This list of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962) includes prototype, pre-production and operational type designations under the

1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system From 1922 until 1962, the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard used a system to designate their aircraft that included information about a craft's role and its manufacturer. For a listing of all such ...

, which was used by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

, and the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...

. The list also includes

airship An airship or dirigible balloon is a type of aerostat or lighter-than-air aircraft that can navigate through the air under its own power. Aerostats gain their lift from a lifting gas that is less dense than the surrounding air. In early ...

s, which were designated under different systems than fixed-wing aircraft and

rotorcraft A rotorcraft or rotary-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air aircraft with rotary wings or rotor blades, which generate lift by rotating around a vertical mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are referred to as a rotor. The Internat ...

until 1954, and naval aircraft that received designations under the 1911 and 1914 U.S. Navy systems, which were sequential by manufacturer and/or aircraft class, and did not convey information about the aircraft's mission. For aircraft designations under the U.S. Army Air Force/

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

system or the post-1962 Tri-Service system—which includes U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft currently in service—see

List of military aircraft of the United States Lists of military aircraft of the United States cover current and former aircraft of the United States Armed Forces. By designation * List of United States Air Force aircraft designations (1919–1962) * List of United States Navy aircraft des ...

. For Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft that did not receive formal designations—including those procured from 1917 to 1922 when no designation system was in force, and later aircraft that did not receive designations for other reasons—see List of undesignated military aircraft of the United States.

Summary of pre-1962 designation systems

1911 system

The first U.S. Navy designation system, adopted in 1911, consisted of a letter signifying the manufacturer followed by sequential numbers for individual aircraft from each manufacturer. Only heavier-than-air craft (i.e. airplanes) were given designations. The system was subsequently amended to differentiate aircraft classes from the same manufacturer. The designation letters were as follows: * A –

Curtiss Aeroplane Company Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company (1909 – 1929) was an American aircraft manufacturer originally founded by Glenn Hammond Curtiss and Augustus Moore Herring in Hammondsport, New York. After significant commercial success in its first decades ...

, landplanes and hydro aeroplanes (i.e. floatplanes) * B –

Wright Company The Wright Company was the commercial aviation business venture of the Wright Brothers, established by them on November 22, 1909, in conjunction with several prominent industrialists from New York and Detroit with the intention of capitalizing o ...

, landplanes and hydro aeroplanes * C – Curtiss Aeroplane, flying boats * D – Burgess and Curtis, landplanes and hydro aeroplanes * E – Curtiss Aeroplane, amphibians

1914 system

In March 1914, the navy introduced a system similar to

hull classification symbols The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use a hull classification symbol (sometimes called hull code or hull number) to identify their ships by type and by ind ...

for warships, with an alphabetical code for the aircraft class followed by a sequential number assigned to an individual aircraft. All aircraft designated under the 1911 system that were still in inventory were redesignated. Also consistent with warship designation practices, the designation of the first aircraft of a particular design became the type designation for similar aircraft; for instance, aircraft similar to ''AH-8'' were referred to as ''AH-8 type''. The aircraft classes and sub-types were as follows: *A – Heavier than air :*AH – Aeroplane, Hydro :*AB – Flying boat :*AX – Amphibian *B – Free

balloon A balloon is a flexible bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and air. For special tasks, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), or light so ...

*C – Dirigible *D –

Kite balloon A kite balloon is a tethered balloon which is shaped to help make it stable in low and moderate winds and to increase its lift. It typically comprises a streamlined envelope with stabilising features and a harness or yoke connecting it to the mai ...

This second system was abandoned in May 1917 without immediate replacement; until March 1922, the navy used manufacturers' model designations. However, some later aircraft similar to types with 1914 system designations were given conforming designations, apparently on an informal basis.

1922 system

On 29 March 1922, a new designation system was introduced with a reorganization of U.S. naval aviation under the

Bureau of Aeronautics The Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for naval aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" (''i.e.'', responsibility) for the design, procurement, and support of naval aircraft and relate ...

. The system conveyed its information in the form: :(Mission)(Design Number)(Manufacturer)-(Subtype)(Minor Modification) For example, F4U-1A referred to a minor modification (A) to the first major subtype (1) of Chance-Vought's (U) fourth (4) fighter (F) design. For the first few years after the system was introduced, the manufacturer's letter and the mission letter were sometimes reversed. If it was the manufacturer's first design for that particular mission, there was no number before the manufacturer letter. Prototypes under the 1922 system were normally prefixed with "X" (differing from purely experimental

X-plane The X-planes are a series of experimental United States aircraft and rockets, used to test and evaluate new technologies and aerodynamic concepts. They have an X designator within the US system of aircraft designations, which denotes the exper ...

s, which were not generally expected to go into production), while pre-production or trials aircraft were usually prefixed "Y", and airships were prefixed "Z" (differing from Army or Air Force use of "Z" to designate obsolete aircraft for storage or disposal).

Airships and balloons

Prior to 1954, lighter-than-air craft used separate designation systems from those used for fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft, or were undesignated. As a general rule, a "Z" prefix identified lighter-than-air craft.

Rigid airship A rigid airship is a type of airship (or dirigible) in which the Aerostat, envelope is supported by an internal framework rather than by being kept in shape by the pressure of the lifting gas within the envelope, as in blimps (also called pres ...

s were designated as ZR-class—"R" for ''rigid''—with a suffixed number identifying the individual aircraft. With the introduction of the ''Akron''-class airship, an "S" mission suffix was added to signify '' scout'' (ZRS-class). The first U.S. Navy

non-rigid airship A blimp, or non-rigid airship, is an airship (dirigible) without an internal structural framework or a keel. Unlike semi-rigid and rigid airships (e.g. Zeppelins), blimps rely on the pressure of the lifting gas (usually helium, rather than hydr ...

was ordered in 1915 before an airship designation system was standardized and was designated DN-1 for ''Dirigible, Non-rigid.'' When subsequent airships were ordered into series production for

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

(WWI), alphabetical class letters were adopted starting with the

B-class blimp The B class blimps were patrol airships operated by the United States Navy during and shortly after World War I. The Navy had learned a great deal from the DN-1 fiasco. The result was the very successful B-type airships. Dr. Jerome Hunsaker was ...

