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List of USAAF squadron codes

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A B-17 with squadron code 2G

This is an incomplete list of squadron codes used by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft operating in Europe during World War II.

Squadron codes

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2022)

For each squadron code—painted on the plane's fuselage—the associated bombardment squadron (BS) is listed, along with the squadron's bombardment group (BG). Most commonly, a group would have four squadrons. Also listed is the group's tail code—the noted letter would appear inside the geometric shape (for example, ▲J means the letter J would appear inside a triangle). Some squadrons and groups also used specific color bands on the wings or empennage of their aircraft; such colorings are not presented here.

Notes:

  • 381st BG: some squadrons were assigned more than one code
  • 482d BG: Pathfinder squadrons with variable use of codes
  • Some squadrons used colors rather than characters; these are listed below
A B-24 with squadron code 2C, denoting the 838th Bombardment Squadron of the 487th Bombardment Group (tail Square P)
A B-17 with squadron code LL, denoting the 401st Bombardment Squadron of the 91st Bombardment Group (tail Triangle A)
A B-17 with squadron code VE, denoting the 532d Bombardment Squadron of the 381st Bombardment Group (tail Triangle L)
A B-17 with squadron code WF, denoting the 364th Bombardment Squadron of the 305th Bombardment Group (tail Triangle G; obscured in photo)
Code BS BG Tail
2C 838th 487th ■P
2G 836th 487th ■P
2S 834th 486th ■W
3L 4th 34th ■S
3O 601st 398th ▲W
3R 832d 486th ■W
4F 837th 487th ■P
4N 833d 486th ■W
6K 731st 452d ■L
7D 730th 452d ■L
8I 18th 34th ■S
9Z 729th 452d ■L
AW 337th 96th ■C
BG 334th 95th ■B
BI 568th 390th ■J
BK 546th 384th ▲P
BN 359th 303d ▲C
BO 368th 306th ▲H
BX 338th 96th ■C
CC 569th 390th ■J
CQ 708th 447th ■K
DF 324th 91st ▲A
DI 570th 390th ■J
DS 511th 351st ▲J
EP 351st 100th ■D
ET 336th 95th ■B
FC 571st 390th ■J
FO 527th 379th ▲K
FR 525th 379th ▲K
GD 534th 381st ▲L
GL 410th 94th ■A
GN 427th 303d ▲C
GY 367th 306th ▲H
H8 835th 486th ■W
IE 709th 447th ■K
IF 710th 447th ■K
IN 613th 401st ▲S
IP 711th 447th ■K
IW 614th 401st ▲S
IY 615th 401st ▲S
JD 545th 384th ▲P
JJ 422d 305th ▲G
JW 326th 92d ▲B
JZ 534th 381st ▲L
K8 602d 398th ▲W
KY 366th 305th ▲G
LD 418th 100th ■D
LF 526th 379th ▲K
LG 322d 91st ▲A
LL 401st 91st ▲A
LN 350th 100th ■D
M3 728th 452d ■L
MI 812th 482d ▲
MS 535th 381st ▲L
MZ 413th 96th ■C
N7 603d 398th ▲W
N8 600th 398th ▲W
NV 325th 92d ▲B
OE 335th 95th ■B
OQ 533d 381st ▲L
OR 323d 91st ▲A
PC 813th 482d ▲
PL 535th 381st ▲L
PU 360th 303d ▲C
PY 407th 92d ▲B
R2 7th 34th ■S
Q6 391st 34th ■S
QE 331st 94th ■A
QJ 339th 96th ■C
QW 412th 95th ■B
R5 839th 487th ■P
RD 423d 306th ▲H
RQ 509th 351st ▲J
SC 612th 401st ▲S
SI 814th 482d ▲
SO 547th 384th ▲P
SU 544th 384th ▲P
TS 333d 94th ■A
TU 510th 351st ▲J
UX 327th 92d ▲B
VE 532d 381st ▲L
VK 358th 303d ▲C
VP 533d 381st ▲L
WF 364th 305th ▲G
WA 524th 379th ▲K
WW 369th 306th ▲H
XK 365th 305th ▲G
XM 332d 94th ■A
XR 349th 100th ■D
YB 508th 351st ▲J

Source:

Color codings

Notes:

  • 457th BG: colors on propeller hubs
  • 388th BG: two black bands on tail and wing (all squadrons)
A B-17 of the 385th Bombardment Group (tail Square G)
Color BS BG Tail
Black * 560th 388th ■H
Black * 561st 388th ■H
Black * 562d 388th ■H
Black * 563d 388th ■H
Blue * 548th 385th ■G
Blue * 749th 457th ▲U
Green * 551st 385th ■G
Red * 550th 385th ■G
Red * 748th 457th ▲U
White * 750th 457th ▲U
Yellow * 549th 385th ■G
Yellow * 751st 457th ▲U

See also

References

  1. "USAAF squadron codes". worldwarphotos.info. Retrieved November 21, 2022.

External links

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