1924 United States Army Air Service aircraft designation system

American military designation scheme December 2012 In 1924, problems with the previous designation system led to a general revamping of the designation system used by the United States Army Air Service. This system was to remain in effect with the U.S. Army Air Corps, the U.S. Army Air Forces and the independent U.S. Air Force, as well as those aircraft remaining in the U.S. Army after 1947. With some minor changes it became the basis of the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. __TOC__ 1924–1962 Designation System The designation given to a particular aircraft can be broken down to provide information about that specific aircraft. A hypothetical example shows a typical designation, and what each section is. Tables below indicate possible codes used for each section, what their meanings were, and the time period in which they were used – not all codes were in use at the same time, and some codes, such as P for pursuit were changed to F for fighter for a given aircraft while they were in service, so that the Lockheed P-80 was redesignated as the Lockheed F-80. The portion of the designation after the subtype may be omitted in normal use. The hyphen before the block number may be replaced with the word "block", and in some cases the block number may be omitted. This information, along with the name of the service (USAAC, USAAF, USAF), the base (if permanently assigned) and the serial number was painted on the forward fuselage side under the cockpit. StatusMission-ModifierMission-ModelSubtype-Block Number-Production Facility Code XWB-29A-10 or  Block 10-BO Status Prefix (generally applied only to specific aircraft) Code MeaningPeriodEExempt from modification orders (loaned to outside organizations)1946–1955GGrounded permanently (for groundcrew instruction)1924–1962JTemporarily modified for Special Tests (e.g. NACA)1956–1962NPermanently modified for Special Tests (e.g. NACA)1956–1962RRestricted (e.g. no aerobatics, no passengers or similar)1943–1947XExperimental pre-production development aircraft1925–1962YService test pending production orders1928–1962Y1Funding from outside normal fiscal year procurement1931–1936ZObsolete - limits maintenance and repairs1928–1962 Mission Modifier prefix Used when an aircraft has been modified for a different role from originally designed. Code MeaningPeriodCCargo Transport1943–1962DDirector (Drone Controller)1948–1962FPhotographic1945–1947GCarrier (parasite aircraft mothership)1948KFerret (electronic intelligence)1944–1947KTanker1949–1962MMedical1951–1952PPassenger Transport (Only)1948–1962QRadio Controlled Drone1948–1962RReconnaissance (Photographic)1948–1962SSearch and Rescue1948–1962TTrainer1943–1962UUtility (light transport)1943–1962VVIP Transport1945–1962WWeather1948–1962 Mission Letter Code MeaningPeriodAAerial Target1940–1941AAmphibian1948–1962AAttack1924–1947AGAssault Glider1942–1944ATAdvanced Trainer1925–1947BBomber1925–1962BCBasic Combat1936–1940BGBomb Glider1942–1944BLRBomber, Long Range1935–1936BQBomb, Controllable (glide bombs & cruise missiles)1942–1945BTBasic Trainer1930–1947CCargo1925–1962CGCargo Glider1941–1947CQTarget Control1942–1947FFighter1948–1962FPhotographic1930–1947FGFuel Glider1930–1947FMFighter, Multiplace1936–1941GGlider1948–1962GGyroplane1935–1939GBGlide Bomb1942–1947GTGlide Torpedo1942–1947HHelicopter1948–1962HBHeavy Bomber1925–1927JBJet-Propelled Bomb1943–1947LLiaison1942–1962LBLight Bomber1924–1932OObservation1924–1942OAObservation