Douglas A/B-26 Invader

Tail codes

HOME
SUB INDEX
Preface
Features
Site Navigation
Reg'n cross ref.
S/No's & Prod'n codes
MILITARY VARIANTS - History, Data & Photos
CIVIL VARIANTS - History, Data & Photos
About the author/Contact
Info Req'd
LATEST

 

 

 

 

A brief history of tail codes

Unit identification aircraft markings, commonly called "tail markings" after their most frequent location, were numbers, letters, geometric symbols, and colors painted onto the tails (vertical stabilizer fins), wings, or fuselages of the combat aircraft (primarily bombers) of the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War. The purpose of these markings was to provide a means of rapid identification of the unit to which an aircraft was assigned. Variations of these markings continue to be used in the United States Air Force in the form of tail codes identifying operational wings.

In civilian service, tail codes and tail art took on a whole new meaning with operators, be they air tanker or executive conversions using the fin to display their own unique design that usually represented the company the aircraft flew for.

 
USAAF / USAF / Navy Tail codes

ussquadwwr.jpg

a-26tailbands2.jpg

a-26-invader-inst-4xx.jpg

a-26-invader-inst-6xx.jpg

a-26-invader-inst-2.jpg

a-26tailbands.jpg

tittle_02xxx.jpg

sqyailcol.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

plaquewithbadgefinxxxxxxx.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

forairforceszwwykwwww.jpg

 
 
 
 
 

w1w1w2b26bfrenchaftails.jpg

a26invaderpatch.jpg

 
 
 
 
Brazilian Air Force

w1brazilianaf.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

miltailmuseumszzzwxxc.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

civiltailswzzz.jpg

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

asw1zzzmainccc.jpg

final.jpg

Current and superannuated USAF tail codes indicate the Wing or Group, generally chosen to signify their base, but parts of a Wing discretely based often adopted their own tail codes. Air Mobility Command planes had no tail codes.

 

AC - 177 Ftr Wing, Atlantic City Intl AP, NJ
AD - - Eglin AFB, FL
AF - - USAF Academy, CO
AK - 343 Wing, Eielson AFB, AK
AK - 354 Ftr Wing, Eielson AFB, AK
AK - 3 Wing, Elmendorf AFB, AK
AL - 187 Ftr Group/Wing, Dannelly Field, AL
AN - 176 Wing, Kulis ANGB, AK
AR - - RAF Alconbury, UK
AU - Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL
AV - 31 Ftr Wing, Aviano AB, Italy
AZ - - Tucson Airport, Arizona
BA - - Bergstrom AFB, Texas
BB - - RAF Alconbury, UK
BB - 9 Rescue/Recon Wing, Beale AFB, AZ
BC - 110 Ftr Group/Wing, Kellogg AP, MI
BD - 917 Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA
BH - 117 RW, Birmingham MAP, AL
BT - 36 Ftr Wing, Bitburg AB, Germany
CA - 93 Bomb Wing, Castle AFB, CA
CA - 129 Rescue Wing, Moffett Field, CA
CB - 14 Ftr Tng Wing, Columbus AFB, MS
CC - 27 Ftr Wing, Cannon AFB, NM
CI - 146 Airlift Wing, Channel Islands ANGB, CA
CM - - Columbus AFB, MS
CO - 140 Ftr Wing, Buckley ANGB, CO
CR - 32 Ftr Group, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands
CR - 302 Air Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
CS - 21 Space Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
CT - 103 Ftr Group, Bradley Intl AP, CT
D - 100 Air Refeuling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England
DB - 94 Airlift Wing, Dobbins AFB, GA
DC - 113 Ftr Wing, Andrews AFB, MD
DE - 166 Air Wing, New Castle AP, DE
DM - 355 Ftr Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
DO - 906 Ftr Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
DR - 305 Rescue Sqn, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
DY - 7 Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX
ED - 46 Test/Tng Wing, Edwards AFB, CA
EF - 147 Ftr Wing, Ellington Field, TX
EG - 33 Ftr Wing, Eglin AFB, FL
EL - 28 Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, SD
EL - 44 Missile Wing, Ellsworth AFB, SD
EN - 80 Ftr Tng Wing, Shepard AFB, TX
ET - 46 Tng Wing, Eglin AFB, FL
FC - 336 Tng Group, Fairchild AFB, WA
FC - 92 Bomb Wing, Fairchild AFB, WA
FE - 90 Space Wing, F E Warren AFB, WY
FF - 1 Ftr Wing, Langley AFB, VA
FL - 939 (>920) Rescue Wing, Patrick AFB, FL
FL - 125 Ftr Group, Jacksonville Intl AP, FL
FM - 482 Ftr Wing, Homestead AFB, FL
FS - 188 Ftr Group, Fort Smith AP, AR
FT - 23 Ftr Wing, Pope AFB, NC
FW - 122 Ftr Wing, Fort Wayne Intl AP, IN
GA - - George AFB, CA
GF - 319 Bomb Group, Grand Forks, ND
GF - 91 Missile Wing, Grand Forks, ND
GR - 416 Bomb Group/Wing, Griffiss AFB, NY
GU - - Taegu AB, Korea
HA - 185 Ftr Wing, Sioux City AP, IA
HAFB - Ogden Air Logistics Ctr, Hill AFB, UT
HD - 82 Aerial Targets Sqn, Holloman AFB, NM
HH - 154 Wing, Hickam AFB, HI
HF - 181 Ftr Wing, Terre Haute AP, IN
HI - 419 Ftr Wing, Hill AFB, UT
HL - 366 (>388) Wing, Hill AFB, UT
HM - - Holloman AFB, NM
HO - 49 Ftr Wing, Holloman AFB, NM
HR - - Hahn AB, Germany
HS - - Homestead AFB, FL
HT - 46 Test Group, Holloman AFB, NM
HV - 30 Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB, CA
HW - 24 Wing, Howard AFB, Panama
IA - 132 Ftr Wing, Des Moines AP, IA
ID - - Grissom AFB, IN
ID - 124 Wing, Boise, ID
IL - 182 Ftr Group, Peoria AP, IL
IN - 930 Ftr Group, Grissom AFB, IN
IN - 434 Wing, Grissom AFB, IN
IS - 35 Wing, NAF Keflavik, Iceland
IS - 85 Group, NAF Keflavik, Iceland
JZ - 159 Ftr Wing, NAS New Orleans, LA
KC - 442 Ftr Wing, Richards Gebaur AFB, MO
KC - 442 Ftr Wing, Whiteman AFB, MT
KE - - Key Field, Meridian, MS
KI - 410 Bomb Wing, Sawyer AFB, MI
KS - 552 ACW, Keesler AFB, MS
KS - 81 Tng Wing, Keesler AFB, MS
KS - 45 Airlift Flight, Keesler AFB, MS
KT - 403 Wing, Keesler AFB, MS
KY - - Standiford Field, KY
LA - - Luke AFB, AZ
LA - 2 Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA
LB - 64 Ftr Tng Wing, Reese AFB, TX
LD - AIIF Academy, Lackland AFB, TX
LF - 58 (>56) Ftr Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
LH - - Luke/Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
LI - 106 Rescue Wing, Gabreski AP, NY
LK - 314 Airlift Wing, Little Rock, AR
LN - 48 Tac Ftr Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England
LR - 944 Ftr Group/Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
LV - 440 Tng Group, Nellis AFB, NV
LY - - Langley AFB, VA
LZ - 42nd Bomb Wing, Loring AFB, ME
MA - 102 Ftr Wing, Otis ANGB, MA
MA - 104 Ftr Group/Wing, Barnes Muni AP, Westfield MA
MB - 354 Ftr Wing, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC
MC - - McDill AFB, FL
MD - 175 Ftr Group/Wing, Warfield ANGB, MD
MD - 366 Wing, Castle AFB, CA
MI - 127 Ftr Wing, Selfridge ANGB, MI
MK - 440 Air Wing, Mitchell Intl AP, WI
