British Aircraft Markings
Three-letter codes
During WWII, the RAF used three-letter aircraft codes. Two letters, painted before the roundel, indicated the unit; the third, painted aft of the roundel, the individual aircraft. Sometimes the letters were put in other places. These codes were also used by the RCAF, SAAF, RNZAF, USAAF units of the 8th and 9th AF, and for some time by post-war Belgian units.


Code Type Year Squadron Location

---- ---- ---- -------- --------



2N- P-47 81FS, 9AF

2Z- P-47 510FS, 9AF

33-B Battle I 1941 15 (SAAF) Algato, East Africa

3T- P-47 22FS, 9AF

4K- P-47 506FS, 9AF

4N- P-47 394FS, 9AF

4P- P-47 513FS, 9AF

O7 P-47 514FS, 9AF

4W- P-47 406FS, 9AF

5A- Spitfire 1944 329 (French)

6M- P-47 494FS, 9AF

6V- P-47 53FS, 9AF

7J-T Meteor F.4 7, Belgian AF Chievres, Belgium

7J- P-47 508FS, 9AF

7U- P-47 23FS, 9AF

8L- P-47 393FS, 9AF

8N- P-47 405FS, 9AF

9D- P-47 395FS, 9AF

9G-P Spitfire 441, RCAF

9Q- P-47 404FS, 9AF

A6- P-47 389FS, 9AF

A8- P-47 391FS, 9AF

AD- P-47 113

AE-U Spitfire IX 402 (RCAF)

AF-A Lancaster B.10 1950 404 (RCAF)

AJ-N Lancaster III 1943 617

AJ- P-47 356FS, 9AF

AH-A Spitfire Va 1942 332 (Norwegian) Catterick

AH-R Spitfire F.IXc 1942 332 (Norwegian) North Weald

AK-E Hurricane I 1940 213

AK-K Tempest FB.6 1949 213 Deversoir

AL-D Hurricane I 79

AN-M Spitfire F.VIII 417 (RCAF) Italy

AR- Lysander III 1940 309 (Polish)

AU- Spitfire 1943 421 (RCAF)

AW- P-47 42

AW-S Beaufort I 1942 42 Wick / Leuchars

AX-D Spitfire F.VB 1943 107FS, 67RG Membury

B2- P-47 390FS, 9AF

B4- P-47 387FS, 9AF

B7- P-47 374FS, 8AF

B7-H P-51B 374FS, 361FG, 8AF

B8- P-47 379FS, 9AF

BF-N Boomerang 1944 5 (RAAF)

BH Lancaster III 1944 300 (Polish)

BN-R Stanraer 1940 240

BR-R Typhoon IB 1944 184

BU-Q Stirling I 1942 214

BX- Beaufort 1941 86 North Coates

C2- P-47 396FS, 9AF

C4- P-47 388FS, 9AF

C5-T P-51D Mustang 1944 364FS, 357FG, 8AF

C8-O Halifax III 1945 640

CG-J P-38H-5 1943 38FS, 55tFG, 8AF

CH- P-47 365FS, 9AF

CP- P-47 367FS, 9AF

CS- P-47 370FS, 8AF

CV- P-47 368FS, 8AF

CZ-D Spitfire IX 1944 222 Selsey Bill

D3- P-47 397FS, 9AF

D4-W Stirling 1945 620

D5- P-47 386FS, 9AF

D7-F P-51D Mustang 1945 406FG

DD- Beaufort 15 (RAAF)

DG-Q Spitfire LF.VIII 1945 155 Burma

DL-N Spitfire VC 1943 91

DL-U Spitfire F Mk.21 1946 91

DN-H Spitfire LF.XVI 1945 416 (RCAF) Belgium

DT-A Hurricane I 1940 257 North Weald

DU-Q Boston III 1943 22 (RAAF)

DU-V Spitfire IX 1945 312 (Czech)