Amphibian1925–1947OQAerial Target (Model Airplane)1942–1947PPursuit1925–1947PBPursuit, Biplace1935–1941PGPowered Glider1943–1947PQAerial Target (Man Carrying)1942–1947PTPrimary Trainer1925–1947QAerial Target1948–1962RReconnaissance1948–1962RRotary Wing1941–1947SSupersonic/Special Test1946–1947TTrainer1948–1962TGTraining Glider1941–1947UUtility1952–1962VVTOL or STOL1954–1962XSpecial Research1948–1962 Model Number In theory each new design in a specific Mission category is numbered in sequence starting at 1, so that succeeding designs are numbered 2,3,4 etc. however numbers were occasionally skipped. Sub-type Minor modifications to a basic design are usually given a sequentially assigned letter denoting the particular subtype, starting with A and continuing with B, C, D, etc. In general, no additional meaning can be deduced from the sub-type letter. Block Number Analogous to the order number, these help not just to identify when an airframe was built, but in some types distinguish changes that occurred during production not identified by the sub-type letter, as between the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt razorback variant and the bubble canopy variant. Block numbers are unique to each type of aircraft. Production facility code Each factory producing aircraft for the USAAF was assigned a two letter code to distinguish between the product of one facility from another. This was important because parts were not always interchangeable between different plants, and the aircraft may have required different modifications during service.http://rwebs.net/avhistory/acdesig/usarmy.htm U. S. Army Aircraft Designations 1939-45 CodeManufacturerLocationADAero Design & Engineering Co.Bethany, OKAEAeroncaMiddletown, OHAGAir GliderAkron, OHAHAmerican HelicopterManhattan Beach, CAAVAvro CanadaMontreal, QC, CanadaBABellAtlanta, GABBBabcock AircraftDeLand, FLBCBell AerosystemsBuffalo, NYBEBellBuffalo, NTBFBellFort Worth, TXBHBeechWichita, KSBLBellancaNew Castle, DEBNBoeingRenton, WABOBoeingSeattle, WABRBriegleb SailplaneBeverley Hills, CABSBowlusSan Francisco, CABUBuddPhiladelphia, PABVBoeing-VertolMorton, PABWBoeingWichita, KSCAChase AircraftWest Trenton, NJCCCanadian Commercial Corp.Toronto, ON, CanadaCECessnaWichita, KSCFConvair/Consolidated-VulteeFort Worth, TXCHChristopher AircraftSt. Louis, MOCKCurtiss-WrightLouisville, KYCLCulverWichita, KSCMCommonwealth AircraftKansas City, MOCNChase AircraftWillow Run, MICOConvair/Consolidated-VulteeSan Diego, CACRCorneliusDayton, OHCSCurtiss-WrightSt. Louis, MOCUCurtiss-WrightBuffalo, NYCVChance Vought, VoughtDallas, TXDADoak AircraftTorrance, CADCDouglasChicago, ILDEDouglasEl Segundo, CADHDe Havilland CanadaToronto, ON, CanadaDJSNCA Sud-OuestMarignane, FranceDKDouglasOklahoma City, OKDLDouglasLong Beach, CADMDoman HelicopterDanbury, CTDODouglasSanta Monica, CADTDouglasTulsa, OKFAFairchildHagerstown, MDFBFairchildBurlington, NCFEFleetFort Erie, ON, CanadaFLFleetwingsBristol, PAFOFordWillow Run, MIFRFrankfortJoliet, ILFSFirestoneLos Angeles, CAFTFletcher AviationPasadena, CAGAG & A AircraftWillow Grove, PAGCGeneral Motors (Fisher)Cleveland, OHGEGeneral AircraftAstoria, Long Island, NYGFGlobeFort Worth, TXGKGeneral MotorsKansas City, KSGMGeneral Motors (Fisher)Detroit, MIGNGibson RefrigeratorGreenville, MIGOGoodyear AircraftAkron, OHGRGrummanBethpage, Long Island, NYGTGrand Central Aircraft Eng.Tucson, AZGYGyrodyne Co., of AmericaSt. James, Long Island, NYHEHelioNorwood, MAHIHiggins AircraftNew Orleans, LAHIHillerPalo