Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings

127 Pages·1994·131.29 MB·English

by  Patrick Martin

THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF USAF
TACTICAL AIRCRAFT TAIL CODE MARKINGS
Dedication Contents
To Doug Remington
Dedication & Acknowledgements 4
Introduction 6
IfirstmetDougRemingtononJuly9th, 1983whileshootingKodachromeatMcChordAFBopenhouse.Wetraded aircraft
slidesinthehundredsovertheyears.TherewasnowaytokeepupwiththeoverwhelmingnumberofslidesDougsentout.Doughad Glossary 6
twomainconsumingaviationinterests,theTailCodesandtheF-4Phantom.Dougwasnevershortofinterestingstories.Eachvisit
tothefamilyabodewasasceneofkids,grandchildren,variousindecipherablerelations,stamps,dogs,cats,andyellowslideboxes. Abbreviations 7
Amongthedelugeofactivitywastheongoingbattleforspaceatthekitchentabletoanswercorrespondenceandstampslideswith
data.
WhileIwasworkinginmymodellingdungeon,Dougcalledandaskedmetodisposeof"theslidecollection"onhispassing
away. Whileknowingofhis ill-health,Ithought thisratherpeculiaras hewas inarecovery mode.Afewweekslaterthe request History ofTail Codes 8
becameareality.Intheprocessofsortingandselling,Isetasidefromthetensofthousandsofslides,thebestoftheUSAFtailcoded
slidesincasesomebodywantedtodoabook.Inspiteofinformingseveralpotentiallyinterestedpartiesfrom Doug'smailinglist, Tail Code Usage 11
nobodycameforwardofferingtodothebook.
Myownearlyunexpectedretirementallowedthe"luxury"ofseriouslyconsideringtheproject.AfterconferringwithBernie
Remington(ifthereeverwasa livingsaint), the godecisionwasmade.Thisworkwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithout Doug's
PacificAir Forces (PACAF) 17
research.Thefollowingpagesaretheresultofayearandahalfofcollating,phoning,sorting,andwriting.
Wing Summary 18
Acknowledgements
Squadron/Code Summary 25
AlaskanAir Command 65
ManypeoplehavecontributedtothisbookthroughcorrespondencewithDougRemingtonandmyself.SeveralTailCodecode
Wing Summary 66
ologistsandnon-codershaveputinmanyhourscontributingtoandeditingthiswork.AlsothankstothenumerousUSAFHistorians
andPublicAffairsAirForcepersonnelwhotookthetimeouttoanswerhundredsofenquiringletters.Aspecialthanksalsogoesto Squadron/Code Summary 67
thewritingsofCharlesA. Ravensteinwhosebooksprovidedagreatdealofassistance.AspecialthanksalsogoestoMartyIsham,
CharlesMayer, andWilliamPeak.Thebiggestthanksgoesto my wife Irene,forprovidingnotonly editingandpatiencebutthe Tactical Air Command Continental United States (TAC - CONUS) 69
enumerablebrewsand mealswhile Iflew the keyboard. My thanks also to the following people: CaptainKevinBaggett, Lt Col
HaroldHBarton77TFS,PeterBergagini,1LtPeterDBird81TFS,NancyJ.Bissett121TFW,TomBrewer,RobBrown,Kenneth Wing Summary 71
