Hull Identification

Expanding on ideas for Hull Identifications.

Forum discussions

• Forum Topic by Focal
  • See: Forum Transcript

Notes

Andy Goodstar

I think that something like VIN codes or vehicle registration plates would be nice

• VK4RCSLX-ABC123
  • V - Vega sector
    • K - Kurasawa system
      • 4 - Kurasawa IV (home planet of the player or the planet where the ship was bought)
        • R - ship manufacturer RSI
          • CS - ship type Constellation
            • LX - ship variant LX
              • ABC123 - unique alphanumeric serial ID (maybe unique for the same ship from the same planet/station), maybe player could pay some credits to replace it with name he wants (eg AGENT7 or WINNER but it had to be still unique).

maybe only the green part would be visible, because everyone will get which ship it is and place of origin is not important.

Anyway I like visible IDs and I hope that it would be harder to change them than electronic IDs...

Research

Why did World War 2 fighter planes have numbers on them?

• source

Airplanes, especially the military planes in WW2, were painted with numbers and symbols to identify them. Some numbers were the identification of the airplane. Some numbers were used to identify the airplane within the squadron.

For example, the number painted on the tail of large bomber was the aircraft serial number that was assigned to it at the Factory. These numbers were used to keep track of the aicraft throughout the war and to track its maintenance records and such.

Then other bombers would have a 2 or 3 digit number painted on the nose. These helped identify the number within the Group or Squadron. It could have been the radio call number identification used to talk to each other. Each plane could have nose art & a Name painted on the nose but this was used for morale only and not for a call sign.

The Germans in WW2 would identify many of their bombers, fighters and other planes with 4 numbers/Letters on the fuselage; 2 on each side of the National insignia (+). The first two letters/numbers would identify the Bomb Squadron and the last two would identify the aircraft within the unit. Usually the 3rd letter would be the aircraft's number.

British fighters used Letters placed next to the national insignia(roundel). You can see early Spitfires and Hurricanes with these letters. A pilot who distinguished himself would be allowed to use his initials instead of the squadron's letters. For example, ace Johnnie Johnson's aircraft was identified with "JEJ".

German fighters were generally marked with an aircraft number forward of the National insignia (+). Aft of the + insignia was a symbol that identified the Staffel(squadron) and would be a - or a Bar(|) or a "~". They used colors---black, red, yellow, blue---to also identify which staffel of the squadron and the aircraft number was the same color. It was really very simple. The leaders of the Staffel were painted black as they lead all the staffels. The leaders were marked with a Chevron or double Chevron that was turned to point Forward.

Breakdown of WWII Aircraft

UK Plane Example

Bristol Beaufighter;

• Role
  • Heavy Fighter / Strike Aircraft
• Variants
  • Beaufighter Mk IF
    • Two-seat night fighter variant.
  • Beaufighter Mk IC
    • The "C" stood for Coastal Command variant; many were modified to carry bombs.
  • Beaufighter Mk II
    • However well the Beaufighter performed, the Short Stirling bomber programme by late 1941 had a higher priority for the Hercules engine and the Rolls-Royce Merlin XX-powered Mk II was the result.
  • Beaufighter Mk IIF
    • Production night fighter variant.
  • Beaufighter Mk III/IV
    • The Mark III and Mark IV were to be Hercules and Merlin powered Beaufighters with a new slimmer fuselage carrying an armament of six cannon and six machine guns which would give performance improvements. The necessary costs of making the changes to the production line led to the curtailing of the Marks.[12]
  • Beaufighter Mk V
    • The Vs had a Boulton Paul turret with four 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns mounted aft of the cockpit supplanting one pair of cannon and the wing-mounted machine guns. Only two (Merlin-engined) Mk Vs were built. R2274 when tested by the A&AEE was capable of 302 mph at 19,000 ft.[13]
  • Beaufighter Mk VI
    • The Hercules returned with the next major version in 1942, the Mk VI, which was eventually built to over 1,000 examples.
  • Beaufighter Mk VIC
    • Torpedo-carrying variant dubbed the "Torbeau".
  • Beaufighter Mk VIF
    • This variant was equipped with AI Mark VIII radar. Changes included a dihedral tailplane.[14]
  • Beaufighter Mk VI (ITF)
    • Interim torpedo fighter version.
  • Beaufighter Mk VII
    • Proposed Australian-built variant with Hercules 26 engines, not built.
  • Beaufighter Mk VIII
    • Proposed Australian-built variant with Hercules 17 engines, not built.
  • Beaufighter Mk IX
    • Proposed Australian-built variant with Hercules 17 engines, not built.
  • Beaufighter TF Mk X
    • Two-seat torpedo fighter aircraft. The last major version (2,231 built) was the Mk X. The later production models featured a dorsal fin.[15]
  • Beaufighter Mk XIC
    • Built without torpedo gear for Coastal Command use.
  • Beaufighter Mk XII
    • Proposed long-range variant of the Mk 11 with drop tanks, not built.
  • Beaufighter Mk 21
    • The Australian-made DAP Beaufighter. Changes included Hercules CVII engines, four 20 mm cannon in the nose, four Browning .50 in (12.7 mm) in the wings and the capacity to carry eight 5 in (130 mm) High Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVAR), two 250 lb (110 kg) bombs, two 500 lb (230 kg) bombs and one Mk 13 torpedo.
  • Beaufighter TT Mk 10
    • After the war, many RAF Beaufighters were converted into target tug aircraft.
  • Beaufighter Australian Experimental classes
    • twin Merlin engines; 40mm Bofors gun fitted
• Sub-Variants: Armament (Spitfire: Variants: Overiew)
  • A wing: eight .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
  • B wing: four .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns and two 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano cannon
  • C \ Universal Wing: could mount either four 20 mm (.79 in) cannon or two 20 mm (.79 in) and four .303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns
  • E wing which housed two 20 mm (.79 in) cannon and two .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns

