List of RAF squadron codes
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File:SpitfireIX611a.jpg lend a hand pushing an early Supermarine Spitfire Mark IXb at RAF Biggin Hill in late 1942. Note the 611 unit identifier 'FY' and the individual aircraft identifier letter 'V'.|alt=]]
Most units of the Royal Air Force (RAF) are identified by a two character alphabetical or alpha- numeric combination squadron code. Usually, that code is painted on the aircraft belonging to that squadron. The squadron code is usually presented along with an individual letter or character to form a call sign for the particular aircraft. Location of the call sign combination has usually been on the rear fuselage next to the RAF roundel.
In instances when an unusually large numbers of aircraft comprise the squadron, multiple squadron codes have been used.
Other air forces, especially those from other Commonwealth countries, have often used similar systems of identification. During the Second World War, when units from other air forces were attached to the RAF; such as the Article XV squadrons (also known as '400 series squadrons'), their squadron codes were often changed, to avoid confusion with RAF units.
Squadron codes
=A-E=
=F- J=
=K-O=
=P-T=
=U-Z=
=Numbers=
Radio call signs
=Transport Command 'O' series=
Transport Command RAF applied the following three letter call-signs to its aircraft from 1944. Individual aircraft were given letter suffixes, making the code a four letter sequence.
=Transport Command 'MO' series=
From 1945, RAF Transport Command pre-fixed the three letter call-signs with M. With individual aircraft allocated letter suffixes, the call-signs became five letter sequences.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=303-304}}
See also
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Royal Air Force
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons
- List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights
- List of conversion units of the Royal Air Force
- List of Royal Air Force Glider units
- List of Royal Air Force Operational Training Units
- List of Royal Air Force schools
- List of Royal Air Force units & establishments
- List of RAF squadron codes
- List of RAF Regiment units
- List of Battle of Britain squadrons
- List of wings of the Royal Air Force
- Royal Air Force roundels
Army Air Corps
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Fleet Air Arm
- List of Fleet Air Arm aircraft squadrons
- List of Fleet Air Arm groups
- List of aircraft units of the Royal Navy
- List of aircraft wings of the Royal Navy
Others
- List of Air Training Corps squadrons
- University Air Squadron
- Air Experience Flight
- Volunteer Gliding Squadron
- United Kingdom military aircraft registration number
- United Kingdom aircraft test serials
- British military aircraft designation systems
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References
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
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- {{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=A |title= Flying units of the RAF |year=1999 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-84037-086-6 }}
{{Refend}}
Further reading
- Bowyer, Michael J.F. and John D.R. Rawlings. Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1979. {{ISBN|0-85059-364-6}}.
- Delve, Ken. The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1994. {{ISBN|1-85310-451-5}}.
- Flintham, Vic and Andrew Thomas. Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes Since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2003. {{ISBN|1-84037-281-8}}.
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. {{ISBN|0-85130-164-9}}.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shropshire, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988 (second edition 2001). {{ISBN|1-85310-053-6}}.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 2nd edition 1976. {{ISBN|0-354-01027-1}}.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. {{ISBN|0-7106-0187-5}}.
- Rawlings, John D.R. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1969 (2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978). {{ISBN|0-354-01028-X}}.
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070621175054/http://www.btinternet.com/~lee_mail/rafcodes.html RAF Squadron Codes during World War II]
- [https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/understanding-military-structure/raaf/codes Australian War Memorial, n.d., The Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Codes].
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140219044631/http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/squadrons.cfm a list of current squadrons from the RAF website]
- [http://www.universityairsquadrons.com/ RAF – University Air Squadrons]
- [http://ubasonline.co.uk/ UBAS – University of Birmingham Air Squadron]
- [http://www.ugsas.net/home.htm UGSAS – Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071217092841/http://www.buas.co.uk/ BUAS – Bristol UAS]
- [http://www.srcf.ucam.org/cuas/ CUAS – Cambridge UAS]
- [http://www.emuas.co.uk/ EMUAS – East Midlands UAS]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111012070303/http://www.raf.mod.uk/eastofscotlanduas/ ESUAS – East Scotland UAS]
- [http://www.liverpooluas.com/ LUAS – Liverpool UAS]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070629005029/http://www.masuas.co.uk/home.php MASUAS – Manchester and Salford UAS]
- [http://www.ulas.org.uk/ ULAS – University of London Air Squadron]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024190533/http://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouairsqn/index.html OUAS – Oxford UAS]
- [http://www.southamptonuas.co.uk/ SUAS – Southampton UAS]
- Southampton University Air Squadron – Wiki
- [http://www.walesuas.co.uk/ UWAS – Wales UAS]
- [http://www.yorkshireuas.co.uk/ YUAS – Yorkshire UAS]
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{{RAF unit types}}
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