{{Short description|USAF aircraft identification}} [[File:F-100.jpg|thumb|alt=A jet aircraft with nose air intake sits on the tarmac, wearing U.S. Air Force insignia and "FW-754" coding on the nose|upright=1.14|This F-100 has the buzz number "FW-754" on its nose.]]
'''Buzz numbers''' were letter-number combinations displayed by United States Air Force military aircraft in the years immediately after World War II, through the early 1960s.
The first two letters of a buzz number indicated the type and designation of an aircraft while the last three were generally the last three digits of the aircraft serial number. Air Force fighters used buzz numbers starting with the letter F (or P, when fighters were designated as "pursuit" aircraft before June 1948), while bombers started with the letter B. For example, a P-51 Mustang would have a buzz number such as FF-230 while an F-86 Sabre might be FU-910. A B-66 Destroyer would have a buzz number such as BB-222. One of the last Air Force fighters to carry a buzz number was the F-4 Phantom II (FJ), then called the F-110 Spectre by the Air Force.
==List of buzz codes== [[File:523d FES North American F-82E Twin Mustang 46-332.jpg|thumb|right|A P-82 Twin Mustang with a buzz number near its tail|alt=A lineup of silver piston-engined fighters, the one in the front of the line with clearly visible U.S. Air Force insignia and 'PQ-332" coding on the rear fuselage]] thumb|right|Douglas F-24 Banshee in 1950, with 'AA' buzz number|alt=A radial piston-engined aircraft on a snowy airfield, a hangar behind and its pilot in front, with U.S. Air Force insignia and "AA-783" code below the cockpit [[File:Lockheed YF-12A buzz number.png|thumb|right|'FX-' code on Lockheed YF-12; possibly the last buzz number|alt=A part of a black, delta-winged aircraft with engine nacelle partway out the wing; U.S. Air Force insignia on the fuselage, "USAF" labeling on the wing, and "FX-936" coding on the nacelle]] This table lists U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army aircraft by buzz-number prefix. Note that some aircraft types changed prefixes during their career, while other prefixes were re-used after an earlier type was retired. {|class="wikitable sortable" ! Code name !! Manufacturer !! Aircraft !! Notes |- | AA || Douglas || A-24/F-24 Banshee || <ref name="And">Andrade 1979, p. 249</ref> |- | AB || Curtiss || A-25 Shrike || <ref name="And"/> |- | AC || Douglas || A-26 Invader || recoded BC in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | AD || Vultee || A-31 Vengeance || <ref name="And"/> |- | AE || Convair || XA-41 || <ref name="And"/> |- | BA || Boeing || B-17 Flying Fortress || <ref name="And"/> |- | BA || Martin || B-57 Canberra || <ref name="And"/> |- | BB || Douglas || XB-19 || <ref name="And"/> |- | BB || Douglas || B-66 Destroyer || <ref name="And"/> |- | BC || Consolidated || B-24 Liberator || <ref name="And"/> |- | BC || Douglas || B-26 Invader || originally AC<ref name="And"/> |- | BD || North American || B-25 Mitchell || <ref name="And"/> |- | BE || North American || B-45 Tornado || recoded BH in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | BF || Boeing || B-29 Superfortress || <ref name="And"/> |- | BG || Consolidated || B-32 Dominator || <ref name="And"/> |- | BG || Northrop || XB-35 || <ref name="And"/> |- | BH || Lockheed || B-37 Ventura || <ref name="And"/> |- | BH || North American || B-45 Tornado || originally BE<ref name="And"/> |- | BJ || Boeing || XB-39 Superfortress || <ref name="And"/> |- | BK || Douglas || XB-42 Mixmaster || <ref name="And"/> |- | BK || Boeing || B-50 Superfortress || <ref name="And"/> |- | BL || Boeing || XB-44 Superfortress || <ref name="And"/> |- | BM || Convair || B-36 Peacemaker || <ref name="And"/> |- | CA || Beechcraft || CQ-3 Expeditor || <ref name="And"/> |- | CA || Douglas || C-124 Globemaster II || <ref name="And"/> |- | CB || Beechcraft || UC-43 Traveler || |- | CC || Beechcraft || C-45 Expeditor || |- | CD || Curtiss || C-46 Commando || |- | CE || Douglas || C-47 Skytrain || <ref name="And"/> |- | CF || Douglas || C-48 || |- | CG || Douglas || C-49 || |- | CH || Douglas || C-53 Skytrooper || |- | CJ || Douglas || C-54 Skymaster || <ref name="And"/> |- | CK || Lockheed || C-60 Lodestar || |- | CL || Noorduyn || UC-64 Norseman || |- | CM || Lockheed || C-69 Constellation || |- | CN || Douglas || C-74 Globemaster || <ref name="And"/> |- | CP || Cessna || UC-78 Bobcat || <ref name="And"/> |- | CP || Convair || C-131 Samaritan || <ref name="And"/> |- | CQ || Fairchild || C-82 Packet || <ref name="And"/> |- | CQ || Fairchild || C-119 Flying Boxcar || <ref name="And"/> |- | CR || Consolidated || C-87 Liberator Express || <ref name="And"/> |- | CS || Boeing || C-97 Stratofreighter/KC-97 Stratofreighter || <ref name="And"/> |- | CT || Convair || XC-99 || <ref name="And"/> |- | CU || Douglas || C-117 Skytrooper || <ref name="And"/> |- | CV || Douglas || C-118 Liftmaster || <ref name="And"/> |- | CW || Lockheed || C-121 Constellation || <ref name="And"/> |- | CY || Chase || YC-122 Avitruc || <ref name="And"/> |- | CZ || Chase || C-123 Provider || <ref name="And"/><ref>Adcock 1992, p.7.</ref> |- | CZ || Fairchild || C-123 Provider || <ref name="And"/> |- | FA || Beechcraft || F-2 Expeditor || cancelled 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | FB || Lockheed || F-5 Lightning || cancelled 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | FC || North American || F-6 Mustang || cancelled 1948, to FF<ref name="And"/> |- | FD || Consolidated || F-7 Liberator || cancelled 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | FE || Boeing || F-9 Flying Fortress || cancelled 1948, to BA<ref name="And"/> |- | FF || North American || F-10 Mitchell || cancelled 1948, to BD<ref name="And"/> |- | FG || Boeing || F-13 Superfortress || cancelled 1948, to BF<ref name="And"/> |- | FH || Northrop || F-15 Reporter || cancelled 1948, to FK<ref name="And"/> |- | F || Northrop || N-156F || <ref>Johnsen 2006, p.10.</ref> |- | FA || Lockheed || F-38 Lightning || previously PA<ref name="And"/> |- | FA || Lockheed || F-94 Starfire || <ref name="And"/> |- | FA || Northrop || F-5 Freedom Fighter || <ref name="And"/><ref>Johnsen 2006, p.6.</ref> |- | FB || Bell || F-39 Airacobra || previously PB<ref name="And"/> |- | FB || McDonnell || F-101 Voodoo || <ref name="And"/> |- | FC || Curtiss || F-40 Warhawk || previously PC<ref name="And"/> |- | FC || Convair || F-102 Delta Dagger || <ref name="And"/> |- | FD || Republic || XF-103 || <ref name="And"/> |- | FE || Republic || F-47 Thunderbolt || previously PE<ref name="And"/> |- | FE || Convair || F-106 Delta Dart || <ref name="And"/> |- | FF || North American || F-51 Mustang || previously PF<ref name="And"/> |- | FG || Lockheed || F-104 Starfighter || <ref name="And"/> |- | FH || Republic || F-105 Thunderchief || <ref name="And"/> |- | FJ || Bell || F-59 Airacomet || previously PJ<ref name="And"/> |- | FJ || McDonnell || F-110 Spectre || <ref name="And"/> |- | FK || Northrop || F-61 Black Widow || previously PK<ref name="And"/> |- | FL || Bell || F-63 Kingcobra || previously PL<ref name="And"/> |- | FN || Lockheed || F-80 Shooting Star || previously PL, recoded FT<ref name="And"/> |- | FP || Convair || XF-81 || previously PP<ref name="And"/> |- | FQ || North American || F-82 Twin Mustang || previously PQ<ref name="And"/> |- | FR || Bell || XF-83 || previously PR<ref name="And"/> |- | FS || Republic || F-84 Thunderjet || previously PS<ref name="And"/> |- | FT || Lockheed || F-80 Shooting Star || previously PN, FN<ref name="And"/> |- | QFT || Lockheed || QF-80 Shooting Star || <ref name="And"/> |- | FU || North American || F-86 Sabre || previously PU<ref name="And"/> |- | FV || Northrop || Northrop F-89 Scorpion || <ref name="And"/> |- | FW || North American || F-100 Super Sabre || <ref name="And"/> |- | FX || Lockheed || YF-12 Blackbird || <ref>Sgarlato 1979, p.82.