, with individual aircraft identified by a suffixed number; DN-1 was retroactively considered A-class by implication. Within each class, individual airships often had significant design variations, and were sometimes sourced from different manufacturers; the class designations referred to nominal power and size. The first mission designation system for non-rigid airships, introduced in 1940, took the following form: :(Construction)(Mission)-(Class) For example, the ZNP-K referred to K-class (K) patrol (P) non-rigid airship (ZN). In 1947, this system was replaced by one more similar to the 1922 fixed-wing system, and the "N" for non-rigid was dropped due to the termination of the rigid airship program. The 1947 system took the following form: :(Z for airship)(Mission)(Design Number)(Class)-(Subtype)(Minor Modification) For example, the ZP2N-1W referred to the airborne early warning modification (W) of the first subtype (1) of the N-class' (N) second (2) patrol (P) airship (Z). The airship mission designations were initially "G" for scout, "N" for trainer, and "P" for patrol. In 1947, "N" was changed to "T" for trainers, while "H" for search and rescue and "U" for

utility As a topic of economics, utility is used to model worth or value. Its usage has evolved significantly over time. The term was introduced initially as a measure of pleasure or happiness as part of the theory of utilitarianism by moral philosoph ...

were added, although the latter two mission letters were ultimately not used. In 1954, the Navy did away with the separate airship designation system and unified it with the main 1922 system, while retaining the "Z" prefix. Spherical crewed free

gas balloon A gas balloon is a balloon that rises and floats in the air because it is filled with a gas lighter than air (such as helium or hydrogen). When not in flight, it is tethered to prevent it from flying away and is sealed at the bottom to prevent t ...

s used for airship crew training were considered ZF-class aircraft but never received formal designations and were identified only by serial number and volume; similarly, crewed kite balloons and uncrewed

barrage balloons A barrage balloon is a large uncrewed tethered balloon used to defend ground targets against aircraft attack, by raising aloft steel cables which pose a severe collision risk to aircraft, making the attacker's approach more difficult. Early barra ...

were considered ZK-class, but were undesignated.

Other exceptions

The non-standard XDH designation was applied to two de Havilland aircraft procured in 1927 and 1934 for use by the U.S. Naval Attaché in London. In 1952, the Navy and Air Force agreed to standardize some flight training curricula and equipment. Accordingly, the

T-28 Trojan The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a radial-engine military trainer aircraft manufactured by North American Aviation and used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s. Besides its use as a trainer, ...

and

T-34 Mentor The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston ...

trainers were adopted and operated by the Navy under their Air Force designations.

1911 system designations, 1911–1914

''Data from Baugher, Joe (2006)'' * A: Curtiss ** A-1 to A-4 * B:

Wright Wright is an occupational surname originating in England. The term 'Wright' comes from the circa 700 AD Old English word 'wryhta' or 'wyrhta', meaning worker or shaper of wood. Later it became any occupational worker (for example, a shipwright i ...

** B-1 to B-3 * C: Curtiss ** C-1 to C-5 * D: Burgess and Curtis **

D-1 D1, D01, D.I, D.1 or D-1 can refer to: Science and technology Biochemistry and medicine * ATC code D01 ''Antifungals for dermatological use'', a subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System * Dopamine receptor D1, Dopamine ...

** D-2 * E: Curtiss ** E-1 - redesignated from A-2 after conversion to amphibian

1914 system designations, 1914–1917

''Data from Baugher, Joe (2014) and Swanborough and Bowers (1976), as noted''

A: Heavier-than-air

AB: Flying boat

* AB-1 to AB-5 - Curtiss; redesignated from C-1 through C-5 * AB-6 - Burgess; redesignated from D-1 * AB-7 - Burgess; redesignated from D-2

AH: Aeroplane, Hydro

* AH-1 to AH-3 - Curtiss; redesignated from A-1, A-3 and A-4 * AH-4 to AH-6 -

; redesignated from B-1 through B-3 * AH-7 - Burgess * AH-8 and AH-9 - Curtiss * AH-10 - Burgess * AH-11 and AH-18 - Curtiss * AH-19 - Wright * AH-19 and AH-22 -

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austr ...

; conflicting designation, assigned after original AH-19 was rejected

AX: Amphibian

* AX-1 - Curtiss; redesignated from E-1

B: Free balloon

BC: Kite balloon

* BC-2 to BC-4 - Goodyear

1922 system designations, 1922–1962

Airborne early warning

W: Airborne early warning (1952–1962)

* F:

Grumman The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a 20th century American producer of military and civilian aircraft. Founded on December 6, 1929, by Leroy Grumman and his business partners, it merged in 1994 ...

** WF Tracer – redesignated E-1 in 1962 ** W2F Hawkeye – redesignated E-2 in 1962 * U:

Vought Vought was the name of several related American aerospace firms. These have included, in the past, Lewis and Vought Corporation, Chance Vought, Vought-Sikorsky, LTV Aerospace (part of Ling-Temco-Vought), Vought Aircraft Companies, and Vought Ai ...

** WU * V: Lockheed ** WV Warning Star – redesignated EC-121 in 1962

Airship

ZP: Patrol (1954–1962)

* G: Goodyear ** ZPG – redesignated from ZPN and ZP2N in 1954, redesignated Z-1 in 1962

ZS: Scout (1954–1962)

* G: Goodyear ** ZSG – redesignated from ZP2K, ZP3K, and ZP4K ** ZS2G – redesignated from ZP5K

ZW: Airborne Early Warning (1954–1962)

* G: Goodyear ** ZWG

Ambulance

A: Ambulance (1943–1962)

* E:

Piper Piper may refer to: People * Piper (given name) * Piper (surname) Arts and entertainment Fictional characters Comics * Piper (Morlock), in the Marvel Universe * Piper (Mutate), in the Marvel Universe Television * Piper Chapman, lea ...

** AE Grasshopper – redesignated from HE

H: Hospital (1929–1942)

* E:

** HE Grasshopper – redesignated AE in 1943 * L:

Loening Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation was founded 1917 by Grover Loening and Henry M. Crane produced early aircraft and amphibious aircraft beginning in 1917. When it merged with Keystone Aircraft Corporation in 1928, some of its enginee ...

** HL

H: Air-Sea Rescue (1946–1962)

No designations were assigned in this sequence.

Anti-submarine

S: Anti-submarine (1946–1962)

In 1946, the "S for Scout" designation was replaced by "S for anti-Submarine", however, the numbers in the 'S' series were not restarted. * F:

** ''SF'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the SF in the Scout sequence **

S2F Tracker The Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, sub ...