MJ - 432 Ftr Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
MM - 341 Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, MT
MO - 366 Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
MS - 934 Airlift Group, Mpls-St Paul Intl AP, MN
MT - 5 Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, MT
MT - 90 (>91) Space Wing, Minot AFB, ND
MX - 908 Airlift Group, Maxwell AFB, AL
MY - 347 Rescue Wing, Moody AFB, GA
MY - 479 Tng Group, Moody AFB, GA
NA - - Nellis AFB, NV
NC - 145 Airlift Group, Charlotte Intl AP, NC
NF - 355 Ftr Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
NF - 914 Airlift Group, Niagara Falls Intl AP, NY
NJ - - McGuire AFB, NJ
NM - 150 Ftr Group, Kirtland AFB, NM
NO - 926 Ftr Group, NAS New Orleans, LA
NT - - Mather AFB, CA
NV - 152 Air Wing, Reno NV
NY - 174 Ftr Wing, Hancock Intl AP, Syracuse, NY
OF - 55 Wing, Offutt AFB, NB
OG - 2 Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA
OH - - Rickenbacker ANGB, OH
OH - 178 Ftr Group, Springfield-Beckley AP, OK
OH - 179 Air Group, Mansfield-Lahm AP, OH
OH - 180 Ftr Group, Toledo Express AP, OH
OK - 137 Wing, Will Rogers AP, OK
OK - 138 Ftr Group/Wing, Tulsa AP, OK
OK - 552 Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, OK
OS - 51 Ftr Wing, Osan AB, Korea
OT - 49 Ftr Wing, Holloman AFB, NM
OT - 53 Wing, 85 TES, Eglin AFB, FL
OT - 53 Wing, 422 TES, Nellis AFB, NV
OT - USAF Air Warfare Ctr, Eglin AFB, FL
OZ - 384 Bomb Wing, McConnell AFB, KS
PA - - Harrisburg AP, PA
PA - 111 Ftr Group, NAS Willow Grove, PA
PD - 939 Rescue Wing, Portland Intl AP, OR
PF - - Patrick AFB, FL
PI - 911 Airlift Group, Pittsburgh Intl AP, PA
PN - - Clark AFB, The Philippines
PP - 302 Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB, CO
PR - 156 Ftr Group, Puerto Rico Intl, San Juan
PT - - Pittsburgh AP, PA
RA - 12 Ftr Tng Wing, Randolph AFB, TX
RG - 339 TESTS, Robins AFB, GA
RI - 143 Wing, Quonset State AP, RI
RS - 86 (>96) Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany
SA - 149 Ftr Group, Kelly (>:Lackland) AFB, TX
SB - - Sembach AFB, Germany
SC - 169 Ftr Wing, McEntire ANGB, SC
SD - - Sioux Falls AP, SD
SD - 114 Ftr WIng, Joe Foss Field, SD
SH - 507 Ftr Group, Tinker AFB, OK
SI - 183 Ftr Group, Capital AP, Springfield IL
SJ - 4 Ftr Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
SL - 131 Ftr Wing, Lambert Field, St Louis MO
SM - 337 TESTS, McClellan AFB, CA
SP - 52 Ftr Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
SW - 20 Ftr Wing, Shaw AFB, SC
SW - 363 Ftr Wing, Shaw AFB, SC
TC - 355 Wing, McChord AFB, WA
TD - 53 Wing, Tyndall AFB, FL
TH - 181 Ftr Group, Hulman Field, Terre Haute IN
TH - 301 Ftr Wing, Carswell AFB, TX
TJ - - Torrejon AB, Spain
TR - - Nellis AFB, NV
TX - - Bergstrom AFB, TX
TX - 301 Ftr Wing, Carswell Field, Ft Worth TX
TY - 325 Ftr Wing, Tyndall AFB, FL
UH - - RAF Upper Heyford, England
VA - 192 Ftr Group/Wing, Byrd Intl AP, Richmond VA
VN - 71 Ftr Tng Wing, Vance AFB, OK
VO - 928 Airlift Group, IL
VT - 158 Ftr Wing, Burlington Intl AP, VT
VV - - George AFB, CA
WA - 57 Ftr Wing, Nellis AFB, NV
WA - USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, NV
WE - 53 Wing, Tyndall AFB, FL
WF - - Shepard AFB, TXs
WG - 913 Airlift Group, NAS Willow Grove, PA
WI - 128 Ftr Wing, Truax Field, Madison WI
WL - - Williams AFB, AZ
WM - 351 Missile Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
WP - 8 Ftr Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea
WR - 81 Ftr Wing, RAF Bentwaters, England
WR - 81 Ftr Wing, RAF Woodbridge, England
WR - 116 ACW, Robins AFB, GA
WT - 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO
WV - 167 Airlift Wing, Shepherd Muni AP, WV
WW - - George AFB, CA
WW - 35 Tac Ftr Wing, Misawa AB, Japan
WY - 153 Airlift Wing, Cheyenne Intl AP, WY
XL - 47 Ftr Tng Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX
XP - 139 Airlift Wing, Rosecrans Muni AP, MO
YJ - 374 Airlift Wing, Yokota AB, Japan
YO - 910 Airlift Group, Youngstown Muni AP, OH
ZR - - Zweibrucken, Germany
ZZ - 18 Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa

US Military Aircraft Tail Codes> Advanced Search

Tail Code:
Unit:
Air Base:
Keyword Search:

Sort By:
Sort Order:

Exact Field Match

Keyword Search matches your inquiry against all fields.
Leave the other search fields blank.
Exact Field Match searches for the exact string you enter.
EXAMPLE: You search for the tail code of FW-1. Exact Field Match checked returns only the 1st Fighter Wing tail code, unchecked it would also return tail codes for FW-177, FW-187 etc.

SITE NAVIGATION