DU-H Beaufighter 1944 22 (RAAF) Sanga Sanga, Phillipines

DV-T Spifire LF.IX 1946 129

DV-V Spitfire VC 1943 129 Ibsley

DW-D Spitfire F.XIVc 1944 610

DW-K Spitfire I 1940 610

DY-S Whitley V 1941 112

DZ-P Hurricane I 1940 151 Tangmere

E2- P-47 375FS, 8AF

E4- P-47 377FS, 9AF

E9- P-47 376FS, 8AF

EB-B Spitfire F.XII 1944 41

EB-Z Spitfire III 1940 41

EG- Beaufort 487 (RNZAF)

EG-T Mosquito FB.VI 487 (RNZAF)

EG- P-47 34

EL-N Typhoon 1945 181

EM-F Lancaster I 1942 207

EW- Defiant I 1940 307 (Polish)

EY-F Halifax 1943 78

F2-V Lancaster VI 635

F4- P-47 492FS, 9AF

FF-A Spitfire IX 132

FJ- P-47 261

FK-49 Hurrican IIB 1941 134

FL- P-47 81

FL-J Spitfire V 81 Turnhouse

FR-D Spitfire 303 (Polish)

FS-B Halifax II 1944 148

FT-A Hurricane IIC 43

FT-Z Spitfire Vc 1943 43 NW Africa

FT- P-47 353FS, 9AF

FU-A Spitfire LF.Vb 1943 453 (RAAF)

FU-N Spitfire IX 453 (RAAF)

FX- Beaufort 6 (RAAF)

FY-D Mustang IV 1945 611 Hunsdon

FY-A Spitfire II 611

FZ-O Spitfire 1940 65 Hornchurch

G-R (sic) Spitfire IX 1943 81 Souk-el-Arba

G8- P-47 378FS, 9AF

G9- P-47 509FS, 9AF

GA-B Buffalo I 1941 21 (RAAF) Sembawang, Singapore

GE-H Tomahawk IIA 1943 349 (Belgian)

GE-L Spitfire IX 349 (Belgian)

GE-T Meteor Mk.4 349, Belgian AF Beauvechain, Belgium

GR-Z Spitfire I 92

GR- Wellington I 1940 301 (Polish)

GQ- P-47 355FS, 9AF

GQ- P-47 134

GW- Spitfire 1944 340 (French)

GX- Beaufort 1942 415 (Canadian) Thorney Island

GZ-C Hurricane I 1940 32 Hawkinge

H5- P-47 392FS, 9AF

H7-N Halifax B.VI 1945 346 (French)

H8-D RF-84F 42, Belgian AF

HA-Q Stirling 1944 218

HD-H Wellington 1940 38

HD-B Halifax 1944 466 (RAAF)

HE-J Whirlwind I 1941 263 Colerne

HF-X Tempest II 54

HH-D Typhoon 1944 175

HL- P-47 83FS, 8AF

HM-B Spitfire VIII 136 Cocos Islands

HN- Tempest F.2 20

HO- P-47 487FS, 8AF

HV-A P-47D-25 1944 61FS, 56th FG

I7- P-47 493FS, 9AF

I8-P Typhoon 1944 440

IA-L P-47D 366FS, 358FG, 9AF

IL-F Spitfire Vc 308FS, 31FG Italy

IS-D F-84G 2, Belgian AF Bierset, Belgium

IV- P-47 369FS, 8AF

J5 Vampire FB.5 1949 3

JH-C Spitfire I 317

JH- Hurricane I 1940 303 (Polish)

JM- Beaufort 32 (RAAF)

JN-A Wellington IC 1940 150

JV-Z Hurricane IID 1942 6

K4- P-47 511FS, 9AF

KM-K Hampden I 1941 44

KN-T Whitley 1940 77

KN-A Halifax ? 76

KN-G Halifax III ? 77

KO- Beaufort VIII 2 (RAAF)

KT Spitfire I 1940 54

KT-L Beaufort VII 7 (RAAF)

KW-S Halifax B.III 1943 425 (RCAF)

KW- P-47 615

L3- P-47 512FS, 9AF

L9- Halifax III 1945 190

LA-V Mosquito VI 1944 235

LD-I Kittyhawk III 1943 250

LE-D Hurricane I 242

LH- P-47 350FS, 8AF

LK-A Hurricane I 1940 87

LM-S P-47D 62FS, 56FG, 8AF

LN-F Wellington 99

LQ-R Halifax 405

LW Spitfire V 1944 318 (Polish) Italy

LY-P Beaufighter 30 (RAAF) Bougainville

LZ-C Spitfire IIA 1941 66

LZ-P Spitfire Vc 1943 66 Sumburgh (temporary)