– redesignated S-2 in 1962 * U:

** ''SU'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the SU in the Scout sequence ** S2U

Attack

A: Attack (1946–1962)

* D:

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civi ...

** AD Skyraider – redesignated from BT2D, redesignated A-1 in 1962 ** A2D Skyshark ** A3D Skywarrior – redesignated A-3 in 1962 ** A4D Skyhawk – redesignated A-4 in 1962 * F:

** AF Guardian – redesignated from TB3F ** A2F Intruder – redesignated A-6 in 1962 * H:

McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturing corporation and defense contractor, formed by the merger of McDonnell Aircraft and the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967. Between then and its own merger with Boeing in 1997, it pro ...

** AH Phantom II * J:

North American North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Ca ...

AJ Savage The North American AJ Savage (later A-2 Savage) is an American carrier-based medium bomber built for the United States Navy by North American Aviation. The aircraft was designed shortly after World War II to carry atomic bombs and this meant th ...

– redesignated A-2 in 1962 ** A2J Super Savage **

A3J Vigilante The North American A-5 Vigilante was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy. Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated ...

– redesignated A-5 in 1962 * M:

** AM Mauler – redesignated from BTM * U:

** AU Corsair – redesignated from F4U-6 ** A2U Cutlass

Bomber

B: Bomber (1931–1943)

* D:

** BD Havoc * G:

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lak ...

** BG ** B2G * M:

** BM – redesignated from T5M ** B2M * N:

Naval Aircraft Factory The Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) was established by the United States Navy in 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was created to help solve aircraft supply issues which faced the Navy Department upon the entry of the U.S. into World War I. ...

** BN * T: Northrop ** BT ** B2T * Y: Consolidated ** BY Fleetster ** B2Y

BF: Bomber fighter (1934–1937)

* B:

Boeing The Boeing Company () is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and p ...

** BFB – redesignated from F6B * C: Curtiss ** BFC Goshawk – redesignated from F11C ** BF2C Goshawk

BT: Bomber torpedo (1942–1945)

* C: Curtiss ** BTC ** BT2C * D:

** BTD Destroyer ** BT2D Destroyer II – redesignated AD in 1946 * K: Kaiser-Fleetwings ** BTK * M:

** BTM Mauler – redesignated AM in 1946

Drone/missile

BD: Bomber drone (1944)

* R:

Interstate The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. Th ...

** BDR

DS: Antisubmarine drone (1959–1962)

* N:

Gyrodyne A gyrodyne is a type of VTOL aircraft with a helicopter rotor-like system that is driven by its engine for takeoff and landing only, and includes one or more conventional propeller or jet engines to provide forward thrust during cruising flig ...

** DSN DASH – redesignated H-50 in 1962

KA: Surface-to-air missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, surface-to-air missiles used the same designation system as aircraft. * M:

** KAM Little Joe * N:

** KAN Little Joe **

KA2N Gorgon IIA The KA2N Gorgon IIA – also designated KU2N, CTV-4, and CTV-N-4 – was an air-to-air missile developed by the United States Navy near the end of World War II. Proving a failure in its designed role, it was repurposed as an experimental testbed fo ...

– redesignated CTV-4 in 1947 ** KA3N Gorgon III – redesignated CTV-6 and RTV-4 in 1947 * Q:

Fairchild Fairchild may refer to: Organizations * Fairchild Aerial Surveys, operated in cooperation with a subsidiary of Fairey Aviation Company * Fairchild Camera and Instrument * List of Sherman Fairchild companies, "Fairchild" companies * Fairchild Fa ...

** KAQ Lark – redesignated SAM-2 in 1947 * S: Sperry ** KAS Sparrow – redesignated AAM-2 in 1947 * Y:

Convair Convair, previously Consolidated Vultee, was an American aircraft manufacturing company that later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Consolidated Aircraft and Vultee Aircraft. In 1953, i ...

** KAY Lark – redesignated SAM-4 in 1947

KD: Unified sequence (1945–1962)

* A: Ryan ** KDA Firebee – redesignated QM-34 in 1963 * B:

Beechcraft Beechcraft is an American brand of civil aviation and military aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of Beech Aircraft Corporation, an American manufacturer of general avi ...

** KDB Cardinal – redesignated QM-39 in 1963 ** KD2B Jayhawk – redesignated QM-37 in 1963 * C:

Curtiss-Wright The Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a manufacturer and services provider headquartered in Davidson, North Carolina, with factories and operations in and outside the United States. Created in 1929 from the consolidation of Curtiss, Wright, and v ...

** KDC ** KD2C Skeet ** KD3C Skeet * D: McDonnell (changed to H in 1946) ** KDD Katydid – redesignated from TD2D, redesignated KDH in 1946 * G:

Globe A globe is a spherical model of Earth, of some other celestial body, or of the celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but unlike maps, they do not distort the surface that they portray except to scale it down. A model glo ...

** KDG Snipe ** KD2G Firefly ** KD3G Snipe ** KD4G Quail ** KD5G ** KD6G Firefly – redesignated QM-40 in 1963 * H: McDonnell (changed from D in 1946) ** KDH Katydid – redesignated from KDD * M:

** KDM Plover * N:

** KDN Gorgon – redesignated from TD2N ** KD2N Gorgon – redesignated from TD3N * R: Radioplane ** KDR Quail – redesignated from TD4D ** KD2R Quail – redesignated QM-36 in 1963 ** ''KD3R'' – skipped ** KD4R * T: Temco ** KDT Teal * U:

** KDU Regulus ** KD2U Regulus II – redesignated QM-15 in 1963

KG: Air-to-surface missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, air-to-surface missiles used the same designation system as aircraft. * N:

** KGN Gorgon IIC – redesignated CTV-2 in 1947 * W:

Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs) ...

