Pre-War fuselage bands with numbers on RAF, FAA biplanes

[Zoran Petek]

Numbers in above post were applied within bands.

Coloured bands to FS (approx.):
ARGUS Green (FS 14187) band.
ARK ROYAL Blue/red/blue band.
COURAGEOUS Blue (FS 15056) band.
EAGLE Black (FS 17078) band.
FURIOUS Red (FS 11136) band.
GLORIOUS Yellow (FS 13538) band.
HERMES White (FS 17778) band.

Letter/number/letter codes.
Applied at first within bands (as A4G, Swordfish, Ark Royal), than on tails (U3G, Swordfish, Furious; L6G, Skua, Illustrious), or fuselage on camouflaged aircraft.

Carrier codes, introduced 1939:
A ARK ROYAL, sunk 14.11.41.
C COURAGEOUS, sunk 17.9.39.
E EAGLE, sunk 11.8.42.
F FORMIDABLE
G GLORIOUS, sunk 8.6.40.
H HERMES, sunk by Japanese 9.4.42.
L ILLUSTRIOUS
M IMPLACABLE
N INDOMITABLE
R ARGUS, retired IX.43.
U FURIOUS, retired IX.44.
V VICTORIOUS

Also used prefixes were: O - Observation, P/Q Second line and also T - Training, W/Y/Z - Shore based, X - Experimental.

Role:
1-5 Torpedo/Spotter/Reconnaissance
6-7 Fighter
8 Land based (capultable); also used for embarked fighters later in the war
9 Seaplanes (capultable)

Compare with the late war three digit system:

British Pacific Fleet aircraft numbers, April 1945 - end of war.
111 - 169 one-man crew
270 - 298 two-man crew
370 - 398 three man crew

British Pacific Fleet carriers tail letters
A, M, N Vengeance
B, N, T, V, Y Venerable
C, D Colossus
L, R, Y Glory
N Implacable
P, X Victorious
Q Illustrious
S Indefatigable
V Vindex
X Formidable

Light & Escort Carriers & BPF Fleet Train 1945.
B Battler
F Ranee
G Smiter
I Trouncer
J Trumpeter
L Glory
N Puncher
O Pretoria Castle
P Premier
Q Queen
R Reaper
S Searcher
T Patroller
U Pursuer
V Ravager
X Vindex
Y Nairana
Z Campania

Zoran