Add to Ships Page Modified

• Specifications (Specifications (Blenheim Mk IV))
  • General characteristics
    • Crew: 3
    • Length: 42 ft 7 in (12.98 m)
    • Wingspan: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
    • Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m)
    • Wing area: 469 ft² (43.6 m²)
    • Empty weight: 9,790 lb (4,450 kg)
    • Loaded weight: 14,400 lb (6,545 kg)
    • Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Mercury XV radial engine, 920 hp (690 kW) each
    • Propellers: Three-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller
  • Performance
    • Maximum speed: 266 mph (231 kn, 428 km/h at 11,800 ft (3,597 m))
    • Cruise speed: 198 mph (172.25 kn, 319 km/h)
    • Range: 1,460 mi (1,270 nmi, 2,351 km)
    • Service ceiling: 27,260 ft (8,310 m)
    • Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min[citation needed] (7.6 m/s)
    • Wing loading: 30.7 lb/ft² (150 kg/m²)
    • Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (.21 kW/kg)
  • Armament
    • Guns:
      • 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in port wing
      • 1 or 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in rear-firing under-nose blister or Nash & Thomson FN.54 turret
      • 2 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning guns in dorsal turret
    • Bombs:
    • 1200 lb (540 kg)
      • 4 × 250 lb (113 kg) bombs or
      • 2 × 500 lb (227 kg) bombs internally and 8× 40 lb (18 kg) bombs externally

Example: Beaufighter TF.X (TF = Torpedo Fighter, X = Mk X)

See: military aircraft designation systems

NOTE: Some point to another factor, the wing types. Need to re-find the article on Spitfires stating evidence.

Another Big Do

With Squadron Leader (S/L) Christison at its helm, 404 was able to contribute 12 aircraft to a formation totaling 38 from the four squadrons comprising the Banff Strike Wing. With the Bundy plus Jones two-ship tucked into the lead 404 element, the armed recce force stayed to the south, setting course to patrol the waters between the Skaw, Denmark and the Naze, Norway. Relatively new territory to most of the Wing’s crews. After some two and three quarter hours flying, contact was made with two vessels – a tanker and its escort – at 5808N, 0817E. It was a hectic, productive time over the target. Second man in, Bundy let fly his eight round R/P load into the tanker. Most of the Buffaloes concentrated on this target with R/P and cannon, though for some as yet undiscovered reason, Bundy was the only one whose cannon did not fire. The tanker was left a mess with 36 dry hits and 4 four wet (the desired result, traveling underwater to hole the hull below the waterline). It exploded, with flying debris damaging aircraft A/404, and sank. It is quite reasonable to assume that there was a chance both new crews had made their first tangible mark on the enemy. Bundy’s fellow rookie – Jones – who had split off under the wing of the very experienced Wainman / Stoddart crew to attack the escort vessel also got to loose an R/P salvo at a real target. They – Wainman and Jones – were the only two to attack the escort with R/P and it was determined to have received eight dry hits. Two other aircraft attacked it with cannon fire. Both vessels were later confirmed sunk. The Squadron ORB says of the two new crews “both gave a good account of themselves.” The 404 Squadron history pulls a quote from Herbert Spencer’s scrapbook “Bundy, who came in last returned to remark, ‘Boy, my journey wasn’t really necessary!”

Beaufighter TF.X NE800 as EE•N of 404 Squadron. Although it came to the Squadron from 46 MU on 7 May 1944, NE800 only shows up in the ORB five times prior to Bundy’s first operational hop in October. Presumably it was held in reserve or used within the training pool for much of its earlier life. Still she could make one claim to fame during those times. Its Form 78 shows two ROS/CRO (repaired on site by the civilian repair organization) entries through the summer and a return to the Squadron on 1 September. The cause of the second of these was most certainly flak damage received while in action with three tour veteran W/C Gatward DSO, DFC at the controls on his final Beaufighter sortie as 404s OC. Returning to the squadron in September, she may have then been held in reserve, or dedicated to training flights (which are not detailed in the ORB) until the second week of October, after which the crew of Bundy and Wright were her most frequent crew.

