Buzz number is a term applied to the large letter and number combination applied to United States Air Forcemilitary aircraft in the years immediately after World War II, through the early 1960s. This moniker evolved from aircrew speculation that the large numbers were meant to dissuade "buzzing" (very-low-altitude high-speed passes over populated areas) by increasing the likelihood of being identified and punished.[citation needed]
This F-100 has the buzz number "FW-754" on its nose.
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.
A P-82 Twin Mustang with a buzz number near its tailDouglas F-24 Banshee in 1950, with 'AA' buzz number'FX-' code on Lockheed YF-12; possibly the last buzz number
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.
^. Fact Sheets. National Museum of the United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2017-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Bibliography
Adcock, Al (1992). C-123 Provider in action. Aircraft In Action. Vol. 124. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN978-0-89747-276-0.
Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leichester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN0-904597-22-9. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
Swanborough, Gordon; Peter M. Bowers (1989). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN978-0-87474-880-2. Douglas XCG-17.
Further reading
Bowers, Peter M.; David W. Menard (2006). Buzz Numbers: The Explanations and Regulations Behind America's Military Aircraft Identification System. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press. ISBN978-1-58007-103-1.
External linksEdit
Aerofiles Buzz Numbers & Tail Codes
October 15, 2023
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Buzz number is a term applied to the large letter and number combination applied to United States Air Force military aircraft in the years immediately after World War II through the early 1960s This moniker evolved from aircrew speculation that the large numbers were meant to dissuade buzzing very low altitude high speed passes over populated areas by increasing the likelihood of being identified and punished citation needed This F 100 has the buzz number FW 754 on its nose 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 Contents 1 List of buzz codes 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksList of buzz codes Edit nbsp A P 82 Twin Mustang with a buzz number near its tail nbsp Douglas F 24 Banshee in 1950 with AA buzz number nbsp FX code on Lockheed YF 12 possibly the last buzz numberThis 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 Code name Manufacturer Aircraft NotesAA Douglas A 24 F 24 Banshee 1 AB Curtiss A 25 Shrike 1 AC Douglas A 26 Invader recoded BC in 1948 1 AD Vultee A 31 Vengeance 1 AE Convair XA 41 1 BA Boeing B 17 Flying Fortress 1 BA Martin B 57 Canberra 1 BB Douglas XB 19 1 BB Douglas B 66 Destroyer 1 BC Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1 BC Douglas B 26 Invader originally AC 1 BD North American B 25 Mitchell 1 BE North American B 45 Tornado recoded BH in 1948 1 BF Boeing B 29 Superfortress 1 BG Consolidated B 32 Dominator 1 BG Northrop XB 35 1 BH Lockheed B 37 Ventura 1 BH North American B 45 Tornado originally BE 1 BJ Boeing XB 39 Superfortress 1 BK Douglas XB 42 Mixmaster 1 BK Boeing B 50 Superfortress 1 BL Boeing XB 44 Superfortress 1 BM Convair B 36 Peacemaker 1 CA Beechcraft CQ 3 Expeditor 1 CA Douglas C 124 