U.S Naval Aircraft Tail Codes

USN and USMC Tail codes

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 US Navy and Marine Tail codes. The history of tail codes goes far back in Naval Aviation, but was standardized in the 50's and 60's. Normally the Navy for instance had one simple solution, all air wings and units for the Pacific Fleet were assigned letters beginning with N, those for the Atlantic with A.

The Navy Fleet Patrol Units have all their own distinctive tail codes, the following are for the Pacific: P/Q/R/S/Y and Z, the Atlantic Patrol units all begin with L

Among the huge amount of aircraft in use with the Navy and Marine Corps many are land based, such units as VC,VQ,VR and VX squadrons, these all have their own distinctive tail codes.

Contrary to the Navy operational squadrons (which are either assigned to a CVW or Base) the USMC units all have their own codes, which are always displayed on the aircraft, except when a certain unit is assigned to a Navy CVW, in that case the squadron will bear the CVW code!

The right hand table show some codes in use with the US Navy at various times, these codes are land based and reserve units as well individual air base codes CVW's.  Accuracy cannot be and is not guaranteed.