List of USAAF squadron codes

A B-17 with squadron code 2G

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

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:

Color codings

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

• List of RAF squadron codes
• USAAF unit identification aircraft markings

External links

• USAAF Training Aircraft Fuselage Codes of WW II