Globemaster II 1 CB Beechcraft UC 43 TravelerCC Beechcraft C 45 ExpeditorCD Curtiss C 46 CommandoCE Douglas C 47 Skytrain 1 CF Douglas C 48CG Douglas C 49CH Douglas C 53 SkytrooperCJ Douglas C 54 Skymaster 1 CK Lockheed C 60 LodestarCL Noorduyn UC 64 NorsemanCM Lockheed C 69 ConstellationCN Douglas C 74 Globemaster 1 CP Cessna UC 78 Bobcat 1 CP Convair C 131 Samaritan 1 CQ Fairchild C 82 Packet 1 CQ Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar 1 CR Consolidated C 87 Liberator Express 1 CS Boeing C 97 Stratofreighter KC 97 Stratofreighter 1 CT Convair XC 99 1 CU Douglas C 117 Skytrooper 1 CV Douglas C 118 Liftmaster 1 CW Lockheed C 121 Constellation 1 CY Chase YC 122 Avitruc 1 CZ Chase C 123 Provider 1 2 CZ Fairchild C 123 Provider 1 FA Beechcraft F 2 Expeditor cancelled 1948 1 FB Lockheed F 5 Lightning cancelled 1948 1 FC North American F 6 Mustang cancelled 1948 to FF 1 FD Consolidated F 7 Liberator cancelled 1948 1 FE Boeing F 9 Flying Fortress cancelled 1948 to BA 1 FF North American F 10 Mitchell cancelled 1948 to BD 1 FG Boeing F 13 Superfortress cancelled 1948 to BF 1 FH Northrop F 15 Reporter cancelled 1948 to FK 1 F Northrop N 156F 3 FA Lockheed F 38 Lightning previously PA 1 FA Lockheed F 94 Starfire 1 FA Northrop F 5 Freedom Fighter 1 4 FB Bell F 39 Airacobra previously PB 1 FB McDonnell F 101 Voodoo 1 FC Curtiss F 40 Warhawk previously PC 1 FC Convair F 102 Delta Dagger 1 FD Republic XF 103 1 FE Republic F 47 Thunderbolt previously PE 1 FE Convair F 106 Delta Dart 1 FF North American F 51 Mustang previously PF 1 FG Lockheed F 104 Starfighter 1 FH Republic F 105 Thunderchief 1 FJ Bell F 59 Airacomet previously PJ 1 FJ McDonnell F 110 Spectre 1 FK Northrop F 61 Black Widow previously PK 1 FL Bell F 63 Kingcobra previously PL 1 FN Lockheed F 80 Shooting Star previously PL recoded FT 1 FP Convair XF 81 previously PP 1 FQ North American F 82 Twin Mustang previously PQ 1 FR Bell XF 83 previously PR 1 FS Republic F 84 Thunderjet previously PS 1 FT Lockheed F 80 Shooting Star previously PN FN 1 QFT Lockheed QF 80 Shooting Star 1 FU North American F 86 Sabre previously PU 1 FV Northrop Northrop F 89 Scorpion 1 FW North American F 100 Super Sabre 1 FX Lockheed YF 12 Blackbird 5 Unofficial FY North American YF 93FY North American YF 95 recoded FUGA Waco PG 2 1 GB Waco PG 3 1 GC Waco CG 4 1 GD Laister Kauffman XCG 10 Trojan Horse 1 GE Waco CG 13 1 GF Chase YCG 14 1 GG Waco CG 15 1 GH Chase XCG 18 1 GJ Chase XCG 20 1 JT Cessna YAT 37D 6 LA Taylorcraft L 2 Grasshopper 1 LA Piper L 4 Grasshopper originally LC 1 LB Aeronca L 3 Grasshopper 1 LB Stinson L 5 Sentinel originally LD 1 LC Piper L 4 Grasshopper recoded LA 1 LC Aeronca L 16 originally LH 1 LB Stinson L 5 Sentinel recoded LB 1 LD Ryan L 17B U 18B Navion See LJ for North American L 17A C U 18A C 1 LE Interstate L 6 Cadet 1 LE Boeing L 15 Scout 1 LE Piper L 18 Super Cub 1 LF Piper L 14 1 LF Cessna L 19 Bird Dog 1 LG Convair L 13 Grasshopper 1 LG de Havilland Canada L 20 Beaver 1 LH Aeronca L 16 recoded LC 1 LH Piper L 21 Super Cub 1 LJ North American L 17A C U 18A C Navion See LD for Ryan L 17B U 18B 1 LJ Beechcraft L 23 Seminole 1 LK Aero Commander L 26 1 OA Grumman OA 9 Goose 1 OB Consolidated OA 10 Catalina 1 OC North American O 47 1 OD Kellett YO 60 1 OE Boeing PB2B 1 Catalina 6 PA Lockheed P 38 Lightning recoded FA in 1948 1 PB Bell P 39 Airacobra recoded FB in 1948 1 PC Curtiss P 40 Warhawk recoded FC in 1948 1 PD Curtiss XP 42 1 PE Republic P 47 