1947
TG Trainer Glider 1941-1947
U.S. Air Force Aircraft
example - YDB-47B Status Y Modified mission D Mission B Design number 47 Design series B Status Prefixes J Special test - temporary 1956- N Special test - permanent 1956- X Experimental 1925- Y Service Test 1928- Z Obsolete 1928- Modified Mission Symbols C Transport 1943- D Director/Drone controller 1948- E Special Electronic Installation 1948- G Parasite aircraft carrier (to D) 1948-1962 K Tanker 1949- M Medical 1951-1962 P Passenger transport only 1948-1963 Q Radio Controlled Drone 1948- R Reconnaissance 1948- S Search and Rescue (to H) 1948-1962 T Trainer 1943- U Utility 1951- V Administrative/V.I.P. transport 1945- W Weather reconnaissance 1948- Basic Mission Symbols A Amphibian (formerly OA) 1948-1962 B Bomber (A redes. to B 1947) 1925- C Cargo Transport 1925- F Fighter (formerly A,P) 1948- G Glider 1948-1955 H Helicopter (formerly R) 1948- L Liaison (formerly O) 1942-1962 Q Aerial Target (formerly OQ,PQ) 1948-1962 R Reconnaissance (formerly F) 1948-1962 T Trainer (formerly AT,BT,PT) 1948- V Convertiplane 1952-1962 V VTOL/STOL (1962 became aircraft type symbol) 1954- X Special Research (formerly [X]S) 1948-
examples - AO-1 HU-2 VZ-10 AC Airplane, Cargo AO Airplane, Observation AU Airplane, Utility AZ Airplane, experimental HC Helicopter, Cargo HO Helicopter, Observation HU Helicopter, Utility HZ Helicopter, experimental VZ VTOL research
example - C-1 A Curtiss-built land and hydroplanes 1911 B Wright-built land and hydroplanes 1911 C Curtiss-built flying boats 1912 D Burgess & Curtiss flying boats 1912 E Curtiss amphibians 1913
example - AX-1 (redes. E-1) Class A Type X Design Number 1 Class A Heavier than air B Balloons D Dirigibles K Kite balloons Type B Flying boats C Convertible airplanes H Hydroplanes L Landplanes X Amphibians Existing aircraft redesignated under the 1914 system HYDRO CLASS Curtiss A-1 redes. to AH-1 Curtiss A-3 redes. to AH-3 \ Out of sequence Curtiss A-4 redes. to AH-2 / Wright B-1 redes. to AH-4 Wright B-2 redes. to AH-5 Wright B-3 redes. to AH-6 FLYING BOAT CLASS Curtiss C-1 redes. to AB-1 Curtiss C-2 redes. to AB-2 Curtiss C-3 redes. to AB-3 Curtiss C-4 redes. to AB-4 Curtiss C-5 redes. to AB-5 Burgess D-1 redes. to AB-6 Burgess D-2 redes. to AB-7 AMPHIBIAN CLASS Curtiss E-1 redes. to AB-7
examples - F-5L H-12 DH-4
examples (1923) TB3F-1S HO4S-1 WF-2
(5) Status or class prefix - H -
(1) Type or class TB O W
(4) Manufacturer type sequence 3 4 [1]
(2) Manufacturer F S F
(3) Aircraft configuration sequence 1 1 2
(6) Special purpose suffix S - -
note: the numbers in parentheses indicate the order of adoption of each portion
Status/class prefix
H Helicopter
L Glider
N 1st-line aircraft assigned to reserve
X Experimental
Y Prototype
Type or Class - Note: "V" prefix not included, since it was only used
for administrative purposes
A Ambulance 1943
A Attack 1946-1962
B Bomber 1931-1943
BF Bomber-Fighter 1934-1937
BT Bomber-Torpedo (to A) 1942-1945
DS Anti-submarine drone 1959-1962
F Fighter 1922-1962
G Transport, single-engine 1939-1941
G Flight refuelling tanker 1958-1962
HC Crane helicopter 1951-1955
J Transport (to R) 1928-1931
J Utility 1931-1962
JR Utility transport 1935-1962
M Marine expeditionare 1922-1923
N Trainer 1922-1960
O Observation 1922-1962
OS Observation-Scout 1935-1945
P Patrol 1923-1962
PB Patrol Bomber 1935-1962
PTB Patrol Torpedo-Bomber 1937
R Racer 1922-1928
R Transport 1931-1962
RO Rotorcycle 1954-1959
S Scout 1922-1946
S Anti-submarine 1951-1962
SB Scout Bomber 1934-1946
SN Scout-Trainer 1939-1962
SO Scout-Observation 1935-1946
T Torpedo 1922-1935
T Trainer 1948-1962
T Transport 1927-1930
TB Torpedo-Bomber 1935-1946
TD Target Drone 1942-1946
TS Torpedo-Scout 1943
U Utility 1955-1962
U Unpiloted drone 1946-1955
W Airborne Early Warning 1952-1962
Manufacturer's Letters
A Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company 1922
A Allied Aviation Corporation (gliders only) 1941-1943
A Atlantic Fokker Corporation (American Fokker) 1927-1930
A Brewster Aeronautical Corporation 1935-1943
A General Aviation Corporation (formerly Atlantic) 1930-1932
A Noorduyn Aviation, Ltd. (Canada) 1946
B Beech Aircraft Company 1937-1945
B Boeing Aircraft Company 1923-1959
B Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company 1942-1944