A determined search did not result in useful overall photographs of this particular aircraft during Bundy’s time on the squadron. The illustration is therefore based on a careful study of both contemporaneous 404 Beaus and those close to NE800 in serial number. Bundy flew at least 23 operational sorties in this aircraft; most of those with Wright as navigator.

Throughout the remainder of October the rookie crews logged four more operational hops. Bundy and Wright crewed NE800 on two of those. The first one, on the 18th, was back to the Naze area where the tanker of the previous action could be seen still aflame. Presumably parts of her superstructure remained above water. Heavy flak was encountered throughout and “considerable shipping was observed in Kristiansand Harbour.” The sighting was likely made on the way home; low on fuel, no attack was made. The next day was similar. Typical of these en masse armed recce trips, give or take four hours lapsed between take off and landing. However S/L Bobby Schoales DFC, led the 404 contingent in “Bundy’s” NE800 while Bundy and Wright remained at Banff.

The 21st was another Big Do under the very capable leadership of S/L Christison DFC. The twelve (ORB gives twelve but there appears to have been a thirteenth – W/C Pierce’s EE•X – in the Details of Sortie narrative) Beaufighters of 404 were accompanied by nine similar aircraft of 144 Squadron, several Mosquito outriders* of 333 (Norwegian) Squadron and a number of Mosquitoes from both 235 and 248 Squadrons. Bundy and Wright crewed NT991 EE•E on this trip with Jones and Elliott right behind them in the oldest of the Squadron’s veteran warhorses, LX940 EE•Y. NE800 stayed on the ground for reasons unknown; most likely routine maintenance. The force made landfall at Utvaer after which a 333 scout raced up the coast all the way to Askvoll Harbour sniffing for enemy shipping. After he reported in the negative the main group split with 18 aircraft, including half of 404s Beaus, patrolling towards Stadlandet. With no targets in sight they all headed for home. Meanwhile the balance, including Bundy and Jones amoung the seven Buffaloes present, headed south towards Haugesund with P/333 darting along the coastline looking for quarry. Two merchant vessels (M/V) and an armed trawler (TTA) were unlucky enough to be in Haugesund Harbour. The strike aircraft went at them in a fury of cannon fire and R/P salvoes. In the company of three very experienced crews – Wainman / Stoddart in NE669 EE•A, Christison in LZ451 EE•M, and Flynn / Michael in NV177 EE•Z – Bundy attacked the largest M/V. Their combined effort claimed 18 dry and 4 underwater R/P hits; 20 out of the total of 36 armour piercing rounds from the four Beaus found their mark. Their cannon fire struck the bridge and amidships. The smaller M/V received accurate R/P and cannon fire from two of 404s cohort. The escort apparently escaped after putting up intense flak and P.A.C.s (projected or parachute aerial cables – cables shot vertically up from ships via a small rocket to discourage attacking aircraft). Returning crews reported leaving the vessels on fire. Both M/Vs – the German vessel Eckenheim (1923 tons) and the Norwegian Vestra (1422 tons) – sank (the larger one was reportedly raised not long afterwards). No aircraft were lost but Christison brought old “M” back with a large hole in her port tail plane.

Outrider

"Outrider" was a term coined within the 18 Group Strike Wings for specialist armed recce crews that would perform either single aircraft or two aircraft Rovers ahead of a mission launch, or real time recce as part of a strike group. In the Rover profile, they would either radio back found target details before landing themselves (passing the thus activated outward-bound strike group while they themselves were homeward bound) or report directly in person upon landing. When flying to the target area with a strike group, they would venture out ahead darting in and out of the fjords and harbours looking for verifiable targets and, with the mission commander's okay, direct part or all of the group onto the target. Recommending the best approach (ingress direction and height, etc) was usually part of their job as well. Later in the war, some squadrons used seasoned crews, familiar as they were with the target area, as outriders but more often than not the job went to the specialist 333 (Norwegian) Squadron based at Banff. This squadron's crews had very intimate knowledge of the coastline of their German-occupied homeland.

Beaufighter TF.X LZ451 as EE•M of 404 Squadron as flown by S/L Christison DFC, and others, circa late October 1944. Earlier, this aircraft became the mount of former squadron commander W/C Ken Gatward DSO, DFC and Bar. He flew it often through the summer of 1944 before leaving the squadron in late August. The aircraft remained to soldier on into late February. The unofficial Buffalo emblem was most probably applied in late May or early June and the command pennant a little later, possibly July. The French tricolour is believed to have been added after Gatward, flying LZ451, landed in France on 7 August 1944, claiming a first for Coastal Command. Some say that it may also commemorate his “show the flag” flight over occupied Paris in 1942 when he was with another Beaufighter squadron, but that seems a stretch. The “The Ancient Mariner” inscription may have been applied shortly after Gatward posted out, in recognition of either the aircraft itself (the 2nd or 3rd oldest on 404 strength at the time) or its two-tour veteran former pilot. Interestingly, the command pennant remained into 1945 although the new commander never flew this aircraft.

• From Buffalo-Soldier

UK Air Ministry Specifications

Specification Designations

Each specification name usually followed a pattern.

Aircraft Purpose

• A = Army Co-Operation (A.39/34)
• B = Heavy Bomber (B.12/36)
• C = Cargo: Military Transport (C.1/42)
• E = Experimental (E.28/39)
• F = Fighter (F.10/35)
• G = General Purpose (G.9/45)
• M = Multi-role ( M.15/35)
• N = Naval (N.21/45)
• O = Observation: Naval Reconnaissance (O.8/38)
• P = Medium Bomber (P.13/36)
• Q = Special Purpose: target-tugs, radio-controlled target drones, etc. (Q.32/55)
• R = Reconnaissance (R.3/33)
• S = Spotter (S.38/34)
• T = Training (T.23/31)
• X = Unpowered (X.26/40)

# Identifying it in sequence

• ##

Year Formulated

• ##

Sometimes the purpose for which an aircraft is used in service would change from that for which the specification to which it was designed was issued, and so there are some discrepancies and inconsistencies in designation, the Royal Navy in particular liking to specify multiple roles for its aircraft in an attempt to make the best use of the necessarily limited hangar space onboard its aircraft carriers. In this case this resulted in several types designed to specifications originally intended to signify the naval Spotting role also being used for other purposes, e.g., S.15/33, resulting in the Blackburn Shark and Fairey Swordfish, the latter aircraft being primarily utilised as a torpedo bomber. Similarly S.24/37, which produced the Fairey Barracuda, again primarily designed for spotting, the dive bomber/torpedo bomber requirements being regarded as secondary when the specification was issued, but for which roles it was almost exclusively subsequently used, the original spotting requirement having been made obsolete with the introduction of radar.

British military aircraft designation systems

List of Specifications

The names of the aircraft shown in the table are not necessarily those they carried when provided for evaluation as at this point an aircraft would usually be referred-to as the Manufacturer X.XX/XX, e.g., the Avro B.35/46 - this is in addition to the manufacturer's own separate internal designation for the aircraft, e.g., Avro 698. With several manufacturers submitting designs to the same specification this could result in a number of different aircraft with the same X.XX/XX designation, e.g., Handley Page B.35/46, etc.

Upon acceptance of the design(s) the final service names would usually be chosen by the Air Ministry when they placed a production order, in the above B.35/46 cases, where two aircraft were accepted to this specification, Vulcan and Victor respectively.

Upon entering service, in the absence of any already-planned variants a new type would initially have no Mark Number after the aircraft name, being simply referred-to as the Manufacturer Service-name, e.g., the Avro Anson, however upon acceptance of a new variant the previous (initial) version automatically became the 'Mark I', so in the example given, the previous (first) version of the Anson retrospectively became the Avro Anson Mk I upon acceptance of an Avro Anson Mk II. Sometimes planned variants would be later cancelled leading to 'missing' Mark Numbers, or the extent of the changes may have justified given the new variant a completely new name, e.g., the Hawker Typhoon II subsequently becoming the Hawker Tempest, or the Avro Lancaster B.IV & B.V entering service as the Avro Lincoln. In a few cases the same aircraft ordered with differing engines would be allocated separate names for each variant, e.g., Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Tornado, or the Handley Page Hampden and Handley Page Hereford. Typographical designation of Mark Numbers (Mk.) varied over time and inconsistencies are common, e.g., Mark II, Mk. II, II, etc. Initially Roman numerals were used, changing to Arabic numerals post-World War II, e.g., Supermarine Spitfire Mk I to Supermarine Spitfire Mk 24.

Prefixes

• Company Name/Company Abbreviation
  • Prefix (Role)
    • Mark (Variant)

Example: Hercules C.4 ("Cargo, Mark 4")

Numbers

Expanding the Total Sequence

AAA100 to ZZZ999

Recently, past unassigned serials, including those having numerals 001-099, have yet to be assigned. ~ Maybe for Dev serial #'s, maybe using the original format of AA100 to ZZ999? The Letter representing the Dev Role.

Some letters have not been used to avoid confusion: C confusion with G, I confusion with 1, O and Q confusion with 0, U confusion with V and Y confusion with X.

Display Location

• The serial numbers are normally carried in up to four places on each aircraft, on either side of the aircraft on a vertical surface and on the underside of each wing. The underwing serials have not been displayed since the 1960s. The serial on each side is usually on the rear fuselage, but this can vary depending on the aircraft type, for instance the delta winged Gloster Javelin had the serial on the forward engine nacelle, and the Avro Vulcan had the serial on the fin. Helicopters have only carried serials on each side, either on the tailboom or rear fuselage.

German Plane Example

Identification codes of units of the Luftwaffe 1939 - 1945

This is an alphabetic listing of all known codes. This kind of marking was used at all wings (units) and some ground-attack wings (units) and some heavy fighter wings(units). This code was always an alpha numeric code which was shown on the left hand from the national insignia.

Alpha Numeric Code

• Code / Unit
  • A1+ KG 53 (53. Bomber Wing)
  • A2+ I./ZG 52, (I./52nd Heavy Fighter Wing, from 6.7.1940 onwards: II./ZG 2 (II./2nd Heavy Fighter Wing), Flugbereitschaft Kd.Gen.d.dt.L in Finnland (HQ German Airforce Finland)
  • A3+ KG 200 (200 Special Duties Wing), Versuchskdo. 200 (200 Trials Unit), Versuchskdo. 36 (36 Trial Unit)
  • A4+ with squadron letter .A - Luftbeobachterstaffel - 3rd fighter division, spring / summer 1944
  • A5+ 1./St.G.1 (I./1st Dive Bomber Wing), SG 1 (1st Assault Wing)
  • A6+ Aufkl.Gr.120 (120 Reconnaissance Group)
  • A8+ with the letters .H+.K seen on a He 111 in february 1942 at Grosetto (arial torpedo trials)
  • B1+ Transport Squadron of I. Air Corps (occasionally also called Transport Squadron "Don")
  • B3+ KG 54 (54 Bomber Wing)
  • B4+ Night Fighter Squadron Finland
  • B7+ Westa 1 (1rd Metrological Squadron)
  • C1+ Test Centre Peenemünde (Me 163)
  • C2+ Aufkl. Gr.41 (41st Reconaissance Group)
  • C3+ Transport Squadron II. Air Corps
  • C5+ Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron)/Lfl.6 with Squadron Letter . H
  • C6+ KGr.z.b.V.600 (600 Special Duties Battle Group), Tr.FI.St.4 (4th Transport Squadron)
  • C8+ I.+II./KG.z.b.V.323, TG 5 (I.+II./323 Special Duties Battle Group - 5 Transport Wing)
  • C9+ NJG 5 (5th Night Fighter Wing) also NJ 100 (100th Night Fighter Wing)
  • D1+ SAGr.126 (126 Maritime Reconnaissance Wing), LD.Kdo.65 (65th Courier Detachment)
  • D3+ 2nd Night Harassment Group
  • D5+ NJG 3 (3rd Night Fighter Wing), frequently also with the code L1+
  • D7+ Wekusta 5 (5th Metrological Squadron; from April 1943 onwards in connection with the code letter "N", previously 1B+ with the squadron letter "H")
  • D9+ Night Fighter Squadron Norway, temporarily I./NJG 7
  • E1 - E7+ Test Centre Rechlin (for Me 163 and Ar 234)
  • E8+ 1./FKG 50
  • F1+ KG 76 (76th Bomber Wing), I./St.G. 76 (I./76th Dive Bomber Wing; using the letter C,M,N,P of the II. Group as those of the I. Group had already been allocated to the I./KG 76 and, from 6.7.1940 onwards, to the III./St.G. 77)
  • F2+ Erg.(F)Gr. (Long-range Reconaissance Replacment-Group)
  • F3+ Aufkl.Gr.12 (12th Reconaissance Group)
  • F5+ NAG 5 (5th Short-range Reconaissance Wing)
  • F6+ Aufkl. Gr.122 (122th Reconaissance Group)
  • F7+ I./LLG 2 (I./2nd Glider Assault Wing), SAGr. 130 (130 Maritime Reconaissance Wing; frequently also with the code 6I+)
  • F8+ KG 40 (40 Bomber Wing), Transport Squadron "Condor"
  • G1+ KG 55 (55 Bomber Wing)
  • G2+ Aufkl.Gr.124 (124th Reconaissance Group)
  • G3+ NJG 101 (101st Night Fighter Wing)
  • G5+ Transport Squadron V. Air Corps
  • G6+ KGrzbV.2; 101, 102, 103, 104+105 (2nd, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th+105th Special Duties Battle Group), TG 4 (4th Transport Group), 1st Air Transport Group (Maritime)
  • G8+ Transport Squadron IV. Air Corps
  • G9+ NJG 1 (1st Night Fighter Wing), ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; initial formation), NJG 4 (4th Night Fighter Wing; only for a short period of time)
  • H1+ Aufkl. Gr.12 (12th Reconaissance Group)
  • H4+ LLG 1 (1st Glider Assault Wing)
  • H7+ St.G.3 (3rd Dive Bomber Wing), SG 3 (3rd Assault Wing)
  • H8+ Aufkl. Gr.33 (33rd Reconaissance Group)
  • H9+ 7th Air Transport Squadron (Maritime)
  • J2+ NAG 3 (3rd Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • J4+ 5th and 290th Air Transport Squadron
  • J6+ KGr.z.b.V 500 (500 Special Duties Battle Group)
