List of USAAF squadron codes
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/487thbg-b-17-43-38001.jpg/310px-487thbg-b-17-43-38001.jpg)
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
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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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/487thbg-b-24-42-52746.jpg/220px-487thbg-b-24-42-52746.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/B-17G-42-102509-91bg-401stbs.jpg/220px-B-17G-42-102509-91bg-401stbs.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/B-17s-532d_Bombardment_Squadron.jpg/220px-B-17s-532d_Bombardment_Squadron.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/364th_Bombardment_Squadron_-_B-17_Flying_Fortress.jpg/220px-364th_Bombardment_Squadron_-_B-17_Flying_Fortress.jpg)
Source:[1]
Color codings
Notes:
- 457th BG: colors on propeller hubs
- 388th BG: two black bands on tail and wing (all squadrons)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/385th_Bombardment_Group_B-17G_Flying_Fortress_44-6483.jpg/220px-385th_Bombardment_Group_B-17G_Flying_Fortress_44-6483.jpg)
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
- ^ "USAAF squadron codes". worldwarphotos.info. Retrieved November 21, 2022.