Alto, CAHOHoward AircraftChicago, ILHPHandey PageRadlett, Herts, UKHSHawker Siddeley AviationKingston, Surrey, UKHUHughes AircraftCulver City & San Diego CAINInterstate A. & Eng.El Segundo, CAKAKamanWindsor Locks, CTKEKelletPhiladelphia, PAKMKaiser ManufacturingWillow Run, MILKLaister-KauffmanSt. Louis, MOLMLockheed AircraftMarietta, GALOLockheed AircraftBurbank, CAMAMartinBaltimore, MDMCMcDonnellSt. Louis, MOMDMartinDenver, COCurrent Designations of U.S. Military Aircraft https://designation-systems.net/usmilav/aircraft.html 2023-08-19 designation-systems.netMFMartinOrlando, FLMHMcCulloch MotorsLos Angeles, CAMMMcDonnellMemphis, TNMOMartinOmaha, NENANorth AmericanInglewood, CANCNorth AmericanKansas City, KSNDNoorduyn AviationMontreal, QC, CanadaNFNorth AmericanFresno, CANHNorth AmericanColumbus, OHNINorth AmericanDowney, CANKNash-KelvinatorDetroit, MINONorthropHawthorne, CANTNorth AmericanDallas, TXNWNorthwestern Aeronautical Co.St. Paul, MNOMOn Mark EngineeringVan Nuys, CAPAPiperLock Haven, PAPHPiaseckiMorton, PAPIPiperLockhaven, PAPIPiaseckiPhiladelphia, PAPLPlatt-LePageEddystone, PAPRPratt, Read & Co.Deep River, CTRARepublicEvansville, INRDRead-YorkKenosha, WIRERepublicFarmingdale, Long Island, NYRIRidgefield Mfg.Ridgeville, NJRORobertson AircraftSt. Louis, MORPThe Radioplane Co.Van Nuys, CARYRyan AeronauticalSan Diego, CASAStroukoffWest Trenton, NJSESeibel HelicopterWichita, KSSISikorsky AircraftStratford, CTSLSt. Louis AircraftSt. Louis, MOSPSpartanTulsa, OKSWSchweizerElmira, NYTATaylorcraftAlliance, OHTETemcoDallas, TXTGTexas Engineering & ManufacturingGreenville, TXTITimmVan Nuys, CATPTexas Engineering & ManufacturingGrand Prairie, TXUHUnited HelicopterPalto Alto, CAUNUniversal Molded ProductsBristol, VAVEVega Aircraft Corp.Burbank, CAVICanadian VickersMontreal, CanadaVLVertol AircraftMorton, PAVNVulteeNashville, TNVOChance VoughtDallas, TXVUVulteeDowney, CAVWVulteeWayne, MIWAWard Furniture Co.Fort Smith, ARWIWichita EngineeringWichita Falls, TXWOWacoTroy, OH Exceptions Aircraft ordered by foreign governments but taken over by the US Government often used the manufacturer's internal designations rather than the designation used for similar aircraft ordered by the US Government, so that the Consolidated LB-30 was a B-24 ordered by the British but not delivered, and the Vultee V.77 was similarly an AT-19. See also Lists of military aircraft of the United States List of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962) Notes notes References Bibliography Websites http://www.driko.org/usdes2.html#AF1920 U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation Andrew Chorney 2007 24 May 2012 http://www.personal.psu.edu/dob104/aviation/us/system.html U.S. Military Aircraft Designation Systems Derek Bridges 2005 24 May 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200158/http://www.personal.psu.edu/dob104/aviation/us/system.html 4 March 2016 http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/aircraft.html Current Designations of U.S. Military Aircraft Andreas Parsch 2023 24 May 2012 http://rwebs.net/avhistory/acdesig/usarmy.htm U. S. Army Aircraft Designations 1939-1945 Randy Wilson 1997 24 May 2012 Books Fahey James C. James Charles Fahey U.S. Army Aircraft (Heavier-Than-Air) 1908-1946 https://archive.org/details/usarmyaircraft0000unse registration 1946 New York, N.Y., Ships and Aircraft Swanborough Gordon Bowers Peter M. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 Putnam Category:United States Army Air Forces United States