MB-X Beaufighter X 1944 236

MC-R P-51D 77FS, 20FG, 8AF

MN-S Spitfire XVI 1946 350 (Belgian) Fassberg

MN-S Meteor Mk.4 350, Belgian AF

MQ-S Mitchell 1944 226

MP-L Halifax I 76

MT-J Spitfire F.IXc 122

MU- P-47 60

MU-X Blenheim I 1940 60

MW- Beaufort 217 St.Eval / Thorney Island

MX- P-47 82FS, 8AF

NA-P Halifax V 1943 428 (RCAF)

NA- Beaufort 1 (RAAF)

NE-P Beaufighter 1944 143

NF-V Halifax II 1943 138

NG- Blenheim I 1940 604 Northolt

NG-K Beaufighter 1942 604 Middle Wallop

NH-F Swordfish III 1945 119 Knokke, Belgium

NL-K Spitfire 1944 341 (French)

NN-V Spitfire Vc 310 (Czech)

NV-K P-47D 79 Wangjing, Burma

NW- Beaufort 1942 217 Luqa, Malta

NX-O SPitfire VII 131

NX- P-47 131

NZ- Wellington I 1941 304 (Polish)

O4-X Halifax VII 620

OA-H Beaufort I 1940 22 North Coates

OC-G P-51D 1944 359FS, 359FG, 8AF Martlesham Heath

OC- P-47 359FS, 8AF

ON-E Spitfire HF.VII 1943 124

ON-H Spitfire VI 1942 124 North Weald

OQ- P-47 5

OS-T Hudson III 1942 Sturgate

OS- P-47 357FS, 8AF

OY-C Hudson V 1941 48

P5-9 Albemarle V 297

PE- P-47 328FS, 8AF

PE- P-51D 328FS, 352FG, 8AF

PI- P-47 360FS, 8AF

PK-G Mustang III 1944 315 (Polish)

PL-O Beaufighter VI 144 Langham

PN- Beaufort 14 (RAAF)

PN-W Beafighter 252

PO-S Lancaster I 1945 467

PR-H Spitfire I 1940 609

PR-R Typhoon 1944 609

PZ- P-47 486FS, 8AF

QH-K Beaufort VIII 1942 100 (RAAF) Richmond, Australia

QI- P-47 361FS, 8AF

QJ-4 Spitfire F.VIII 1943 92 Taranto, Italy

QP Thunderbolt 334FS, 8AF

QP-L P-51B-15 1944 334FS, 4FG, 8AF

QS-E Stirling IV 1944 620

QV-I Spitfire I 1940 19

QV-D Mustang III 1944 19

QV-C Hornet F 3 1953 19 Church Fenton

R3- P-47 410FS, 9AF

RA-J F-84G 10, Belgian AF

RD-K Beaufort I 1941 32 OCU Patricia Bay, Canada

RF- Hurricane I 1940 303 (Polish)

RF-N Spitfire LF.IX 303 (Polish)

RH-S Boston IIIA 1944 88 (Hong Kong)

RQ-B Beaufighter 1942 29

RS- P-47 30

RU-V Tomahawk IIB 1941 414 (Canada) Croydon

RY Spitfire IX 1945 313 (Czech)

RZ-R Spitfire LF.IXc 1944 241 Italy

SD-T Hurricane I 1940 501 Gravesend

SD-J Spitfire IA 1941 501 Colerne

SD-W Tempest V 1944 501

SE-Q Halifax II 1943 431

SE-Q Lancaster X 431 (RCAF) Croft Spa

SF-J Whirlwind I 1943 137 Manston

SF- Beaufort 13 (RAAF)

SH-E Spitfire VB 1941 64 Hornchurch

SH-V Spitfire IX 64

SK-E Spitfire VB 1942 165 Gravesend

SM- Mosquito VI 1943 305 (Polish)

