In article ,
Cub Driver writes:

Fighter Bombers got a 'B' for a suffix.
Radar carrying airplanes gor an 'E'.
Night Fighters/Bombers got an 'N'.
ASW airplanes got an 'S'.
Elint airplanes got a 'Q'.

But it wasn't always consistant. An F6F-5E was a Night Fighter, and
an PBM-3E was an ASW Patrol Bomber.

No wonder McNamara decided to take this problem in hand!

Legend has it that the Great Designation MacNafit took place after
he'd gone in fromt of Congress to tout the various merits of the C-130
over teh Marine Corps GV-1. He rattled on for an hour or so, until
somebody pointed out to him that they were the same airplane. (ANd I
wonder the the USCG's R8V-1 came in as well). Since he hated to be
humiliated, especially by himself, (and he does have a lot to be
humble about) he decreed that the designation systems be merged, so
that he couldn't do it again. (Or you can substitute the F4H/F-110 if
you'd rather.) It's a great story, but I'm sure rality is somewhat
different, (and a lot more dull)

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster