World War II Armed Forces — Orders of Battle and Organizations

Last Updated 02.03.2012

Aircraft Designations, Manufacturers, and Types

(This list is far from complete. If you have an aircraft designation you cannot find here, check one of these pages for an explanation of the US aircraft designation.)

All you ever wanted to know about … USAF Aircraft Designations but were afraid to ask. And you were RIGHT!

All you ever wanted to know about … USN, USMC, and USCG Aircraft Designations but were afraid to ask. And you were RIGHT!

USAAF Aircraft Designation Manufacturer and Name Type A-11 Consolidated Attack Aircraft A-12 Curtiss Shrike Attack Aircraft A-12A Curtiss / Douglas Shrike Attack Aircraft A-17 Northrop Attack Aircraft A-20A Douglas Havoc Attack Aircraft A-24 Douglas Dauntless Attack Aircraft A-25 Curtiss Helldiver Attack Aircraft A-26 Douglas Invader Attack Aircraft A-27 North American Attack Aircraft A-28 Lockheed Hudson Attack Aircraft A-29 Lockheed Hudson Attack Aircraft A-30 Glenn L. Martin Baltimore Attack Aircraft AT-6 North American Texan Advanced Trainer B-12A Glenn L. Martin Bomber B-16 Glenn L. Martin Bomber B-17 Boeing Flying Fortress Bomber B-18 Douglas Bolo Bomber B-23 Douglas Dragon Bomber B-24 Consolidated Liberator Bomber B-25 North American Mitchell Bomber B-26 Glenn L. Martin Marauder Bomber B-29 Boeing Superfortress Bomber BT-2BI Douglas Biplane Basic Instrument Trainer BT-13 Vultee Valiant Basic Trainer BT-14 North American Basic Trainer BT-15 Vultee Valiant Basic Trainer C-102 Rearwin Transport Aircraft C-104 Lockheed Transport Aircraft C-105 Boeing Transport Aircraft C-109 Consolidated Transport Aircraft C-14 Fokker-Atlantic Transport Aircraft C-15 Fokker-Atlantic Transport Aircraft C-16 Fokker-Atlantic Transport Aircraft C-18 Boeing Transport Aircraft C-19 Northrop Transport Aircraft C-20 Fokker-Atlantic Transport Aircraft C-21 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-26 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-27 Bellanca Transport Aircraft C-28 Sikorsky Transport Aircraft C-29 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-31 Kreider-Reisner Transport Aircraft C-33 Douglas (DC-2-145) Transport Aircraft C-33 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-34 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-36 Lockheed Transport Aircraft C-37 Lockheed Transport Aircraft C-38 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-39 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-40 Lockheed Transport Aircraft C-41 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-42 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-44 Messerschmitt Transport Aircraft C-45 Beechraft Expeditor Transport Aircraft C-46 Curtiss Commando Transport Aircraft C-47 Douglas Skytrain (DC-3) Transport Aircraft C-48 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-49 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-50 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-51 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-52 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-53 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-54 Douglas Skymaster Transport Aircraft C-55 Curtiss Transport Aircraft C-56 Lockheed Lodestar Transport Aircraft C-57 Lockheed Lodestar Transport Aircraft C-58 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-59 Lockheed Lodestar Transport Aircraft C-60 Lockheed Lodestar Transport Aircraft C-64 Noorduyn Norseman Transport Aircraft C-66 Lockheed Lodestar Transport Aircraft C-69 Lockheed Constellation Transport Aircraft C-73 Boeing Transport Aircraft C-74 Douglas Globemaster Transport Aircraft C-75 Boeing Stratoliner Transport Aircraft C-76 Curtiss Caravan Transport Aircraft C-77 Cessna Transport Aircraft C-79 Junkers Transport Aircraft C-80 Harlow Transport Aircraft C-82 Fairchild Packet Transport Aircraft C-83 Piper Transport Aircraft C-84 Douglas Transport Aircraft C-86 Fairchild Transport Aircraft C-87 Consolidated Liberator Express Transport Aircraft C-88 Fairchild Transport Aircraft C-89 Hamilton Transport Aircraft C-90 Luscombe Transport Aircraft C-91 Stinson Transport Aircraft C-92 Akron-Funk Transport Aircraft C-95 Taylorcraft Transport Aircraft C-97 Boeing Stratofreighter Transport Aircraft C-98 Boeing Transport Aircraft L-5 Stinson Sentinel Liaison Aircraft L-17 North American Navion Liaison Aircraft O-47B North American Observation O-49 Stinson Vigilant Observation OA-8 Sikorsky Observation - Amphibious OA-9 Grumman Goose Observation - Amphibious OA-10A Consolidated Catalina Flying Boat - Amphibious P-26 Boeing Peashooter Fighter P-26 Boeing Fighter P-30 Consolidated Fighter P-35 Seversky Fighter P-36 Curtis Hawk Fighter P-38 Lockheed Lightning Fighter P-39 Bell Airacobra Fighter P-40 Curtiss Warhawk Fighter P-43 Republic Lancer Fighter P-44 Republic Rocket Fighter P-45 Bell Airacobra Fighter P-46 Curtiss Fighter P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter P-47 Republic Thunderbolt Fighter P-51 North American Mustang Fighter P-59 Aircomet Fighter P-61 Black Widow Fighter P-64 North American Fighter PT-17 Stearman Kaydet Biplane Primary Trainer PT-18 Stearman Kaydet Biplane Primary Trainer PT-19 Fairchild Cornell Primary Trainer UC-100 Northrop Transport Aircraft UC-101 Lockheed Transport Aircraft UC-103 Grumman Transport Aircraft UC-43 Beechcraft Traveller Transport Aircraft UC-61 Fairchild Forwarder Transport Aircraft UC-67 Douglas Transport Aircraft UC-70 Howard Transport Aircraft UC-71 Spartan Transport Aircraft UC-72 Waco Transport Aircraft UC-78 Cessna Bobcat Transport Aircraft UC-81 Stinson Reliant Transport Aircraft UC-85 Lockheed Transport Aircraft UC-96 Fairchild Transport Aircraft XA-14 Curtiss "Shrike II" Attack Aircraft XA-15 Martin Attack Aircraft XA-16 Northrop Attack Aircraft XA-21 Boeing-Stearman Attack Aircraft XA-22 Glenn L. Martin Maryland Attack Aircraft XA-23 Glenn L. Martin Attack Aircraft XB-19 Douglas Bomber XB-21 North American Bomber XB-22 Douglas Bomber XB-27 Glenn L. Martin Bomber XB-28 North American Dragon Bomber XC-35 Lockheed Transport Aircraft XC-99 Convair Transport Aircraft XP-31 Curtiss Swift Fighter XP-32 Boeing Fighter XP-33 Consolidated Fighter XP-34 Wedell-Williams Fighter XP-41 Seversky/Republic Fighter XP-42 Curtiss Fighter XP-48 Douglas Fighter XP-49 Lockheed Fighter XP-50 Grumman Fighter XP-52 Bell Fighter Y1A-18 Curtiss Attack Aircraft Y1B-20 Boeing Bomber Y1C-17 Lockheed Transport Aircraft Y1C-22 Consolidated Transport Aircraft Y1C-23 Lockheed Transport Aircraft Y1C-24 American Transport Aircraft Y1C-25 Lockheed Transport Aircraft YA-13 Northrop Attack Aircraft YA-19 Vultee Attack Aircraft YC-108 Boeing Transport Aircraft YC-30 Curtiss Condor Transport Aircraft YP-29 Boeing Fighter YP-37 Curtiss Fighter

USN & USMC & USCG Aircraft Designation Manufacturer and Name Type BG-1 Goodyear Great Lakes Airship F2A Brewster Buffalo Fighter F3A Brewster Corsair Fighter F4B Boeing Fighter F4F Grumman Wildcat Fighter F4U Chance-Vaught Corsair Fighter F5F Grumman Skyrocket Fighter F6C Curtiss Hawk Fighter F6F Grumman Hellcat Fighter F7F Grumman Tigercat Fighter F8F Grumman Bearcat Fighter FG Goodyear Corsair Fighter FM General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division Wildcat Fighter HS Curtiss Reconnaissance J2F Grumman Duck Floatplane JN Curtis Jenny Trainer JO-2 Lockheed Electra Transport JRB Beech Expeditor / Voyager Transport JRF Grumman Goose Floatpane JRS Sikorsky (Baby Clipper) Utility Transport N2T Timm Tutor Primary Trainer N3N Naval Aircraft Factory Canary Primary Trainer Biplane Seaplane N9 Curtiss Trainer NP-1 Spartan Aircraft Company Trainer O2B Boeing Observation O2U Vought-Sikorsky (Corsair ?) Observation OD-1 Douglas Observation OS2U Vought Kingfisher Observation OY Stinson Sentinel Observation PB2B Boeing Canada Catalina Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PBM Glenn L. Martin Mariner Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PBN Naval Aircraft Factory Catalina / Nomad Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PBO Navy Lockheed Hudson Patrol Bomber PBY Consolidated Catalina Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PB4Y Consolidated Liberator / Privateer Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PBJ North American Mitchell Flying Boat / Patrol Bomber PV Vega Ventura Patrol Bomber R3D Douglas Transport R4D Douglas Skytrain Transport R5C Curtiss Commando Transport R5D Douglas Skymaster Transport RB Budd Conestoga Transport RD Douglas Sindbad / Dolphin Transport R2D Douglas Transport R3D Douglas Transport R5D Douglas Skymaster Transport R2O Lockheed Electra Transport R3O Lockheed Electra Transport SB2A Brewster Buccaneer Scout-bomber SB2C Curtiss Helldiver Scout Dive-Bomber SB2U (Chance-)Vought Vindicator Scout Dive-Bomber SBC Curtiss Helldiver Biplane Dive-Bomber SBD Douglas Dauntless Scout Dive-Bomber SBF Fairchild Canada Helldiver Scout Dive-Bomber SBW Canadian Car & Foundry Helldiver Scout Dive-Bomber SC Curtis Seahawk Scout Obeservation Floatplane SF-2 Sablatnig Reconnaissance/Trainer Floatplane SNJ North American Texan Scout Trainer SOC Curtiss Seagull Scout Obeservation Floatplane SO2C Curtiss Seagull Scout Obeservation Floatplane SO3C Curtiss Seamew Scout Obeservation Floatplane SON Naval Aircraft Seagull Scout Obeservation Floatplane SOR Ryan Seamew Floatplane - Scout Obeservation TBD Douglas Devastator Torpedo Bomber TBF Grumman Avenger Torpedo Bomber TBM General Motors Eastern Aircraft Division Avenger Torpedo Bomber TBY Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. Sea Wolf Torpedo Bomber UF-1 Albatross Utility