</ref> Unofficial? |- | FY || North American || YF-93 || |- | FY || North American || YF-95 || recoded FU |- | GA || Waco || PG-2 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GB || Waco || PG-3 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GC || Waco || CG-4 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GD || Laister-Kauffman || XCG-10 Trojan Horse || <ref name="And"/> |- | GE || Waco || CG-13 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GF || Chase || YCG-14 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GG || Waco || CG-15 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GH || Chase || XCG-18 || <ref name="And"/> |- | GJ || Chase || XCG-20 || <ref name="And"/> |- | JT || Cessna || YAT-37D || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | LA || Taylorcraft || L-2 Grasshopper || <ref name="And"/> |- | LA || Piper || L-4 Grasshopper || originally LC<ref name="And"/> |- | LB || Aeronca || L-3 Grasshopper || <ref name="And"/> |- | LB || Stinson || L-5 Sentinel || originally LD<ref name="And"/> |- | LC || Piper || L-4 Grasshopper || recoded LA<ref name="And"/> |- | LC || Aeronca || L-16 || originally LH<ref name="And"/> |- | LB || Stinson || L-5 Sentinel || recoded LB<ref name="And"/> |- | LD || Ryan || L-17B/U-18B Navion || See LJ for North American L-17A/C, U-18A/C<ref name="And"/> |- | LE || Interstate || L-6 Cadet || <ref name="And"/> |- | LE || Boeing || L-15 Scout || <ref name="And"/> |- | LE || Piper || L-18 Super Cub || <ref name="And"/> |- | LF || Piper || L-14 || <ref name="And"/> |- | LF || Cessna || L-19 Bird Dog || <ref name="And"/> |- | LG || Convair || L-13 Grasshopper || <ref name="And"/> |- | LG || de Havilland Canada || L-20 Beaver || <ref name="And"/> |- | LH || Aeronca || L-16 || recoded LC<ref name="And"/> |- | LH || Piper || L-21 Super Cub || <ref name="And"/> |- | LJ || North American || L-17A/C, U-18A/C Navion || See LD for Ryan L-17B, U-18B<ref name="And"/> |- | LJ || Beechcraft || L-23 Seminole || <ref name="And"/> |- | LK || Aero Commander || L-26 || <ref name="And"/> |- | OA || Grumman || OA-9 Goose || <ref name="And"/> |- | OB || Consolidated || OA-10 Catalina || <ref name="And"/> |- | OC || North American || O-47 || <ref name="And"/> |- | OD || Kellett || YO-60 || <ref name="And"/> |- | OE || Boeing || PB2B-1 Catalina || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | PA || Lockheed || P-38 Lightning || recoded FA in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PB || Bell || P-39 Airacobra || recoded FB in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PC || Curtiss || P-40 Warhawk || recoded FC in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PD || Curtiss || XP-42 || <ref name="And"/> |- | PE || Republic || P-47 Thunderbolt || recoded FE in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PF || North American || P-51 Mustang || recoded FF in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PG || Curtiss || XP-55 Ascender || <ref name="And"/> |- | PH || Lockheed || XP-58 Chain Lightning || <ref name="And"/> |- | PJ || Bell || P-59 Airacomet || recoded FJ in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PK || Northrop || P-61 Black Widow || recoded FK in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PL || Bell || P-63 Kingcobra || recoded FL in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PM || Fisher || P-75 Eagle || <ref name="And"/> |- | PN || Lockheed || P-80 Shooting Star || recoded FT in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PP || Convair || XP-81 || recoded FP in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PQ || North American || P-82 Twin Mustang || recoded FQ in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PR || Bell || XP-83 || recoded FR in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PS || Republic || P-84 Thunderjet || recoded FS in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | PU || North American || P-86 Sabre || recoded FU in 1948<ref name="And"/> |- | QF || Piasecki || H-21 Workhorse || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | QK || Culver || Q-14 Cadet || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | RF || North American || RF-51 Mustang || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TA || North American || AT-6 Texan || <ref name="And"/> |- | LTA || North American || LT-6G Texan || <ref name="And"/> |- | TB || Beechcraft || AT-7 Navigator || <ref name="And"/> |- | TC || Beechcraft || AT-11 Kansan || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TC || Mikoyan-Gurevich || MiG-15 || <ref>Hooftman 1965, p.59.</ref> |- | TC || Convair || TF-102 Delta Dagger || <ref>Kinzey 1990, p.17.