B Aerial Engineering Corporation (Booth or Bee Line) 1922
BS Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company (England) 1922
C Cessna Aircraft Corporation (also E) 1943
C Culver Aircraft Corporation 1943-1946
C Curtiss Aeroplane & Motor Company 1922-1946
C De Havilland of Canada, Ltd. 1955-1956
CH Caspar-Werke Gmbh (Germany) 1922
D Douglas Aircraft Corporation 1922-1962
D Frankfort Sailplane Company (target drones) 1945-1946
D McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (to H) 1942-1946
D Radioplane Corporation (drones) 1943-1962
DH De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd. (England) 1927-1931
DW Dayton-Wright Airplane Company 1923
E Bellanca Aircraft Corporation 1931-1937
E Cessna Aircraft Corporation (formerly C) 1951-1962
E Detroit Aircraft Corporation (to Great Lakes) 1928
E Edo Aircraft Corporation 1943-1946
E G. Elias & Brothers, Inc. 1922-1924
E Gould Aeronautical Corporation (gliders) 1942-1945
E Hiller Aircraft Corporation (helicopters) 1948-1962
E Piper Aircraft Corporation (airplanes) (also O/P) 1941-1945
E Pratt-Read (gliders) 1942-1945
F Fairchild Aircraft, Ltd. (Canada) 1942-1945
F Royal Dutch Aircraft Mfg. Works (Fokker) 1922
F Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation 1931-1962
G A.G.A. Aviation Corporation (gliders) 1942
G Bell Aircraft Corporation (for Bell-built Great Lakes) 1935-1936
G Eberhart Aeroplane & Motor Company 1927-1928
G Gallaudet Aircraft Corporation 1922
G Globe Aircraft Corporation (target drones) 1946-1959
G Goodyear Aircraft Corporation 1942-1962
G Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation (ex-Detroit) 1929-1935
G Gyrodyne Co. of America (drones, rotorcycles, to N) 1960
H Hall-Aluminum Aircraft Corp. (to Consolidated, 1940) 1928-1940
H Howard Aircraft Company 1941-1944
H Huff, Daland & Company (to Keystone) 1922-1927
H McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (formerly D) 1946-1962
H Snead and Company (gliders) 1942
H Stearman-Hammond Aircraft Corporation 1937-1938
HP Handley Page, Ltd. (England) 1922
J Berliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation 1929-1935
J General Aviation Corporation (formerly Atlantic) 1935
J North American Aviation Corporation (successor to 1937-1962
General Aviation)
JL Junkers-Larsen Aircraft Corporation 1922
K Fairchild Aircraft Corporation (Kreider-Reisner) 1937-1942
K Kaiser Cargo, Inc. (Fleetwings Division) 1943-1945
K Kaman Aircraft Corporation (helicopters) 1950-1962
K Keystone Aircraft Corporation (formerly Huff, Daland) 1927-1930
K J.V. Martin 1922-1924
K Nash-Kelvinator Corporation 1942
L Bell Aircraft Corporation (helicopters after 1946) 1939-1962
L Columbia Aircraft Corporation 1945
L Grover Loening, Inc. 1932-1933
L Langley Aviation Corporation 1942-1943
L Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corp. (to Keystone) 1922-1932
L L.W.F. Engineering Corporation 1922
M Glenn L. Martin Company 1922-1962
M General Motors Corporation (Eastern Aircraft Division) 1942-1945
M McCulloch Motors Corporation 1953-1954
N Gyrodyne Co. of America Inc. (drones, rotorcycles) 1960
N Naval Aircraft Factory 1922-1945
O Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (Plant B) 1931-1950
O Piper Aircraft Corporation (also E/P) 1960
O Viking Flying Boat Corporation 1929-1936
P Piasecki Helicopter Corp. (formerly P-V Engineering) 1946-1960
P Piper Aircraft Corporation (gliders) 1942-1943
P Pitcairn Autogyro Corporation 1931-1932
P P-V Engineering Forum (later Piasecki, Vertol) 1944-1962
P Vertol Aircraft Corporation (formerly Piasecki, P-V; 1956-1962
to Boeing 1960)
P Spartan Aircraft Company 1940-1941
PL George Parnall & Company (England) 1922
Q Bristol Aeronautical Corporation (gliders) 1941-1943
Q Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation 1928-1962
Q Stinson Aircraft Corporation (to Convair, 1942) 1934-1936
Q Charles Ward Hall, Inc. 1926
R Aeronca Aircraft Corporation (gliders) 1942
R American Aviation Corporation (gliders) 1942
R Brunswick-Balke-Collender Corporation 1942-1943
R Ford Motor Company 1927-1932
R Interstate Aircraft & Engineering Corporation (drones) 1942-1962
R Maxson-Brewster Corporation 1939-1940
R Radioplane Division, Northrop Corp. (target drones) 1943-1962
R Ryan Aeronautical Company 1941-1946
RO Officine Ferroviarie Meridionali Romeo 1933