Buchanan,MSgtRolfCarter831AD,FredrickDClaypool4TFW, MajorMichaelR. Cook69TFS,SgtSusanCooper108TFW,
CaptainP.B. Cranium57FIS, CaptainGeorgeCulleyUSAFHRC, MajorConstanceACuster51TFW, SrASharon L. Davis 33 Squadron/Code Summary 81
TFW,LtColGeorgeDeFilippi23TASS,2LtRobertJDiantonio4TFS,CaptainG.w.Doe(CAF),RobertDorr,SgtMichaelDorset
1TFW, SSgtMichaelDugre432TFW, LeislieDyson,SgtRaymondEast10TFW,WilliamElliottPhD16AF,KevinFolsom52 Air Force Reserve (AFRES) 156
TFW,ReneFrancillon,TSgtJoannW Galindo 103TFG, lLtPetraMGallert33TFW, MSgtChristopherJGarland27TFW,2Lt
TammieDGrevin924TFG,CherylGummAFFTC,GrantHalesTAC,LtJamesA.Hallman7TFS,TSgtCareyPHendrix23TFW, Air National Guard (ANG) 166
Betty1. Hoeper71FTW,MajorJohnE. HoffmasterAirAttacheCanada,MSgtMichealJ. Hrivnak363TFW,2LtChristopherP
Jester38TRS, Kansau, SeanKeating,TSgtJohn PKamelamela 26TRW, BenKnowles, John Kuborn PACAF,DonLarsen, 2Lt United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) 181
Michael P. Liechty, Della Lindley OCALC, Captain Robert R. McCarty 313AD, JackMcKillop, Pat Martin Sr., Julie Massoni
Wing Summary 182
AFSC, GerryAMauss, TSgtSusanMiller12FTW, Kurt Miska, MSgtTerry R Mitchell48FIS, 2Lt LanceT Murray 335TFS,
SMSgt. Harold P. Myers, CharlesF. O'Connell HQAFRES, lLtEdwin LO'Rourke435TFTS, PeterOakley, lLtMarkPhilips Squadron/Code Summary 183
2TFTS,2LtLisaM. Potter12TRS,LtColJohnPPope44TIS,SSgtHughS.Porter836AD,SSgtJohnRoberts112TFRG,TSgt
RickRoffer162TFG,lLtRichardPRoth23TFW,AbrahamScherr,PhD56TTW,PeterA.Schinkelshoek,D.F.Sherman66ECW, Air Training Command 201
MarilynSSilcoxADWC,HaroldJSmarkolaUSAFE,DorthyKSpiegelbergAFFTC,MargaretM.StanekTAC,JoeDStettler160
TRS,PaulStevens,RobertC. Sullivan832AD, LtColCharlesO. Sylling67TFS, NormanTaylor,SSgtDoyleTillman316AD, Air Force Logistics Command 204
CaptainJamesFTynan831AD, lLtJBrianWhite35TFW,WallyVanWinkle,GustaVinas832ADandMajorCharlesGWhitley
140TFW,plusallthosewhotradedslideswithDougandmyselfanddidn'tcomplainwhentheirslideswereused. Air Force Systems Command 205
Conclusion 209
Copyright© 1994byPatrickMartin.
Appendix A: Tail Code Summary 215
LibraryofCongressCatalogNumber:93-84496
All rights reserved. No partofthis work may be reproduced or used in any forms orby any means- graphic, electronicorme Appendix B: Tail Code Unit - Base Lists 230
chanical, including photocopyingor information storage and retrieval systems- without written permission from the copyright
Appendix C: Tail Code Aircraft Types 232
holder.
PrintedinChina. Appendix D: T.O. 1-1-4 233
ISBN:0-88740-513-4
Appendix E: USAF Tail Codes, 31 December 1990 241
Weareinterestedinhearingfrom authorswithbookideasonrelatedtopics.
