john smith wrote:
In article ,
"Enzo Matrix" wrote:
Hope this helps.

Enzo, thanks.
One more thing... what are the "codes"?

They are the code letters painted on the tail, and sometimes other places as
well (usually the nosewheel bay doors). They identify the aircraft within
the squadron, rather than using aircraft serial numbers all the time.

In the photograph, the Lightning carries the serial number "XR753" located
on the rear fuselage. It also carriesthe code "A" located near the top of
the fin.

Some squadrons used the "last three" of the aircraft serial number as a code
(the Tornado Weapons Conversion Unit TWCU was one such). However, it is
theoretically possible for a squadron to have two aircraft with the same
last three on charge at the same time. For instance, XX109 and XZ109 were
both Jaguar GR1s. It's far better to use a code letter.

During the 1980s double letter codes became popular. These were used to
identify the squadron and aircraft within a fleet or sometimes just a wing.
So with the Binbrook Wing (which also comprised the entirety of the
Lightning fleet in the 80s), Aircraft of 5 Sqn had double letter codes
commencing with "A", which aircraft of 11 Sqn had them commencing with "B".

This held true for other wings. The Jaguar fleet at one time had the
following prefixes:

A - 14 Sqn
B - 17 Sqn
C - 20 Sqn
D - 31 Sqn
E - 6 Sqn
G - 54 Sqn

The two Jag recce squadrons went their own merry way. 2 Sqn was never
included in the coding system and for a time they used a two digit code
which bore no relation to the aircraft serial. 41 Sqn was allocated the
prefix "F" but I don't believe it was ever carried. Certainly every 41 Sqn
Jaguar that I have ever seen carried a single letter code.

A number of squadrons ignored the "wing" style of coding. At RAF Gütersloh,
the two Harrier squadrons were allocated wing prefixes. 3 Sqn were satisfied
with their "A", but on Happy 4, we just blithely went on using single letter
codes, rather than the allocated "B" prefix. Of course this caused ructions
later on, when the Powers That Be decreed that the Harrier *fleet* should be
coded in the same system. 3 Sqn were *not* happy that their "A" prefix was
transferred to 1 Sqn. They liked it even less when everyone started to refer
to them as "the B team". :-)


--
Enzo

I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.