List of USAAF squadron codes

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

A B-17 with squadron code 2G

Squadron codes

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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:[1]

Color codings

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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

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References

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