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Abbreviations
Introduction
AAC AlaskanAirCommand SOF SpecialOperationsFlight
AB AirBase SOS SpecialOperationsSquadron
ABG AirBaseGroup SOTG SpecialOperationsTraining
Tailcodesareaseriesoftwo-lettersequencesthatprovideunitidentificationoftacticalaircraftoperatedbyUnitedStatesAirForce. ABW AirBaseWing Group
ThepurposeofthisbookistoprovideacompletehistoricalrecordofTailCodesusage.Thehistory,evolutionandpresentationofall ACCS AirborneCommand&Control SOTS SpecialOperationsTraining
knowntailcodesarepresentedbymajorAirForcetheatreandcommands,followedbyappendix. Squadron Squadron
ThefirstpublishedTailCodelistappearedintheFebruary1970issueofAirBritainjournal-AirPictorial.Thelistwasfarfrom ACS AirCommandoSquadron SOW SpecialOperationsWing
completeandcontainednumerousunderstandableomissions.Shortlythereafter,theInternationalPlasticModellersSociety-Tide ACW AirCommandoWing SIRS StrikelReconnaissanceSquadron
waterBranch(Langley, Virginia),printedafarmoreaccuratepicturebyTomBrewer.AthirdpublishedworkbyFrederickW.Roos AD AirDivision SS(SPA) SupportSquadron(Special
appearedintheAmericanAviationHistoricalSocietyJournal inthespring1971issueandupdatedinsummerof1972. ADCOM AerospaceDefenseCommand ProjectsActivity)
ADTAC AirDefense-TacticalAir SVAF SouthVietnameseAirForce
Several people started producingtail code lists. By far the most comprehensive effort was by DougRemington (Associate
Command TAC TacticalAirCommand
editorofIPMSTidewater) andTom Brewer.Nearlytwodozenupdatedfull listswereproducedupuntil 1973.DougRemington's ADTC AirArmamentDevelopment TACWfTAlRCW' TacticalAirControlWing
workcontinued,with the aimofproducingaTail Code book. Doug'sworkfurther appeared as an appendix in the back"United Center TAG TacticalAirliftGroup
StatesMilitaryAviation:TheAirForce"(MidlandCountiesPublications1980).JackMcKillopproduced24verywell presented AF AirForce TAS TacticalAirliftSquadron
currentlistsbetweenMarch1983andMarch1987,informationcomingfromDougRemington.Inall,Ihaveseenover120different AFB AirForceBase TASS TacticalAirSupportSquadron
tailcodelistsfrom65sources.Ofteninformationwasnotavailable,classified,ortoo"paintfresh"toproduceaccurateresultsatthe AFLC AirForceLogisticsCommand TASG TacticalAirSupportGroup
time. Oneinterestingfacet incomparingdifferentauthors'listsisthetranscribingofinaccurateorunconfirmedinformation. AFSC AirForceSystemsCommand TASW TacticalAirSupportWing
This book is not writtenfor the novice aviation enthusiast. It is for those who have a specialized interest in USAF tactical ALC AirLogisticsCenter TASTG TacticalAirSupportTraining
aircraftmarkings. Itprovidesahistorybasedsolelyontailcode usage.Allentries,listingsand appendixarefocused onunitsthat AMU AircraftMaintenanceUnit Group
ANG AirNationalGuard TASTS TacticalAirSupportTraining
carriedtailcodes.Theintentistoprovideareferencemanualtoidentifytailcodedaircraft.
ANGB AirNationalGuardBase Squadron
Itshould be noted that aircraft are not always assigned to individual flying squadrons, as ownershipmaybe to a designated ARRS AerospaceRescue&Recovery TATS TacticalAirliftTrainingSquadron
aircraftmaintenanceunit,organisationalmaintenancesquadronorthewingitself.Inthe interestofclarity,thistextsinglesoutthe Squadron TAW TacticalAirliftWing
operatorrather than the owneroftail coded aircraft.A further qualification to the text is, USAFunits, in proper title, should be ARS AerialRefuellingSquadron TAWC TacticalAirWarfareCenter
writtenas334ll!TFSor363dTRW.AircrafttypesarenotedbydesignationsuchasC-130orRF-101ratherthannomenclaturesuch AS AttackSquadron(pre1970) TDS TacticalDroneSquadron
as HerculesorVoodoo in text. Suchnamesare used inphotocaptionsonly.All photographs are taken at unithome bases unless AS AggressorSquadron(post1973) TDG TacticalDroneGroup
