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
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Emmanuel Gustin
gustin@uia.ua.ac.be
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