  • J9+ StG 5 (5th Dive Bomber Wing), SG 5 (5th Assault Wing) (previously l./186fh Dive Bomber Wing, carrier-based, from 6.7.1940 onward III. /Dive Bomber Wing 1)
  • K1+ Messenger Squadron of Ob.d.L. (High Command of Luftwaffe)
  • K6+ Kü.fl.Gr.406 (406th Coastal Aviation Group) KG 6 (6th Bomber Wing).
  • K7+ Aufkl.Gr.Nacht (Night Reconnaisance Group)
  • K9+ Aufkl.Gr.B.d.L. (Reconnaisance Group High Command Luftwaffe) (also T5+)
  • L1+ I./NJG 3(l./3rd Night Fighter Wing), I. u. IV. (Z)/LG 1 I./IV. (Heavy Fighter)/1st Instruction Wing, also I./5th Dive Bomber Wing (former IV./1st Dive Bomber Instruction Wing)
  • L2+ LG 2 (2nd Instruction Wing)
  • L5+ KGr.z.b.V.5 (5 Special Duties Battle Group), 7./Erg. Transportgeschwader (7./Transport Training Replacement Wing)
  • L7+ seen with +AB-AF on Fi 156, Me 108 and Me 110
  • M2+ Kü.fl. Gr.106 (106th Coastal Aviation Group)
  • M3+ seen on a Ju 52/3m (unit ?)
  • M7+ Kü.fl. G r.806 (806th Coastal Aviation Group)
  • M8+ ZG 76 (76th Heavy Fighter Wing - first activation)
  • N1+ High Capacity Transport Squadron from 30.1.1945 onward
  • N3+ I./KGr.z.b.V.172 (I./172nd Special Duties Battle Group also 4V+)
  • N6+ Unit Major Babekuhl
  • N7+ seen on a Do 18 (unit ?)
  • N9+ Flugbereitschaft Norwegen (Air Service Norway)
  • P1+ KGr.60 (60th Battle Group)
  • P2+ Aufkl. Gr.21 (21st Reconnaissance Group)
  • P4+ Führungskette X. Fliegerkorps (Staff Flight X. Air Corps), Transportstaffel Fliegerführer Nord (Ost) (Transport Squadron Air Commander North (East)
  • P5+ Sonderstaffel Trans-Ozean (Special Squadron Transocean), KGr.zbV. 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group), Kdo. d. Transportfl. Chef See-Norwegen (Command of Chief. Maritim Transport Norway)
  • Q5+ Westa 27 (27th Metrological Squadron)from October 1943 on, previously 5M+ together with Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron)/Lfl. 2 as an Squadron in Southern Greece
  • R4+ 2 Night Fighter Wing
  • S1+ St.G. 3 (3 Dive Bomber Wing (also S7+)
  • S2+ St.G. 77, SG 77 (77 Dive Bomber Wing) (77 Assault Wing)
  • S3+ KGr.z.b.V.5, Transportgruppe 30 (5th Special Duty Battle Group, 30th Transport Group)
  • S4+ Kü.fl.Gr.506 (506th Coastal Aviation Group)
  • S7+ St.G.3, SG 3 (3 Dive Bomber Wing, 3 Assault Wing)
  • S9+ Erp.Gr.210, (at first 210th Testing Group until April 1941, then 210th Special Battle Group and from 1942 on Heavy Fighter Wing 1 together with 2N+)
  • T1+ Aufkl. Gr.10 (10th Reconnaissance Group)
  • T3+ 1./Bordfliegerstaffel 196 (1./Shipboard Squadron 196)
  • T5+ Aufkl.St.Ob.d.L (Reconnaissance Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe) 3.(Einsatz) Ob.d.L. (3rd Operational Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe), Aufkl.Gr.100 (100th Reconnaissance Squadron), with last letter U = Wekusta Ob.d.L. (with last letter U = Meteorological Squadron Commander-in-Chief Luftwaffe)
  • T6+ St.G.2 (2 Dive Bomber Wing), SG 2 (2 Assault Wing) mit letztem Buchstaben Z = St. Erg. St. des VIII FI.Korps (with Z as last letter = Dive Bomber Replacement Training Squadron of VIII. Air Corps).
  • T9+ Experimental unit (Transport) High Command Luftwaffe, II./Experimental Unit Commander-in Chief Luftwaffe = Circus Rosarious, several special commandos
  • U2+ Nachtrotte bei der NAG 5 (Night-Flight of 5 Short Range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • U5+ KG 2 (2 Bomber Wing)
  • U8+ I./ZG 26 (Erstaufstellung) (I./26 Heavy Fighter Winq (Initial Activation)
  • U9+ NSG 3 (3 Night Assault Wing)
  • V1+ Transportstaffel VIII. Fliegerkorps (Transport Squadron VIII. Air Corps)
  • V3+ seen on a Ju 88 with the Squadron letters L+K in Cognac (France)
  • V4+ KG 1 (1 Bomber Wing)
  • V7+ Aufkl.Gr.32 (32nd Reconnaissance Group; during the war they partially used an own code: the squadron number was immediately right of the Balkenkreuz, followed by the letter indicating the aircraft within the squadron, e.g. V7+2G was aircraft "G" within the squadron).
  • W1-W3+ Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)
  • W5+ Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)
  • W7+ Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider), NJG 100 (100 Night Fighter Wing)
  • W8-W9+ Me 321 Unit (Cargo Glider)
  • X4+ Air Transport Group (Maritime) 222, later also SAGr. 129 (129th Maritime Reconnaissance Group)
  • X8+ Flugbereitschaft RLM Staaken (Aviation Ministry's Air Service Staaken)
  • Z4+ Transport Squadron of III. Air Corps
  • Z5+ seen on a Do 17 (unit unknown)
  • Z6+ KG 66 (66th Bomber Wing)