otherwisenoted. Manyofthesquadronreassignmentswere infactarenumberingprocess. ATC AirTrainingCommand TECG TacticalElectronicCombat
To identify a tail code user, or identify a photograph, either use the command section (ifknown), or the quick reference ATD AdversaryThreatDivision Group
ATS AirTransportSquadron TES Test&EvaluationSquadron
appendix and look up the tail code alphabetically. Summaries are provided for controlling units, such as wings, for PacificAir
AEW&CW AirborneEarlyWarningand TESTS TestSquadron
Forces(PACAF),TacticalAirCommand- ContinentalUnitedStates(TAC-CONUS),AlaskaAirCommand(AAC)andtheUnited ControlWing TESTW TestWing
StatesAirForcesEurope(USAFE). Unitsmaintainingthesametailcodespost1972,duetoAFM66-1 (seesection)haveseparate BS BombardmentSquadron TEWG TacticalElectronicWarfare
entriesundertheparentwing. CCTS CombatCrewTrainingSquadron Group
ThebulkandaimofthisbookistodocumentthehistoryofUSAFuseofTailCodesfromtheirinceptiontotheendof1990.The CFB CanadianForcesBase TEWS TacticalElectronicWarfare
mainproblemforthestudyofaircraftmarkingsissettingoutabigenoughnettocatchallpossibleusersinagiventimeperiod.This CCTW CombatCrewTrainingWing Squadron
isonlypossibleafterthepassageoftimetodocumenttheiruse. CONUS ContinentalUnitedStates TEWTS TacticalElectronicWarfareTrain
Perhaps twenty years from now someone else (another tail code-ologist) will pick up from this point and produce a work CSS CombatSupportSquadron ingSquadron
CSW CombatSupportWing TFAS TacticalFighterAggressor
coveringthepostColdWar-GulfWaryears.Thisperiodintheearly1990slookstobeasfluid astheVietnamyearswere.Nowfor
CW ControlWing Squadron
theUnitedStatesNavy ... CW CompositeWing TFG TacticalFighterGroup
Det Detachment TFRS TacticalFighterReplacement
DSES DefenseSystemsEvaluation Squadron
Squadron TFS TacticalFighterSquadron
ECS ElectronicCombatSquadron! TITG TacticalFighterTrainingGroup
CountermeasuresSquadron TITS TacticalFighterTraining
Glossary ECW ElectronicCombatWing/Counter Squadron
measuresSquadron TFTW TacticalFighterTrainingWing
FAC ForwardAirControl TFW TacticalFighterWing
FIS FighterInterceptorSquadron TG TacticalGroup
FIW FighterInterceptorWing TRG TacticalReconnaissanceGroup
Activate: Tobringanestablishmentintoexistencebyassigningpersonnelto it'sheadquartersunit. FTS FlyingTrainingSquadron TRS TacticalReconnaissance
AFM66-1: Conceptthatchangedtailcodeassignmenttowinglevelfrom squadronlevel. FTW FlyingTrainingWing Squadron
Assign: Toplaceaunitwithinanestablishmentsothattheunitbecomesanelementorcomponentofa FW FighterWing TRW TacticalReconnaissanceWing
FWS FighterWeaponsSquadron TRTS TacticalReconnaissanceTraining
largerorganization.
FWW FighterWeaponsWing Squadron
Attach: Toplaceaunittemporarilyunderthecontrolofanotherunitorestablishment.Theattachmentofaunitdoes HQ Headquarters TS TestSquadron
notmaketheunitformally anelementorcomponentoftheorganizationtowhichitisattached. lAP InternationalAirport TTS(T) TacticalTrainingSquadron(Test)
BattleCreek: ComplextransferofwingsandsquadronswithinUSAFE1972-73. MAC MilitaryAirliftCommand TTW TacticalTrainingWing
Consolidate: Tocombinetwoormoreunitsmergingtheirlineageintoasingleline. MAG MilitaryAirliftGroup US UnitedStates
Designation: Thenameofaunitorestablishment. MAP MilitaryAssistancePlan USAF UnitedStatesAirForce
Detach: Torelinquishcontrolofanassignedcomponent,usuallyforaspecificpurposeandperiodoftime. MAP MunicipalAirport USAFE UnitedStatesAirForcesEurope
Inactivate: Towithdrawallpersonnelfrom anactivelistedunit,terminatingtheunitsexistence(albeitsome MAS MilitaryAirliftSquadron USS UnitedStatesShip
MASDC MilitaryAircraftStorage&Dis WRALC Warner-RobinsAirLogistics
timestemporarily).
positionCenter Center
Linebacker: SeriesofairoperationsagainstNorthVietnam.