** KGW Loon – redesignated LTV-1 in 1947

KS: Anti-ship missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, anti-ship missiles used the same designation system as aircraft. * D: McDonnell ** KSD Gargoyle – redesignated from LBD, redesignated RTV-2 in 1947

KU: Research missile (1946–1947)

For a brief period, research missiles used the same designation system as aircraft. * D: McDonnell ** KUD Gargoyle – redesignated from LBD, redesignated RTV-2 in 1947 * M:

** KUM Gorgon IV – redesignated PTV-2 in 1947 * N:

** KUN Gorgon IIC – redesignated CTV-2 in 1947 ** KU2N Gorgon IIA – redesignated CTV-4 in 1947 ** KU3N Gorgon III – redesignated CTV-6 and RTV-4 in 1947 * W:

** KUW Loon – redesignated LTV-1 in 1947

TD: Target drone (1942–1945)

* C:

Culver Culver may refer to: Places United Kingdom *Culver Down, Isle of Wight United States *Culver, Indiana, a town in northern Indiana * Culver, Kansas, a city in north-central Kansas * Culver, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Culver, Misso ...

** TDC Cadet ** TD2C Turkey ** TD3C ** TD4C * D: Radioplane ** TDD ** ''TD2D'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the McDonnell TD2D ** ''TD3D'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Frankfort TD3D ** TD4D – redesignated KDR in 1945 * D: McDonnell ** ''TDD'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Radioplane TDD ** TD2D Katydid – redesignated KDD in 1945 * D: Frankfort ** ''TDD'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Radioplane TDD ** ''TD2D'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the McDonnell TD2D ** TD3D * L:

Bell A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inte ...

** TDL Airacobra – redesignated F2L-1K * N:

** TDN ** TD2N Gorgon – redesignated KDN in 1946 ** TD3N Gorgon IIC – redesignated KD2N in 1946 * R:

** TDR ** TD2R ** TD3R

U: Unpiloted aircraft (1946–1955)

* C:

** UC

Fighter

F: Fighter (1922–1962)

F4U-4 Corsair of NARTU Los Alamitos in flight c1950

McDonnell F3H-2N Demon in flight in 1956

* A:

General Aircraft General Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1931 to amalgamation with Blackburn Aircraft in 1949 to become Blackburn and General. Its main products were military gliders and light transport aircraft. His ...

** FA * A: Brewster ** ''FA'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the General Aircraft FA ** F2A Buffalo ** F3A Corsair * B:

** FB ** F2B ** F3B **

F4B The Boeing P-12/F4B was an United States of America, American fighter aircraft, pursuit aircraft that was operated by the United States Army Air Corps , United States Marine Corps, and United States Navy. Design and development Developed as a p ...

** F5B ** F6B – redesignated BFB in 1934 ** F7B ** F8B * C: Curtiss ** FC **

F2C f2c is a program to convert Fortran 77 to C code, developed at Bell Laboratories. The standalone f2c program was based on the core of the first complete Fortran 77 compiler to be implemented, the "f77" program by Feldman and Weinberger. B ...

** F3C ** F4C ** ''F5C'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the earlier Curtiss F5L ** F6C Hawk ** F7C Seahawk ** F8C Falcon/Helldiver ** F9C Sparrowhawk ** F10C Helldiver ** F11C Goshawk – redesignated BFC in 1934 ** F12C Helldiver ** F13C ** F14C ** F15C * D:

** FD ** ''F2D'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the McDonnell F2D **

F3D Skyknight The Douglas F3D Skyknight (later designated F-10 Skyknight) is an American twin-engined, mid-wing jet fighter aircraft manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California. The F3D was designed as a carrier-based all-weather ...

– redesignated F-10 in 1962 **

F4D Skyray The Douglas F4D Skyray (later redesignated F-6 Skyray) is an American carrier-based fighter/ interceptor built by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Although it was in service for a relatively short time (1956–1964) and never entered combat, it w ...

– redesignated F-6 in 1962 ** F5D Skylancer **

F6D Missileer The Douglas F6D Missileer was a proposed carrier-based fleet defense fighter designed by Douglas Aircraft Company in response to a 1959 United States Navy requirement. It was designed to be able to loiter for extended periods at a relatively lo ...

* D: McDonnell (changed to H in 1946) ** FD – redesignated FH in 1946 ** F2D Banshee – redesignated F2H in 1946 * F:

** FF ** F2F ** F3F **

F4F Wildcat The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atla ...

** F5F Skyrocket **

F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second ha ...

F7F Tigercat The Grumman F7F Tigercat is a heavy fighter aircraft that served with the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) from late in World War II until 1954. It was the first twin-engine fighter to be deployed by the USN. While ...

F8F Bearcat The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It served during the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the ...

F9F Panther The Grumman F9F Panther is one of the United States Navy's first successful aircraft carrier, carrier-based jet fighters, as well as Grumman’s first jet fighter. A single-engined, straight-winged day fighter, it was armed with four Hispano-Su ...

– redesignated F-9 in 1962 *** F9F-6/-8 Cougar – redesignated F-9F/J in 1962 ** F10F Jaguar **

F11F Tiger The Grumman F11F/F-11 Tiger is a supersonic, single-seat carrier-based United States Navy fighter aircraft in operation during the 1950s and 1960s. Originally designated the F11F Tiger in April 1955 under the pre-1962 Navy designation system, i ...

– redesignated F-11 in 1962 *** F11F-1F/2 Super Tiger – redesignated F-11B in 1962 ** F12F – unofficial * G: Eberhart ** FG ** F2G * G: Goodyear ** FG Corsair ** F2G Corsair * H: Hall ** FH * H: McDonnell (changed from D in 1946) **

FH Phantom The McDonnell FH Phantom is a twinjet fighter aircraft designed and first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. The Phantom was the first purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier and the first jet deplo ...

– redesignated from FD **

F2H Banshee The McDonnell F2H Banshee (company designation McDonnell Model 24) is an American single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. A development of the FH Phanto ...

– redesignated from F2D, redesignated F-2 in 1962 **

F3H Demon The McDonnell F3H Demon is a subsonic swept-wing United States Navy carrier-based jet fighter aircraft. The successor to the F2H Banshee, the Demon was originally designed to use the Westinghouse J40 engine, but had to be redesigned to acc ...

– redesignated F-3 in 1962 ** F4H Phantom II – redesignated F-4 in 1962 * J: Berliner-Joyce ** FJ ** F2J ** F3J * J: North American Aviation **

FJ Fury North American FJ Fury (also ''North American F-1 Fury'') may refer to several members of a group of fighter and fighter-bomber aircraft, built by North American Aviation for the US Navy, and related in varying degrees to the F-86 Sabre this firm ...