SK-F Beaufighter 1945 93 (RAAF) Morotai, Phillipines

SR-B Tempest Mk.2 1948 33

SX-B P-47D-25 1944 352FS, 353FG, 8AF

SZ- Hurricane I 1941 316 (Polish)

SZ-B Mustang III 1944 316 (Polish) Coltishall

T5- P-47 10FS, 9AF

TK-A Lancaster I 1945 149 (East India)

TL-R Lancaster 35

TL-S Halifax II 1942 35

TM-N Hurricane 1940 504

TP-E Hurricane 1940 73

TP-R Typhoon IB 1944 198

TU-A B-17G 1944 510th BS, 351th BG

U9- P-47 411FS, 9AF

UB-N Beaufighter TF.X 1944 455 (RAAF)

UF-J Airacobra I 1941 601

UF-X Spitfire Vb 1943 601

UH-W Hudson III 2 (RNZAF)

UM- Spitfire Vc 1943 125 Italy

UN- P-47 63FS, 8AF

UR-K F-84G Thunderjet 1952 2, Belgian AF Florennes, Belgium

UR-Z Spitfire 1951 2, Belgian AF Florennes, Belgium

US-P Hurricane 1940 56

US-E Tempest V 1944 56

US-T Hurricane 1940 56

UV-M Beafurt VIII 8 (RAAF)

UZ-T SPitfire F.IXc 1942 306 (Polish) Northolt

V5- P-47 412FS, 9AF

V9-H Halifax II 1944 502

VA-P Defiant II 1942 125

VF Thunderbolt 336FS, 8AF

VO-M Mitchell 1944 98

VX-V Hudson I 206

VZ-S Spitfire IXB 412 (Canadian)

W3- P-47 313FS, 9AF

WA- P-47 146

WD- Thunderbolt 335FS, 8AF

WF-P B-17G 1944 364BS, 305BG, 8AF Chelveston

WK- P-47 135

WR-D Spitfire VB 1943 40 (SAAF)

WR- P-47 354FS, 8AF

WS-V Lancaster VII 1944 9 Salbani, India

WU-B F-6A Mustang 225

WV-S Blenheim 18

WX-C Spitfire VB 1942 302 (Polish)

WZ-D Spitfire I 1939 19

WZ-Y Spitfire VB 1942 78FG, 8AF

WZ- P-47 84FS, 8AF

WZ-T Spitfire F.24 1948 80

X9-W Halifax 1943 517

XC-J Tempest F.2 1947 26 Fassberg

XC-Q Vampire 1950 26 Wunstorf, Germany

XD-C Mosquito B.IV 1943 139

XE- P-47 123

XK-L B-17E 305BG

XM-M Typhoon 182

XO-M Kittyhawk IA 16 (RNZAF)

XP-G Hurricane IIC 174

XR-J Spitfire VB 1942 71

XT-A Spitfire IA 603

Y2-Y Spitfire LF.IXc 1944 442 (RCAF) Berry-sur-Mer, France

Y3-A Halifax MET.VI 1949 202

Y8- P-47 507FS, 9AF

YD-G Beaufighter IIF 1941 255 Coltishall

YF- P-47 358FS, 8AF

YG-L Hornet Moth 502

YJ- P-47 351FS, 8AF

YO-X Spitfire Vb 1943 401 (RCAF) Catterick

YP-T Havoc I 1941 23

YT-C Spitfire IIA 1941 65 Tangmere

YT-H Hornet F.3 1948 65

YX-N Blenheim IF 1940 54 OTU

YY- York 1948 241 OCU

YZ-P Lancaster B.I 617

Z5-E Halifax 1944 462 (RAAF)

ZA- Albermarle 295

ZA-E Halifax B.II 1943 10

ZD-F Spitfire VB 1941 222 North Weald

ZF- Spitfire II 1941 308 (Polish)

ZK-A Beaufighter IF 25

ZN-B Hampden 106

ZO-F Stirling V 1945 196

ZP-Y Spitfire VIII 1944 457 (RAAF)

ZT- P-47 258

ZX-6 Spitfire IX 1943 145 (Parly Polish) Tunis

ZX-A Spitfire LF.VIII 1943 145 (Parly Polish) Canne, Italy



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Emmanuel Gustin
gustin@uia.ua.ac.be
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------