MCAS MarineCorpsAirStation WWS WildWeaselSquadron
ParentUnit: A unitthatdirectlyadministersandcontrolssubordinateunitsandestablishments. NAS NavalAirStation
ProvisionalUnit: A temporaryunitestablishedtoperformaspecifictask(iedeployment). OMS OrganisationalMaintenance
ReadySwitch: ComplexswitchofF-111A,D andF-4Dbetween474,366and48TFWin 1977. Squadron
PACAF PacificAirForces
RAF RoyalAirForce
ROK RepublicofKorea
RS ReconnaissanceSquadron
AbbreviationDates'
RTU ReplacementTrainingUnit
1966'-1968:InitialtailcodedateswithinPACAF
RSVN RepublicofSouthVietnam
"10/7/68''':InitialtailcodeassignmentdateCONUS
RTAFB RoyalThailandAirForceBase
"1972''':AFM66-1genericwingtailcodedate
SAC StrategicAirCommand
"1/12/74+":MACcontrolofTACairliftassets
6
7
United States Air Force HISTORY OF TAIL CODES
9
Distinctive UnitAircraft Markings
SeveralUSAFbaseshave tailcodeddisplay aircraftpaintedinformer markings. Many haveerroneouscodesapplied repre
sentingcurrentbaseoccupantsorabbreviationsofguardedlocation.Manynon-flyingairframesassignedtotheBDR(BattleDam
ageRepair, non-flying)rolehavebeenpaintedinschemesrepresentingcurrentorpasthistory.Severalaircrafthavehaderroneous
During the late 1960s, United StatesAir Force tactical aircraft flew in a natural metal finish marked with fuselage letters and tail codes appliedby intentoraccident.The 17TFS 363TFWpaintedthree F-16Cwith the DS (DesertShield) tail codeswhen
numbers, known as"BuzzNumbers."These identifiedthe aircrafttypeswithtwo lettersalongwith the lastthree numbersofthe aircraftweretemporallyassignedfrom the50TFW(HR)attheendof1990.
aircraftserialnumber. Inaddition,avarietyofcolourmarkingsemblazonedaircraftprovidingsquadronidentificationinbothair
andgroundoperations.TacticalfighteroperationsinSoutheastAsiaadoptedatoneddownappearancestartingin1964.Thisappear
ancespreadtoothercommandsandtheatresshortlythereafter.Topsidecoloursconsistoftwogreensandonebrown,withalight
grey underside, as setoutbyTechnical Order 1-1-4(FederalStandardColour; FS.595a 34079, 34102, 30219and36622).This
schemeiscommonlyreferredtoastheSoutheastAsiaorSEAscheme.Fixedpatternsforallcamouflagedtypesapplicationarenoted
inT.O. 1-1-4.Thisdocument,withregularupdates,tothepresentday,providesaveryauthoritativeviewofUSAFpaintschemes.
F-105DThunderchief61-0100RU,357TFS,62-4353RM,354TFS355TFW,TakhliRTAFB,enroutenorthfrombase.Photo:
LesSundt.