*** FJ-2/-3 Fury – redesignated F-1C/D in 1962 *** FJ-4 Fury – redesignated F-1E/F in 1962 * K: James V. Martin ** KF * L:

** FL * L:

** FL Airabonita ** F2L Kingcobra *** F2L-1K Airacobra ** F3L – unofficial * M: General Motors ** FM Wildcat ** F2M Wildcat ** F3M Bearcat * O: Lockheed (changed to V in 1951) ** FO Lightning ** FO – conflicting designation, assigned after the original FO was retired, redesignated FV in 1951 * R: Ryan **

FR Fireball The Ryan FR Fireball was an American mixed-power ( piston and jet-powered) fighter aircraft designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the Navy's first aircraft with a jet engine. Only 66 aircraft w ...

** F2R Dark Shark * S:

Supermarine Supermarine was a British aircraft manufacturer that is most famous for producing the Spitfire fighter plane during World War II as well as a range of seaplanes and flying boats, and a series of jet-powered fighter aircraft after World War II ...

FS Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 to the Rolls-Royce Gri ...

– unofficial * T: Northrop ** FT ** F2T Black Widow * U:

** FU ** F2U **

F3U The Vought XF3U was the prototype of a two-seat, all-metal biplane fighter, built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for the United States Navy. Development and design The XF3U was designed to meet the Bureau of Aeronautics 1932 ''Desi ...

F4U Corsair The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft which saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts ...

** F5U ** F6U Pirate **

F7U Cutlass The Vought F7U Cutlass is a United States Navy carrier-based jet fighter and fighter-bomber of the early Cold War era. It was a tailless aircraft for which aerodynamic data from projects of the German Arado and Messerschmitt companies, obtained ...

** F8U Crusader – redesignated F-8 in 1962 *** F8U-3 Crusader III * V:

Canadian Vickers Canadian Vickers Limited was an aircraft and shipbuilding company that operated in Canada during the early part of the 20th century until 1944. A subsidiary of Vickers Limited, it built its own aircraft designs as well as others under licence. ...

** FV Hellcat * V: Lockheed (changed from O in 1951) ** FV – redesignated from FO * W:

** ''WF'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Wright WP ** F2W ** F3W Apache * W: CC&F ** ''FW'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Wright WP ** ''F2W'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Wright F2W ** ''F3W'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Wright F3W ** F4W Bearcat * Y:

** FY Pogo **

F2Y Sea Dart The Convair F2Y Sea Dart was an American seaplane fighter aircraft that rode on twin hydro-skis during takeoff and landing. It flew only as a prototype, and never entered mass production. It is the only seaplane to have exceeded the speed of so ...

– redesignated F-7 in 1962

P: Pursuit (1923)

* W:

** WP

Glider

LB: Bomb glider

* D: McDonnell ** LBD Gargoyle – redesignated KSD and KUD in 1946 * E: Pratt-Read **

LBE LBE could refer to: * The London Borough of Ealing * The London Borough of Enfield * Lead-bismuth eutectic * Arnold Palmer Regional Airport * Pratt-Read LBE * Lübeck-Büchen Railway Company (german: Lübeck-Büchener Eisenbahn) ** LBE Nos. 1 to ...

* P:

** LBP * T:

Taylorcraft Taylorcraft Aviation is an airplane manufacturer that has been producing aircraft for more than 70 years in several locations. The company builds small single-engined airplanes. The Taylorcraft design is a conventional layout: high-wing, fab ...

** LBT

LN: Trainer glider (1941–1945)

* E: Pratt-Read ** LNE * P:

** LNP Grasshopper * R: Aeronca ** LNR Grasshopper * S: Schweizer ** LNS * T:

** LNT Grasshopper

LR: Transport glider (1941–1945)

* A: Allied ** LRA ** LR2A * G: AGA Aviation ** LRG * H: Snead ** LRH * N:

** LRN ** LR2N * Q:

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

** LRQ * W:

Waco Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the st ...

LRW LRW may refer to: * Liskov-Rivest-Wagner, in cryptography * Lifetime Real Women, US television channel * Little Rock West High School, school in Arkansas * Waco LRW, a military glider airplane {{dab ...

** LR2W

Helicopters

HC: Crane (1952–1955)

* H: McDonnell ** HCH

HJ: Utility (1944–1949)

* D: McDonnell (changed to H in 1946) ** HJD Whirlaway * H: McDonnell (changed from D in 1946) ** HJH Whirlaway * P: Piasecki ** HJP Retriever – redesignated HUP in 1950 * S: Sikorsky ** HJS

HO: Observation (1944–1962)

* C: Convertawings ** HOC * E: Hiller ** HOE Hornet * G:

** HOG Rotorcycle * K:

Kaman Kaman may refer to: * Kaman (surname) * Kamein (Kaman), an ethnic group in Burma * Kaman Aircraft, an American aerospace company and helicopter manufacturer * Kaman Music Corporation, a company of several musical instrument manufacturers * Kaman ...

** HOK Huskie – redesignated H-43 in 1962 * S: Sikorsky ** HOS ** HO2S ** HO3S ** HO4S – redesignated UH-19 in 1962 ** HO5S

HN: Trainer (1944–1948)

* S: Sikorsky ** HNS

HR: Transport (1944–1962)

* B:

Boeing Vertol Boeing Rotorcraft Systems (formerly Boeing Helicopters and before that Boeing Vertol) is the former name of an American aircraft manufacturer, now known as Vertical Lift division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The headquarters and main r ...

** HRB Sea Knight – redesignated CH-46 in 1962 * H: McDonnell ** HRH * P: Piasecki ** HRP Rescuer * S: Sikorsky ** HRS – redesignated CH-19 in 1962 ** HR2S – redesignated CH-37 in 1962 ** HR3S Sea King – redesignated CH-3 in 1962

HS: Antisubmarine (1951–1962)

* L:

** HSL * S: Sikorsky **

HSS-1 Seabat The Sikorsky H-34 "Choctaw" (company designation S-58) is an American piston-engined military helicopter originally designed by Sikorsky as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States Navy. It has seen extended use when ad ...

– redesignated SH-34 in 1962 ** HSS-2 Sea King – redesignated SH-3 in 1962

HT: Trainer (1948–1962)

* E: Hiller ** HTE Raven * K:

** HTK Huskie – redesignated H-43 in 1962 * L:

** HTL – redesignated H-13 in 1962

HU: Utility (1950–1962)

* K:

** HUK Huskie – redesignated H-43 in 1962 ** HU2K Seasprite – redesignated UH-2 in 1962 * L:

** HUL – redesignated H-13 in 1962 * M:

McCulloch McCulloch is a Scottish surname. It's a variation of the Northern Irish surname McCullough. It's commonly found in Galloway. Notable people with the surname include: *Alan McCulloch (politician), New Zealand politician *Alan McLeod McCulloch ( ...

