U.S. Navy Aircraft Squadron Designations in WWII
Although most USN squadrons had designations similar to the planes that equipped them,
i.e. VF was a Fighter squadron, VSB a Scout Bomber one, some squadron designations were
not so obvious. Here is a list, derived originally from James C. Fahey's Ships and Aircraft of
the United States Fleet, Victory Edition, 1945, with
additions such as VBF added. Please note that some of these
designations were little used or were used for only a short period of time.
US Navy Heavier-than-Air Units
| VB |
Bombing Squadron |
| VBF |
Bombing Fighter Squadron |
| VC |
Composite Squadron |
| VCS |
Cruiser Scouting Squadron |
| VD |
Photographic-Reconnaissance Sq. |
| VF |
Fighting Squadron |
| VF(N) |
Night Fighting Squadron |
| VGF |
Escort Fighting Squadron |
| VGS |
Escort Scouting Squadron |
| VH |
Air-Sea Resque Squadron |
| VJ |
Utility Squadron |
| VM |
Miscellaneous (Base) Squadron |
| VN-D |
Training Squadron (District) |
| VO |
Observation Squadron |
| VOT |
Operational Training Squadron |
| VP |
Patrol Squadron |
| VP-D |
Patrol Squadron (District) |
| VPB |
Patrol Bombing Squadron |
| VR |
Transport Squadron |
| VRE |
Transport-Evacuation Squadron |
| VRF |
Ferry Squadron |
| VRS |
Service Squadron |
| VS |
Scouting Squadron |
| VS-D |
Scouting Squadron (District) |
| VSB |
Scout Bombing Squadron |
| VT |
Torpedo Squadron |
| VTB |
Torpedo Bombing Squadron |
| VX-D |
Experimental Squadron (District) |
Marine Corps Heavier-than-Air Units
| VMB |
Marine Bombing Squadron |
| VMD |
Marine Photographic Squadron |
| VMF |
Marine Fighting Squadron |
| VMF(N) |
Marine Night Fighting Squadron |
| VMJ |
Marine Utility Squadron |
| VMO |
Marine Observation Squadron |
| VMOT |
Marine Operational Training Sq. |
| VMP |
Marine Patrol Squadron |
| VMPB |
Marine Patrol Bombing Sq. |
| VMR |
Marine Transport Squadron |
| VMRF |
Marine Ferry Squadron |
| VMRS |
Marine Service Squadron |
| VMS |
Marine Scouting Squadron |
| VMSB |
Marine Scout Bombing Squadron |
| VMT |
Marine Torpedo Squadron |
| VMTB |
Marine Torpedo Bombing Sq. |
| VMW |
Marine Wing Headquarters Sq. |
Lighter-than-Air Units
Airship Squadrons (Blimprons)
| ZJ |
Airship Utility Squadron |
| ZN |
Airship Training Squadron |
| ZP |
Airship Patrol Squadron |
| ZS |
Airship Scouting Squadron |
Squadron Numbering
| Prior to WWII, each carrier's number was used to designate its VF, VS, VB
and VT squadrons. USS Ranger was CV-4, so her squadrons were numberd VF-4, etc.
However, after America's entry into the war, this ceased to be the case, as squadrons had
to be refitted and retrained after seeing combat. Other types of squadrons were typically
numbered sequentially, starting from one. |
Credits |
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