F-100DSuperSabre56-3318,50TFW,HahnAB,displayingblue,yellowandredtailbands.Photo:'Bill Stranberg,overGermany Inthemid-1970s,thestandardSoutheastAsiaschemechangedwiththeextensionthetopsidecoloursundersideandomitting
inthelate1960's. ' theundersidegrey.Withthisamendment,tailcodeletterapplicationswitchedtoblackincolouraspartofageneraltoningdownof
aircrafteliminatinghighvisiblemarkings.Thistoneddownlookalsoincludeditemssuchasnationalinsignia,rescuemarkings,and
Thisuniformityofaircraftappearancehinderedunitidentificationofindividualsquadronsinairandgroundoperations."Tail serial numbers. In time, European One camouflage colours oftwo green and charcoal (34092, 34102 and36118(or 36081}) in
Codes",ortheofficialname,"DistinctiveUnitAircraftIdentificationMarkings",providedthesolution.Thisidentificationconcept, wrap-a-roundform becamestandard.Thereweremanyexceptions,variationsandcombinationsofschemes, includingtemporary
first introducedintheSoutheastAsiantheatre,consistsoftwo alphabetlettersplacedonthetailsoftacticalcamouflagedaircraft. colours. Many"special"aircraftsuchasrepresentative, demonstration,orsquadron,wingandAirDivisioncommander'saircraft
TailCodeswereappliedinbothlustrelesswhiteandlightgrey(36622and37875),althoughlightgreyverymuchtheprincipaluntil hadashadoweffectaddedtothetailcodelettersandserials.Afewsquadronssuchasthe18TFSinAlaskaaddedtheshadoweffect
theearlyseventies.Thefleetwidesubstitutionto lustrelesswhite tookyearstocomplete. ByMay1970Appendix DofT.O.1-1-4 toallaircraft.
laidoutsize,placementandexactspecificationfortailcodeapplication,onallUSAFtailcodedtypes. While beyond the scope ofthis work, the various paint schemes adopted since tail code assignment to tactical types have
The various changes to camouflage schemes affected tail code application. An additional scheme, known asAsia Minor, affectedapplicationandcolouroftailcodes.TheintroductionoftheF-1SandF-16aircraftinauguratedaseriesofairtoairschemes.
utilizedtan,green,andbrown(20400, 30140and34079)forapplicationonC-47,C-54,C-130,F-4,F-S,F-84andF-86.Although TheF-15 utilizedan initialAirSuperiorityBluescheme(35450 topsideand15450gloss underside)withwhite tail codes, before
.approved, not allofthese types carriedthevariation.All schemesutilizedlightgrey(36622) underside.ThePACAF(also SAC) adoptinga standardtwo tone grey (Compass Ghost36320and36375)withblacktailcodes.The F-16 applied afurther all grey
deviated,onapproval,fromspecificationrequirementsandpaintedundersideblack(17038)onsometypes.Thissupplementedgrey scheme(36118, 36270and36375),maintainingblacktailcodes.TailcodesonF-4greyschemes(HillI36118, 36270topsideand
ontacticaltypes,suchasB-S7,C-47,C-130andF-4. 36375underside, HillII36118topside, 36270ontopsideandunderside),utilizedgunshipgrey(36118)fortail codepresentation.
On inceptionoftail codes, two letteringsystemswere initiatedduring 1966and 1967 in PACAF. Onesystem usedthe first The overall gunship grey scheme used on AC-130 and adopted by the F-1SE with black tail codes after several experimental
lettertorepresentthesquadron,thesecondanindividualaircraftwithinthesquadron.Thesecondsystem,adoptedacommonfirst schemesevaluatedatNellisAFB,onF-1Se.
letterwithinthewing,followedbyasecondvaryingletterallocatedtodifferentcomponentsquadrons.Thelattersystemwaslater Theinitialtwotonelightgreyscheme(closeto34672and36463)ontheA-lOAchanged,to 'EuropeanOne',startinginlate
adoptedasthestandard. 1979.TheA-7andA-37progressedthroughvariouslowvisibilityschemes.Agreenandgreyscheme(34079and36081)noteduntil
Alongwithtailcodes,tacticalaircraftcontinuedtocarrysquadroncoloursasasinglesixinchwidestripeacrosstheuppertail, A-7adoptedatwogreyscheme(36118and36270)inthelateeighties.Bothschemesapplyingblackcodes.TheF-117appliedgrey
orthethickerfincapform. Unlessotherwisenoted,squadroncolourswerecarriedascheckeredpattern.Anywiderhqrizontal tail tailcodesoveraspecialblackcolouredsurface.