S Schweizer Aircraft Corporation (gliders) 1941
S Sikorsky Aviation Corporation (helicopters after 1943) 1928-1962
S Stearman Aircraft Company (later Boeing-Wichita, 1939) 1934-1945
S Stout Engineering Laboratories 1922
S Sperry Gyroscope Company (target drones) 1950
S Supermarine 1943
T New Standard Aircraft Corporation 1930-1934
T Northrop Aircraft, Inc. 1944
T The Northrop Corporation (later Douglas-El Segundo) 1933-1937
T Temco Aircraft Corporation 1956
T Timm Aircraft Corporation 1941-1943
T Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation 1922
U Chance Vought Corporation (now Ling-Temco-Vought) 1922-1962
V Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (Vega, Plant A) 1942-1962
V Canadian Vickers, Ltd. 1942-1945
V Vultee Aircraft, Inc. (to Consolidated as Convair, Y, 1942)1941
VK Vickers, Ltd. (England) 1922
W Canadian Car & Foundry Co., Ltd. 1942-1945
W Waco Aircraft Corporation (gliders after 1942) 1934-1945
W Wright Aeronautical Corporation 1922-1926
X Cox-Klemin Aircraft Corporation 1922-1924
Y Consolidated (to Convair 1942) 1926-1942
Y Convair (Consolidated-Stonson-Vultee) 1942-1962
Y General Dynamics (General Dynamics-Convair est. 1961) 1961-1962
Z Pennsylvania Aircraft Syndicate ?
Special Purpose Suffix Letters
A Miscellaneous modification
A Armament on normally unarmed airplane
A Arrester gear on normally non-carrier airplane
A Built for Army or obtained from Army
A Amphibious version
A Land-based version of carrier aircraft
B Miscellaneous modification
B Special armament
B British version through Lend-Lease
C Arrester gear added
C Reinforced for catapulting
C Cannon Armament
C Navy equivalent of Army C-series aircraft (SBN-2C = AT-7C)
CP Trimetrogen camera
D Drop tanks
D Drone control
D Navy equivalent of Army D-series aircraft
D Special search
D Special radar
E Electronic equipment
F Flagship conversion
F Special power plant
G Search and rescue (later Coast Guard)
G Coast Guard version
G Gun on normally unarmed airplane
G Navy equivalent of Army G-series aircraft
H Hospital conversion
H Navy equivalent of Army H-series aircraft
J Special weather equipment
J Navy equivalent of Army J-series aircraft
K Drone conversion
L Winterized version
L Searchlight carrier
M Missile launcher
N Night fighter
N All-weather operation
NA Night version stripped for day attack
NL Night, winterized version
P Photographic version
Q Electronic countermeasures version
R Support transport
R Transport conversion
S Anti-submarine
T Two-seat training version
U Utility version
W Special search version
W Airborne early warning version
Z Administrative transport version
Airships
DN Dirigible, Navy
*****Kite balloon/balloon
ZKN Kite balloon/balloon trainer
ZKO Kite balloon/balloon observation
Non-rigid
ZMC experimental Metal-Clad
ZNN Non-rigid Trainer
ZNO Non-rigid Observation
ZNP Non-rigid Patrol
ZNS Non-rigid Scout
Rigid
ZR Rigid airship
ZRS Rigid Scout
ZRP Rigid Patrol
ZRN Rigid Trainer
examples - YF-12 JOV-10D Status Prefix Y J Modified Mission - O Basic Mission F - Type - V Design Number 12 10 Design Series - D Status Prefix G Permanently grounded 1924- J Special test (temporary) 1956- N Special test (permanent) 1956- X Experimental 1924- Y Prototype 1928- Z Planning (originally meant obsolete) 1928- Basic Mission A Attack (numbering sequence reset 1962) 1942-1947, 1962- B Bomber (numbering sequence reset 1962) 1925- C Transport (numbering sequence reset 1962) 1925- E Special Electronic Installation 1962- F Fighter (numbering sequence reset 1962) 1948- L Laser 1997- O Observation (numbering sequence reset 1962) 1924-1942, 1962- P Patrol 1962- R Reconaissance 199?- S Antisubmarine 1962- T Trainer 1948- U Utility 1962- X Research 1948- Aircraft Type G Glider 1962- H Helicopter 1948- Q Unmanned Aerial Vehicle 1997- S Spaceplane ?- V VTOL/STOL (not used as status until 1962) 1954- Z Lighter-than-air 1962- Modified Mission A Attack 1962- C Transport 1943- D Director (formerly G) 1948- E Special Electronics Installation 1948- F Fighter 1962- H Search and Rescue (formerly S) 1962- K Tanker 1949- L Cold weather 1962- M Missile carrier, Multimission 1962- O Observation 1962- P Patrol 1962- Q Drone 1948- R Reconnaissance 1948- S Anti-submarine 1962- T Trainer 1943- U Utility 1951- V Staff 1945- W Weather reconnaissance 1948-
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