US Navy Sqn Designations in WW2
 

Does anyone have a list of the types of designations they used for USN aircraft and their Squadrons. Or know how they were derived?

I think someone once said the USN used letters from the word NAVY, hence the PBY Catalina was I guess Patrol Bomber Navy or Naval or VT-8 (Torpedo Squadron 8) and PV-1 being Patrol Naval or Navy?

Thanks in advance

Re: US Navy Sqn Designations in WW2
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._N...n_Designations


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ions_(pre-1962)

Re: US Navy Sqn Designations in WW2
 

Larry. Mike's links explains the unit's functions ie. PB=Patrol Bomber but the last letters are manufactuer's designations; "Y" in PBY is for Consolidated / Convair and the "V" in PV is Lockheed / Vega. The first letter is the primary function, Patrol here.
Similarly the "U" in F4U is the Chance Vought factory.


Nick

Re: US Navy Sqn Designations in WW2
 

Interesting that the USN aircraft seemed to have N.A.V. or Y in their designations!

Re: US Navy Sqn Designations in WW2
 

Lockheed actually had TWO different letters for their Naval aircraft from their 2 factories; "V" for Lockheed Vega Plant A (eg. PV-2 Harpoon) and "O" for Lockheed Plant B (eg. PBO Hudson).
"V" was also used by Vultee in 1941 until they became Convair (1942) then "Y" (eg. SNV Valiant).

Canadian-Vickers planes for Navy (1942-45) used "V" eg. PBV Catalina but they went to AAF as OA-10s.


Regards
Nick