** HUM * P: Piasecki ** HUP Retriever– redesignated UH-25 in 1962 * S: Sikorsky ** HUS Seahorse – redesignated CH-34 in 1962 ** HU2S Sea Guard – redesignated HH-52 in 1962

R: Rotorcycle (1954–1959)

* E: Hiller ** ROE Rotorcycle * N:

** RON Rotorcycle

Marine Expeditionary

M: Marine Expeditionary (1922–1923)

* E:

Elias Elias is the Greek equivalent of Elijah ( he, אֵלִיָּהוּ‎ ''ʾĒlīyyāhū''; Syriac: ܐܠܝܐ ''Eliyā''; Arabic: الیاس Ilyās/Elyās), a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century BC, mentioned in several h ...

** EM * N:

** NM

Observation

Ray Wagner Collection Photo (15900643888)

O: Observation (1922–1962)

* B:

** OB ** O2B * C: Curtiss ** OC Falcon ** O2C Falcon ** O3C Seagull * D:

** OD ** O2D * E:

** EO * E: Cessna ** OE Bird Dog – redesignated O-1 in 1962 * F:

** OF Mohawk * H: Huff Daland ** HO * J: Berliner-Joyce ** OJ * K: Keystone ** OK * L:

** OL ** O2L * M:

** MO ** M2O ** O3M * N:

** NO ** O2N * O:

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

** OO * P:

Pitcairn The Pitcairn Islands (; Pitkern: '), officially the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, is a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean that form the sole British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean. The four is ...

** OP *** OP-2 * U:

** UO **

O2U Corsair The Vought O2U Corsair was a 1920s biplane scout and observation aircraft. Developed by Vought Corporation, the O2U was ordered by the United States Navy (USN) in 1927. Powered by a 400 hp (298 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, it inco ...

** O3U Corsair ** O4U Corsair ** O5U * Y: Stinson ** OY Sentinel * Z:

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

** OZ

OS: Observation scout (1935–1945)

* E: Edo ** OSE * N:

** OSN ** OS2N Kingfisher * S: Stearman ** OSS * U:

** OSU Corsair **

OS2U Kingfisher The Vought OS2U Kingfisher is an American catapult-launched observation floatplane. It was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing floats. Performance was modest because of its low-powered engine. The OS2U ...

Patrol

P: Patrol (1923–1962)

* B:

** PB ** PB Flying Fortress – conflicting designation, assigned after the original PB was canceled ** P2B Superfortress **

P3B The P3b is a subcomponent of the P300, an event-related potential (ERP) component that can be observed in human scalp recordings of brain electrical activity. The P3b is a positive-going amplitude (usually relative to a reference behind the ear ...

* D:

** PD ** P2D ** P3D * F:

** PF Albatross * H: Hall ** PH ** P2H * J:

General Aviation General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations with the exception of commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services ...

** PJ * K: Keystone ** PK * M:

** PM ** P2M ** P3M **

P4M Mercator The Martin P4M Mercator was a maritime reconnaissance aircraft built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. The Mercator was an unsuccessful contender for a United States Navy requirement for a long-range maritime patrol bomber, with the Lockheed P2V ...

** P5M Marlin **

P6M SeaMaster The Martin P6M SeaMaster, built by the Glenn L. Martin Company, was a 1950s strategic bomber flying boat for the United States Navy that almost entered service; production aircraft were built and Navy crews were undergoing operational training, ...

** P7M SubMaster * N:

** PN ** P2N – redesignated P4N to avoid confusion with the Curtiss P2N ** ''P3N'' – skipped ** P4N – redesignated from P2N * N: Curtiss ** ''PN'' – skipped ** P2N * O: Lockheed (changed to V in 1951) ** PO Warning Star – redesignated WV in 1951 * S: Sikorsky ** PS ** P2S * V: Lockheed-Vega ** PV Ventura/Harpoon **

P2V Neptune The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and P ...

* V: Lockheed (changed from O in 1951) ** ''PV'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Lockheed-Vega PV ** ''P2V'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Lockheed-Vega P2V Neptune ** P3V Orion * Y: Consolidated/

** PY ** P2Y ** P3Y Catalina – redesignated PBY in 1935 ** P4Y Corregidor ** P5Y Tradewind ** P6Y

PB: Patrol bomber (1935–1962)

* B:

** PBB Sea Ranger ** PB2B Canso * J:

** PBJ Mitchell * M:

PBM Mariner The Martin PBM Mariner was an American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War era. It was designed to complement the Consolidated PBY Catalina and PB2Y Coronado in service. A total of 1,366 PBMs were built, with the fi ...

** PB2M Mars * N:

** PBN Nomad * O: Lockheed ** PBO Hudson * S: Sikorsky **

PBS The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...

* V:

** PBV Catalina * Y: Consolidated **

PBY Catalina The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served w ...

– redesignated from P3Y ** PB2Y Coronado ** PB3Y ** PB4Y Liberator ***

PB4Y-2 Privateer The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer is an American World War II and Korean War era patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modifications as the PB4Y-1 Lib ...

PT: Patrol torpedo (1922)

No designations were assigned in this sequence.

PTB: Patrol torpedo bomber (1937–1962)

* H: Hall ** PTBH

Racer

R: Racer (1922–1928)

* B: Bee Line ** BR * C: Curtiss ** CR ** R2C ** R3C

Scout

Ray Wagner Collection Photo (15903145077)

S: Scout (1922–1946)

* C: Curtiss ** CS/SC ** SC Seahawk – conflicting designation, assigned after the original SC was retired ** S2C Shrike ** S3C Falcon ** S4C Helldiver – redesignated SBC in 1935 * DW:

Dayton-Wright The Dayton-Wright Company was formed in 1917, on the declaration of war between the United States and Germany, by a group of Ohio investors that included Charles F. Kettering and Edward A. Deeds of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco E ...