• • 1B+ 13.(Z)/JG 5/13. ( )/5th Fighter Wing (only in connection with "X" as the final code letter), 5th Metrological Air Squadron (only in connection with "H" as the final letter)
  • 1G+ KG 27 (27th Bomber Wing)
  • 1H+ KG 26 (26th Bomber Wing)
  • 1K+ NSGr.4 (4th Night Harassment Group)
  • 1L+ seen on a Me 110, Ju 88 and He 219 with the squadron letters L+K at Test Centre Werneuchen.
  • 1R+ Courier Squadron in Finland (perhaps Courier Squadron AOK Lapland?)
  • 1T+ KG 28 (28th Bomber Wing), KGr. 126 (126th Bomber Group)
  • 1Z+ KGrzbV. 1 (1st Special Duties Battle Group), TG 1 Savoia Staffel (1st Transport Wing Savoia-Squadron), III./KGrzbV. 1 (III./1st Special Duties Battle Group)
  • 2B+ 2. Fliegerschuldivision (2nd Air Training Division)
  • 2F+ until March 1940: KG 54 (54th Bomber Wing), 5./KG 28 (5./28th Bomber Wing)
  • 2H+ 210th Trial Unit
  • 2J+ ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
  • 2N+ ZG 76 (76th Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming), Originally II./ZG 1, from July 1940 onwards III./ZG 76)
  • 2P+ X. Flying Division
  • 2S+ I./ZG 2 (l./2nd Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
  • 2Z+ NJG 6 (6th Night Fighter Wing - from August 1943 onwards)
  • 3C+ NJG 4 (4th Night Fighter Wing), NJG 6 (1-7.1943)
  • 3E+ KG 6 (6th Bomber Wing)
  • 3J+ NJG 3 (3rd Night Fighter Wing) also labelled D5+
  • 3K+ Luftwaffe Mine Searching Group
  • 3M+ ZG 2 (2nd Heavy Fighter Wing, initial formation)
  • 3U+ ZG 26 (26th Heavy Fighter Wing; initial formation. Also used onferry aircraft by the 6th Fighter Wing from August 1944 onwards)
  • 3W+ NSG 11 (11th Night Harassment Wing)
  • 3X+ II./KG 1 (II./1st Bomber Wing; originally until 18. 9. 1939 I./KG 152 (I./152nd Bomber Wing)
  • 3Z+ KG 77 (77th Bomber Wing: perhaps temporarily also called KG 153 (153rd Bomber Wing)
  • 4A+ IV./ZG 26 (after the dissolution of ZG 26: IV/26th Heavy Fighter Wing in Norway, early August 1944
  • 4B+ Westa 3 (3rd Metrological Squadron)
  • 4D+ KG 30 (30th Bomber Wing), I./KG 25 (l./25th Bomber Wing)
  • 4E+ Aufkl.Gr. 13 (13th Reconnaissance Group: later: 15th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 4F+ KGr.z.b.V. 400 (400th Special Duties Battle Group)
  • 4M+ Erg.Z.Gr. (Replacement Group), later I./152nd Assault Wing)
  • 4N+ Aufkl.Gr. 22 (22nd Reconnaissance Group), Westa 3 with Squadron letter "H"
  • 4Q+ Liaison Squadron of 7th Flying Division
  • 4R+ 7./NJG 2 (7./2nd Night Fighter Wing) in spring 1944 the code for this unit was changed from R4 to 4R
  • 4T+ Westa 51 (51st Metrological Squadron) with Squadron letter "H"
  • 4U+ Aufkl. Gr.123 (123rd Reconnaissance Group)
  • 4V+ KGr.z.b.V. 9+106 (9th+106th Special Duties Battle Group), l./KGr.z.b. V. 172 (172nd Special Duties Battle Group), KGr.z.b. V. Neapel (Special Duties Battle Group Naples), TG 3 (3rd Transport Squadron), TG 4 ** (in April 1945: 4th Transport Squadron)
  • 5B+ 10th Night Harassment Wing (i.e. the renamed II./ 1st Glider Assault Wing as from September 1944)
  • 5D+ Aufkl. Gr.31 (31st Reconnaissance Group)
