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

 

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10/30/08