</ref> |- | TD || Fairchild || AT-21 Gunner || <ref name="And"/> |- | TD || Beechcraft || T-34 Mentor || <ref name="And"/> |- | BTE || Vultee || BT-13 Valiant || <ref name="And"/> |- | TE || Cessna || T-37 Tweet || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | PTF || Boeing || PT-13 Kaydet || <ref name="And"/> |- | TF || North American || TF-51 Mustang || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TF || Northrop || T-38 Talon || <ref name="SaB"/><ref>Johnsen 2006, p.58.</ref> |- | TG || Boeing || PT-17 Kaydet || <ref name="And"/> |- | TG || Lockheed || TF-104 Starfighter || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TG || North American || T-39 Sabreliner || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TH || Fairchild || PT-19 || <ref name="And"/> |- | TJ || Culver || PQ-8 Cadet || <ref name="And"/> |- | TK || Culver || PQ-14 Cadet || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | TL || North American || T-28 Trojan || <ref name="And"/> |- | TP || Convair || T-29 Flying Classroom || <ref name="And"/> |- | TQ || Fairchild || T-31 || <ref name="And"/> |- | TR || Lockheed || T-33 Shooting Star || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | UG || de Havilland Canada || U-6 Beaver || <ref name="SaB">Swanborough and Bowers 1989, p.43.</ref> |- | UH || Piper || U-7 Super Cub || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | UK || Aero Commander || U-4/U-9 || <ref name="SaB"/> |- | YF || North American || YF-93 || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2384|title=North American YF-93|work=Fact Sheets|publisher=National Museum of the United States Air Force|access-date=2017-07-09|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027044120/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2384|archive-date=2014-10-27}}</ref> |- | YT || Cessna || YAT-37D || <ref name="SaB"/> |- |}
==See also== *Tail code *United States military aircraft serials
==References== ;Citations {{Reflist|2}}
;Bibliography {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last1=Adcock|first1=Al|title=C-123 Provider in action|series=Aircraft In Action|volume=124|year=1992|publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications|location=Carrollton, TX|isbn=978-0-89747-276-0}} *{{cite book|last=Andrade|first=John M.|title=U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-KMgAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Buzz+numbers%22|access-date=2011-02-08|year=1979|publisher=Midland Counties Publications|location=Leichester, UK|isbn=0-904597-22-9}} *{{cite book|last=Hooftman|first=Hugo|title=Russian Aircraft|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yoZTAAAAMAAJ&q=%22TC-616%22|access-date=2011-02-08|year=1965|publisher=Aero Publishers|location=Fallbrook, CA|isbn=978-0-8168-8100-0}} *{{cite book|last=Johnsen|first=Frederick A.|title=Northrop F-5/F-20/T-38|series=WarbirdTech Series|volume=44|year=2006|publisher=Specialty Press|location=North Branch, MN|isbn=978-1-58007-094-2}} *{{cite book|last=Kinzey|first=Bert|title=F-102 Delta Dagger in Detail & Scale|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifhTAAAAMAAJ&q=T-33+%22buzz+number%22|access-date=2011-02-08|series=Detail & Scale|volume=35|year=1990|publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications|location=Carrollton, TX|isbn=978-0-8306-3046-2}} *{{cite book|last=Sgarlato|first=Nico|title=USAF Aircraft of Today|year=1979|publisher=Squadron/Signal Publications|location=Carrollton, TX|isbn=0-89747-068-0}} *{{cite book|last=Swanborough|first=Gordon|author2=Peter M. Bowers|title=United States Military Aircraft since 1909|url=https://archive.org/details/unitedstatesmili00swan|url-access=registration|quote=Douglas XCG-17.|year=1989|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=978-0-87474-880-2}} {{refend}}
;Further reading {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|last=Bowers|first=Peter M.|author2=David W. Menard|title=Buzz Numbers: The Explanations and Regulations Behind America's Military Aircraft Identification System|year=2006|publisher=Specialty Press|location=North Branch, MN|isbn=978-1-58007-103-1}} {{refend}}
==External links== *[http://www.aerofiles.com/buzz-tails.html Aerofiles Buzz Numbers & Tail Codes]
Category:Military aviation Category:United States Air Force lists Category:Aircraft markings