  • 5F+ Aufkl. Gr.14 (14th Reconnaissance Wing; later also called 14th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 5J+ KG 4 (4th Bomber Wing)
  • 5K+ KG 3 (3rd Bomber Wing)
  • 5M+ Westa 26 (26th Metrological Squadron) Lfl. 2, Westa 26 Squadron southern Greece, renamed on 10.6.43 to Westa 27. No Squadron letter were painted on the aircrafts.
  • 5T+ KSG 1 (1st; from 1. 2. 1943 onwards: KG 101 101st Bomber Wing)
  • 5W+ Maritime Transport Group
  • 5Z+ Wekusta 26 (26th Metrological Squadron) with the squadron letter A + H.
  • 6A+ NAG 12 (12th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 6G+ St.G. 51 (51st Dive Bomber Wing), the original designation lll./St.G. 51 was still kept after reforming to 11./St.G. 1 on 6.7.1940
  • 6H+ Aircraft Replacement Group (Maritime) Kamp
  • 6I+ Kü.FI.Gr.706 (706th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), KGr.z.b.V 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group), TG 20 (20th Transport Wing), SAGr. 130 (130th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 6K+ Aufkl.Gr. 23 (23rd Reconnaissance Group)
  • 6M+ Coastal Squadron Krim, 11th Reconnaissance Group, plus several machines of the 8th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing at the end of the war
  • 6N+ KG 100 (100 Bomber Wing) aicrafts with the squadron letter "R" were assigned to the 17th test- and instructional unit)
  • 6Q+ Replacement Squadron St.G.2 as 6Q+C. with letters in ascending order. Probably SG 151
  • 6R+ SAGr. 127 (127th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 6U+ ZG 1 (1st Heavy Fighter Wing; after reforming)
  • 6W+ SAGr. 128 (128th Maritime Reconnaissance Group), Bordfliegergruppe 128 (128th Shipborne Wing)
  • 6Z+ Transport Group Herzog 1945
  • 7A+ Aufkl.Gr. 121 (121st Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 7J+ NJG 102 (102nd Night Fighter Wing)
  • 7R+ SAGr. 125 (125th Maritime Reconnaissance Group)
  • 7T+ Kü.fl.Gr.606 (606th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), KGr. 606 (606th Bomber Group)
  • 7U+ KGr.z.b.V. 108 (108th Special Duties Battle Group)
  • 7V+ KGr.z.b.V. 700 (700th Special Duties Battle Group)
  • 8A+ 1st Air Transport Group (Maritime)
  • 8I+ 3./(H) Pz. NAG 16 (3./(AC) Anti-tank Squadron, NAG 16 (16th Short-range Reconnaissance Wing))
  • 8L+ Kü.FI.Gr. 906 (906th Coastal Reconnaissance Group), SAGr.131 (131th Maritime Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 8Q+ Transportgruppe 10, 10th Transport Group, seen on SM 82 (Squadron Unit unknown)
  • 8T+ KGr.z.b.V. 800, später TG 2 (800th Special Duties Battle Group, later renamed 2nd Transport Wing)
  • 8U+ Stab Transportfliegerführer 2 (HQ AOC "Transportfliegerführer 2")
  • 8V+ NJG 200 (200th Night Fighter Wing)
  • 9G+ Ju 52 Formation
  • 9K+ KG 51 (51st Bomber Wing)
  • 9N+ Seen on Fi 156 + Me110 (Unit unknown)
  • 9P+ KGr.z.b.V. 9, 40, 50, 60, Frankfurt+Wittstock (9th, 40th, 50th, 60th Special Duties Battle Group, Frankfurt+Wittstock)
  • 9V+ FAG 5 (5th Long-range Reconnaissance Wing)
  • 9W+ NJG 101 (101st Night Fighter Wing)

See Also: German Squadrons

Notes

• Taken from forum topic