U.S. Military Aircraft Database
Army 1908-1955, Air force 1947-1962
Each of the U.S. military services has used several designation systems. The earliest system used by both Army and Navy was simply to use manufacturer’s designations. The Army types that fall under this system from 1908-1923 are found below. The Army began to use a system of numbered types in 1919. This system was based loosely on systems used by the RFC and French. It continued in use alongside the more familiar 1924 system for several years for types still in existence. Aircraft designated under this system are also found below.
1919-23 Numbered Types System
PW |
Pursuit, Water-cooled |
Type I |
PN |
Pursuit, Night |
Type II |
PA |
Pursuit, Air-cooled |
Type III |
PG |
Pursuit, Ground Attack |
Type IV |
TP |
Two-seat Pursuit |
Type V |
GA |
Ground Attack |
Type VI |
IL |
Infantry Liason |
Type VII |
NO |
Night Observation |
Type VIII |
AO |
Artillery Observation |
Type IX |
CO |
Corps Observation |
Type X |
DB |
Day Bomber |
Type XI |
NBS |
Night Bomber, Short Distance |
Type XII |
NBL |
Night Bomber, Long Distance |
Type XIII |
TA |
Trainer, Air-cooled |
Type XIV |
TW |
Trainer, Water-cooled |
Type XV |
Miscellaneous types 1919-1923
A |
Ambulance |
COA |
Corps Observation, Amphibian |
GL |
Glider |
M |
Messenger |
MAT |
Messenger, Aerial Torpedo |
PS |
Pursuit, Special Alert |
R |
Racer |
S |
Seaplane |
T |
Transport |
Signal Corps and Army Air Service 1908-1923
The designation system adopted in 1924 has continued in use in modified form to the present day. It bridges the time period from the U.S. Army Air Service in 1924 to the U.S. Air Force in 1962. Types found under this system are found below. Undesignated types from 1924 to 1962 are also found below.
Type Symbols 1924-1947
A |
Attack |
1926-1947 |
Aerial Target |
1940-1941 |
|
AG |
Assault Glider |
1942-1944 |
AT |
Advanced Trainer |
1924-1947 |
B |
Bomber |
1924-date |
BC |
Basic Combat Trainer |
1936-1940 |
BG |
Bomb Glider |
1942-1944 |
BLR |
Bomber, Long-range |
1935-1936 |
BQ |
Guided Bomb |
1942-1945 |
BT |
Basic Trainer |
1930-1947 |
C |
Transport |
1924-date |
CG |
Transport Glider |
1941-1947 |
CQ |
Drone Control |
1942-1945 |
F |
Photographic Reconaissance |
1930-1947 |
FG |
Fuel Glider |
1944-1947 |
FM |
Fighter, Multiplace |
1936-1941 |
G |
Gyroplane |
1935-1939 |
GB |
Glide Bomb |
1941-1947 |
GT |
Glide Torpedo |
1942-1947 |
HB |
Heavy Bomber |
1924-1927 |
JB |
Jet-Propelled Bomb |
1943-1947 |
L |
Liason |
1942-1962 |
LB |
Light Bomber |
1924-1932 |
O |
Observation |
1924-1945 |
OA |
Observation, Amphibian |
1924-1947 |
OQ |
Target, Flying Model |
1942-1947 |
P |
Pursuit |
1924-1947 |
PB |
Pursuit, Bi-place |
1935-1941 |
PG |
Powered Glider |
1943-1947 |
PQ |
Manned Aerial Target |
1941-1947 |
PT |
Primary Trainer |
1924-1947 |
R |
Rotorcraft |
1941-1947 |
S |
Supersonic Research |
1946-1947 |
TG |
Training Glider |
1921-1957 |
VB |
Vertical Bomb |
1943-1947 |
Type Symbols 1948-1962
A |
Amphibian |
From OA |
B |
Bomber |
Continued |
C |
Transport |
Continued |
F |
Fighter |
From P |
G |
Glider |
From CG |
H |
Helicopter |
From R |
K |
Tanker |
Added 8/15/55 |
L |
Liason |
Continued |
M |
Missile |
See below |
Q |
Aerial Target |
|
R |
Reconnaissance |
From F |
|
Rocket |
See Below |
S |
Search & Rescue |
Dropped 8/15/55 |
|
Sailplane |
Added 1960 |
T |
Trainer |
From PT |
U |
Utility |
Added 3/14/55 |
V |
Convertiplane |
Added 1953 |
X |
Experimental |
From S |
Miscellaneous Suffix Letters
I |
Instrument training |
1932-1941 |
G |
Radio-controlled target |
1940 |
R |
Radio-controlled target |
1940 |
-IT |
Instrument training |
1955 |
Missile designations 1955-1961
GAM |
Guided airborne missile |
IM |
Interceptor missile |
RM |
Research missile |
SM |
Strategic missile |
TM |
Tactical missile |
GAR |
Guided Airborne rocket |
Interim Missile System 1961
Type
G |
Booster |
J |
Spacecraft |
M |
Missile |
P |
Probe |
R |
Rocket |
S |
Satellite |
Missile Launch Method
A |
Aircraft |
C |
Coffin |
G |
Ground Vehicle |
H |
Silo |
M |
Multiple |
P |
Soft Pad |
R |
Railroad Car |
S |
Space |
Mission
B |
Communications |
C |
Cargo |
E |
Early Warning |
I |
Interceptor |
K |
Tanker |
N |
Test |
P |
Propulsion |
Q |
Target |
R |
Reconnaissance |
S |
Strategic |
W |
Weather |
X |
Research |
Attack - A
Bomber –B, BLR, HB, LB
Drone – A, PQ, OQ, BQ, Q, Missiles
Experimental – X, S, V
Fighter – P, F, PB, FM
Glider – AG, BG, CG, FG, PG, TG, S
Miscellaneous - Undesignated
Observation – F, L, O, OA, R
Rotary Wing – G, R, H
Trainer- AT, BT, PT, BC, T
Transport – C, U
10/30/08