Thunderbolt recoded FE in 1948 1 PF North American P 51 Mustang recoded FF in 1948 1 PG Curtiss XP 55 Ascender 1 PH Lockheed XP 58 Chain Lightning 1 PJ Bell P 59 Airacomet recoded FJ in 1948 1 PK Northrop P 61 Black Widow recoded FK in 1948 1 PL Bell P 63 Kingcobra recoded FL in 1948 1 PM Fisher P 75 Eagle 1 PN Lockheed P 80 Shooting Star recoded FT in 1948 1 PP Convair XP 81 recoded FP in 1948 1 PQ North American P 82 Twin Mustang recoded FQ in 1948 1 PR Bell XP 83 recoded FR in 1948 1 PS Republic P 84 Thunderjet recoded FS in 1948 1 PU North American P 86 Sabre recoded FU in 1948 1 QF Piasecki H 21 Workhorse 6 QK Culver Q 14 Cadet 6 RF North American RF 51 Mustang 6 TA North American AT 6 Texan 1 LTA North American LT 6G Texan 1 TB Beechcraft AT 7 Navigator 1 TC Beechcraft AT 11 Kansan 6 TC Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 15 7 TC Convair TF 102 Delta Dagger 8 TD Fairchild AT 21 Gunner 1 TD Beechcraft T 34 Mentor 1 BTE Vultee BT 13 Valiant 1 TE Cessna T 37 Tweet 6 PTF Boeing PT 13 Kaydet 1 TF North American TF 51 Mustang 6 TF Northrop T 38 Talon 6 9 TG Boeing PT 17 Kaydet 1 TG Lockheed TF 104 Starfighter 6 TG North American T 39 Sabreliner 6 TH Fairchild PT 19 1 TJ Culver PQ 8 Cadet 1 TK Culver PQ 14 Cadet 6 TL North American T 28 Trojan 1 TP Convair T 29 Flying Classroom 1 TQ Fairchild T 31 1 TR Lockheed T 33 Shooting Star 6 UG de Havilland Canada U 6 Beaver 6 UH Piper U 7 Super Cub 6 UK Aero Commander U 4 U 9 6 YF North American YF 93 10 YT Cessna YAT 37D 6 See also EditTail code United States military aircraft serialsReferences EditCitations a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej Andrade 1979 p 249 Adcock 1992 p 7 Johnsen 2006 p 10 Johnsen 2006 p 6 Sgarlato 1979 p 82 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Swanborough and Bowers 1989 p 43 Hooftman 1965 p 59 Kinzey 1990 p 17 Johnsen 2006 p 58 North American YF 93 Fact Sheets National Museum of the United States Air Force Archived from the original on 2014 10 27 Retrieved 2017 07 09 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link BibliographyAdcock Al 1992 C 123 Provider in action Aircraft In Action Vol 124 Carrollton TX Squadron Signal Publications ISBN 978 0 89747 276 0 Andrade John M 1979 U S Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 Leichester UK Midland Counties Publications ISBN 0 904597 22 9 Retrieved 2011 02 08 Hooftman Hugo 1965 Russian Aircraft Fallbrook CA Aero Publishers ISBN 978 0 8168 8100 0 Retrieved 2011 02 08 Johnsen Frederick A 2006 Northrop F 5 F 20 T 38 WarbirdTech Series Vol 44 North Branch MN Specialty Press ISBN 978 1 58007 094 2 Kinzey Bert 1990 F 102 Delta Dagger in Detail amp Scale Detail amp Scale Vol 35 Carrollton TX Squadron Signal Publications ISBN 978 0 8306 3046 2 Retrieved 2011 02 08 Sgarlato Nico 1979 USAF Aircraft of Today Carrollton TX Squadron Signal Publications ISBN 0 89747 068 0 Swanborough Gordon Peter M Bowers 1989 United States Military Aircraft since 1909 Washington D C Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN 978 0 87474 880 2 Douglas XCG 17 Further readingBowers Peter M David W Menard 2006 Buzz Numbers The Explanations and Regulations Behind America s Military Aircraft Identification System North Branch MN Specialty Press ISBN 978 1 58007 103 1 External links EditAerofiles Buzz Numbers amp Tail Codes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Buzz number amp oldid 1171258378, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