** SDW * E: Bellanca ** SE * E: Edo ** ''SE'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Bellanca SE ** S2E * F:

** SF * G:

** SG * HP: Handley Page ** HPS * L:

** SL ** S2L * M:

** MS * S: Sikorsky ** SS * U:

** SU Corsair * X:

Cox-Klemin The Cox-Klemin Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Long Island, New York in the 1920s. History It was founded by Charles Cox and Alexander Klemin (a professor at New York University) in College Point, New York. Th ...

** XS

SB: Scout bomber (1934–1946)

* A: Brewster ** SBA ** SB2A Buccaneer * C:

SBC Helldiver The Curtiss SBC Helldiver was a two-seat scout bomber and dive bomber built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. It was the last military biplane procured by the United States Navy. Delivered in 1937, it became obsolete even before World War II a ...

** SB2C Helldiver ** SB3C * D:

** SBD Dauntless ** SB2D Destroyer * F:

** SBF * F:

** SBF Helldiver * G:

** SBG * N:

** SBN * U:

SBU Corsair The Vought SBU-1 Corsair was a two-seat, all-metal biplane dive bomber built by Vought Aircraft Company of Dallas, Texas for the US Navy. Its design was based upon the F3U-1 two-seat Fighter aircraft, fighter that was abandoned when the Navy deci ...

SB2U Vindicator The Vought SB2U Vindicator is an American carrier-based dive bomber developed for the United States Navy in the 1930s, the first monoplane in this role. Vindicators still remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943, all h ...

** SB3U * W: CC&F ** SBW Helldiver

SN: Scout trainer (1939–1948)

SNJ-5 Texan from NAS Oakland in flight 1950

* B:

** SNB Navigator * C: Curtiss ** SNC Falcon * J:

** SNJ Texan ** SN2J * V:

Vultee The Vultee Aircraft Corporation became an independent company in 1939 in Los Angeles County, California. It had limited success before merging with the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in 1943, to form the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporatio ...

** SNV Valiant

SO: Scout observation (1934–1946)

* C: Curtiss **

SOC Seagull The Curtiss SOC Seagull was an American single-engined scout observation seaplane, designed by Alexander Solla of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation for the United States Navy. The aircraft served on battleships and cruisers in a seaplane configurati ...

** SO2C Seagull **

SO3C Seamew The Curtiss SO3C Seamew was developed by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation as a replacement for the SOC Seagull as the United States Navy's standard floatplane scout. Curtiss named the SO3C the ''Seamew'' but in 1941 the US Navy began calling it by ...

* E: Bellanca ** SOE * K:

** SOK * N:

** SON Seagull * R: Ryan ** SOR Seagull * U:

** ''SOU'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Vought OSU ** SO2U

Tanker

G: Tanker (1958–1962)

* V: Lockheed ** GV Hercules

Torpedo

T: Torpedo (1922–1935)

* B:

** TB * BS:

Blackburn Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, east of Preston and north-n ...

** BST * C: Curtiss ** CT * D:

** DT ** T2D ** T3D * E:

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

** TE * F: Fokker ** FT * G:

** TG * M:

** MT/TM ** T2M ** T3M ** T4M ** T5M – redesignated BM in 1931 ** T6M * N:

** TN ** T2N * S: Stout ** ST

TB: Torpedo bomber (1935–1946)

* D:

** TBD Devastator ** TB2D Skypirate * F:

TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and nav ...

** TB2F ** TB3F Guardian – redesignated AF in 1946 * G:

** TBG * M: General Motors ** TBM Avenger * U:

** TBU Sea Wolf * V:

** TBV Georgia * Y: Consolidated ** TBY Sea Wolf

TS: Torpedo scout (1943–1946)

* F:

** TSF

Trainer

N: Trainer (1922–1948)

* B:

** NB ** N2B * C: Curtiss ** ''NC'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the pre-1922

Curtiss NC The Curtiss NC (Curtiss Navy Curtiss, nicknamed "Nancy boat" or "Nancy") was a flying boat built by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and used by the United States Navy from 1918 through the early 1920s. Ten of these aircraft were built, the mos ...

** N2C Fledgling * E:

** NE Grasshopper * H: Huff Daland ** HN * H: Howard ** NH * J:

** NJ * K: Keystone ** NK * L: Langley ** NL * M:

** ''NM'' – skipped ** N2M * N:

** ''NN'' – skipped ** N2N **

N3N The Naval Aircraft Factory N3N was an American tandem-seat, open cockpit, primary training biplane aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1930s and early 1940s. Development and design Built t ...

** ''N4N'' – skipped ** N5N * P:

Spartan Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta refe ...

** NP * Q:

** NQ * R: Ryan ** NR Recruit * S: Stearman ** NS Kaydet ** N2S Kaydet * T: New Standard ** NT * T: Timm ** ''NT'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the New Standard NT **

N2T Tutor The Timm N2T Tutor is an American training monoplane built by the Timm Aircraft Corporation for the United States Navy as the N2T-1. Design and development The Timm S-160 (or Timm PT-160K) was a conventional tandem open-cockpit monoplane trai ...

* V:

** NV * Y: Consolidated ** NY ** N2Y ** N3Y ** N4Y

T: Trainer (1948–1962)

* E: Edo ** TE * J:

** TJ Texan – redesignated from SNJ-8 ** T2J Buckeye – redesignated T-2 in 1962 ** T3J Sabreliner – redesignated T-39 in 1962 * O: Lockheed (changed to V in 1951) ** TO Shooting Star – redesignated TV in 1951 *** TO-2 Shooting Star – redesignated TV-2 in 1951 * T: Temco ** TT Pinto * V: Lockheed (changed from O in 1951) ** TV Shooting Star – redesignated from TO *** TV-2 Shooting Star – redesignated from TO-2 **

T2V SeaStar The Lockheed T2V SeaStar, later called the T-1 SeaStar, is a carrier-capable jet trainer for the United States Navy that entered service in May 1957. Developed from the Lockheed T-33 (itself derived from the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star), it ...

– redesignated T-1 in 1962

T: Trainer, Air Force designations (1952–1962)

T-28 The T-28 was a Soviet multi-turreted medium tank. The prototype was completed in 1931, and production began in late 1932. It was an infantry support tank intended to break through fortified defences. The T-28 was designed to complement the hea ...

–

T-34 The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank introduced in 1940. When introduced its 76.2 mm (3 in) tank gun was less powerful than its contemporaries while its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against anti-tank weapons. The C ...

–

Transport

G: Transport, single engine (1939–1941)

* B:

** GB Traveler * H: Howard ** GH Nightingale * K:

** GK * Q: Stinson ** GQ Reliant

R: Transport, 1931–1962

* A:

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

** RA * B: Budd ** RB Conestoga * C: Curtiss/

** RC Kingbird ** ''R2C'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the R2C in the Racer sequence ** ''R3C'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the R3C in the Racer sequence ** R4C Condor ** R5C Commando * D:

** RD Dolphin ** R2D ** R3D **

R4D The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota (Royal Air Force, RAF, Royal Australian Air Force, RAAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, RCAF, Royal New Zealand Air Force, RNZAF, and South African Air Force, SAAF designation) is a airlift, military transport ai ...

– redesignated C-47 in 1962 *** R4D-8 – redesignated C-117 in 1962 ** R5D – redesignated C-54 in 1962 **

R6D The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with t ...

– redesignated C-118 in 1962 * E: Bellanca ** RE Skyrocket * K: Kinner ** RK Envoy * K:

(changed to Q in 1942) ** ''RK'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Kinner RK ** R2K * M:

** RM * N: Stinson (changed to Q in 1934) ** RN Reliant – redesignated RQ in 1934 * O: Lockheed (changed to V in 1951) ** RO Altair ** R2O Electra ** R3O Electra ** R4O Super Electra ** R5O Lodestar ** R6O Constitution ** R7O Constellation * Q: Stinson (changed from N in 1934) ** RQ Reliant – redesignated from RN ** ''R2Q'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Fairchild R2Q ** R3Q Reliant * Q: Fairchild (changed from K in 1942) ** RQ ** R2Q ** ''R3Q'' – skipped to avoid confusion with the Stinson R3Q ** R4Q Flying Boxcar – redesignated C-119 in 1962 * R:

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

** RR * S: Sikorsky ** RS * T: Northrop ** RT * V: Lockheed (changed from O in 1951) ** R6V Constitution ** R7V Constellation *** R7V-2 Super Constellation ** R8V Hercules * Y: Consolidated/

** RY Liberator Express ** R2Y ** R3Y Tradewind ** R4Y Samaritan

T: Transport (1922–1931, 1950s–1962)

* A:

** TA * F:

** TF Trader – redesignated C-1 in 1962

Utility

J: Utility (1931–1955)

* A: Fokker-America ** JA * A: Noorduyn ** JA Norseman * B:

** JB Traveller * C:

** JC Kingbird * D:

** JD Invader * E: Bellanca ** JE * F:

** JF Duck ** J2F Duck ** J3F Goose ** J4F Widgeon * H: Stearman-Hammond ** JH * K:

(changed to Q in 1942) ** JK ** J2K * L: Columbia ** JL * M:

** JM Marauder * O: Lockheed ** JO Electra Junior * Q:

(changed from K in 1942) ** JQ ** J2Q * R:

** JR * W:

** JW ** J2W

JR: Utility transport (1935–1955)

* B:

** JRB Expeditor * C: Cessna ** JRC Bobcat * F:

** JRF Goose ** JR2F Albatross – redesignated UF * K: Nash-Kelvinator ** JRK * M:

JRM Mars The Martin JRM Mars is a large, four-engined Cargo aircraft, cargo transport flying boat designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company, Martin Company for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the largest Allies of World War II, ...

** JR2M Mercury * S: Sikorsky ** JRS ** JR2S

U: Utility (1955–1962)

* C:

de Havilland Canada De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited is an aircraft manufacturer with facilities formerly based in the Downsview area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The original home of de Havilland Canada was the home of the Canadian Air and Space Museum lo ...

** UC Otter – redesignated U-1 in 1962 ** U2C Beaver * F:

** UF Albatross – redesignated from JR2F, redesignated U-16 in 1962 * O:

** UO Aztec – redesignated U-11 in 1962 * V: Lockheed ** UV JetStar ** UV Hercules – conflicting designation, assigned after the original UV was canceled, redesignated C-130 in 1962

Foreign-built utility aircraft (1920–1962)

* XDH: de Havilland ** XDH-60 Moth ** XDH-80 Puss Moth

Pre-1954 airship systems

Commissioned vessels (1922–1935)

A series of four airships (two one-offs and two production ''Akron''-class vessels) were the only airships in American history to be commissioned as ships of the United States Navy. Another airship, ZR-2 (the British R.38) crashed and was destroyed before delivery, and was therefore never commissioned. * USS ''Shenandoah'' (ZR-1) *

ZR-2 The ''R.38'' class (also known as the ''A'' class) of rigid airships was designed for Britain's Royal Navy during the final months of the First World War, intended for long-range patrol duties over the North Sea. Four similar airships were o ...

– reserved but never commissioned * USS ''Los Angeles'' (ZR-3) * USS ''Akron'' (ZRS-4) * USS ''Macon'' (ZRS-5)

1940 system

ZNN: Training (1940–1946)

* ZNN-G – redesignated ZTG in 1947 * ZNN-L – redesignated ZTL in 1947

ZNP: Patrol (1940–1946)

* ZNP-K – redesignated ZPK in 1947 * ZNP-M – redesignated ZPM in 1947 * ZNP-N – redesignated ZPN in 1947

1947 system

ZP: Patrol (1947–1953)

* ZPK – redesignated from ZNP-K * ZP2K – redesignated ZSG-2 in 1954 * ZP3K – redesignated ZSG-3 in 1954 * ZP4K – redesignated ZSG-4 in 1954 * ZP5K – redesignated ZS2G-1 in 1954 * ZPM – redesignated from ZNP-M * ZPN – redesignated from ZNP-N, redesignated ZPG-1 in 1954 * ZP2N – redesignated ZPG-2 in 1954

ZT: Training (1947–1953)

* ZTG – redesignated from ZNN-G * ZTL – redesignated from ZNN-L

ZW: Airborne Early Warning (1947–1953)

* ZWN – redesignated ZPG-3W in 1954

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * James Charles Fahey, Fahey, James C. 1946 ''U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946'' * Grossnick, Roy A
United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995
Naval Historical Center *

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20070306101712/http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/d/o/dob104/aviation/us/index.html

home.att.net/~jbaugher

National Museum of the US Air Force

www.microworks.net/pacific/aviation

fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon
{{United States Armed Forces Lists of military aircraft, United States Navy, List of military aircraft of United States military-related lists, Aircraft, Naval