markings,arereferredasbands.Bothformsofmarkingswerealsonotedasfincaps.Manyunitsaddedcolourtotitleblocks,canopy
rails and tank trim. Beyond the scope ofthis work are the specialized squadron markings applied for special occasions, such as
weaponsmeets,commandersandspecialeventaircraft. AFM66-1
On1April, 1972thebasicUSAFmaintenanceconceptchangedfrom squadrontowinglevel.Asaresultofthisconcept,asingle
two-lettertailcodedesignatedtheentirewing, ratherthananindividualsquadron.Thistailcodewasusuallyinpriorusagewithin
wingsas asinglesquadroncode.TheAFM66-1 documentdoes notmention taii codes,asthewingcommontailcodeisaconse
quenceoftherestructuring.ThewinglevelsingletailcodeconcepthadpriorusagewithinCombatCrewTrainingWingsatDavis
MonthanAFB,LukeAFBandSewartAFB(DM, LAandTS).ThesoleFighterWeaponsWingatNellisAFBhadacommoncode
(WA)fordetachmentsbeforeadoptingthecodefor allcomponentsinlate1969.
Alltextnoted"1972*"indicatesanAFM66-1 affecteddateofchangetowingcommontailcode, usually mid 1972.Datesof
actualtailcodechangevarythroughout1972,thoughrarelybeforeJune.ThissystemembracedallPACAF,USAFEandUSbased
units. Itwassometimebeforefleetwideutilizationbecamereality. Insomecases,especiallyinSoutheastAsiatheoldersquadron
tailcodesystemlasteduntil 1973.
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)
Visualidentificationbasedonlargecolourpatches,wasnotadvisableinthecombatzonesofSoutheastAsia.Toaidbothaerialand
F-105FThunderchief63-8326,49TFWSpangdahlemAB,alongsideaKC-135A,withred,yellowandbluemarkingsontailand surface identification a system ofunit identificationwas developed based on two letters ofthe alphabet. There has been along
nosewithBuzznumber"FH-326."Photo:RichardKierbow,overtheAtlantic,December1965. runningdebateonwhichwingwithinPACAFstartedplacingtailcodesonaircraft.
8
TAILCODE HISTORY OF TAIL CODES
10 11
Thefirst theoryconcernsthe8TacticalFighterWingbasedatUbonRTAFB. Inthissystemthewingadoptedacommonfirst
letterF,followedbyasecondvaryingletterallocatedtosquadrons.Whilelatein1966isgenerallyacceptedasthestartingperiodof
tailcodes,thefirstdocumented8TFWsightingisinJanuary1967,onanF-4Cofthe433TFS.Theinitial8TFWcodedunitsnoted
flyingtheF-4Cwere:
FG 433TFS F-4C(F-4Darrived7/67;re4TFS33TFW)
FP 497TFS F-4C
FY 555TFS F-4C(F-4D arrived5/67;re40TFS33TFW)
Thesecondclaim is the 366TFWbasedat Da NangAB, RSVN with F-4C, by spring 1967.Thefirst letterrepresentedthe
squadron,andthesecondanindividualaircraft.ThissystemcontinuedthroughconversiontoF-4Dinearly1968.Latein1969the
390TFS recodedLFwhilethe480and389TFS transferringtothe37TFWatPhuCatAB, RSVNand adoptedHBandHKtail
codesinJuneandApril1969,endingthesystem.Thisallowedfor26differenttailcodespersquadron,or78withinathreesquadron
wing.Thuspossibletailcodes:
AAtoAZ 389TFS
BAtoBZ 390TFS
CAtoCZ 480TFS A-IESkyraider53-9577TC,1SOS56SOW,NakhonPhanomRTAFB.Photo:DonLarsen,UdornRTAFB,19December1971.
Thethirdclaimisthe12TFWatCamRanhBayAB,withthesamesystemadoptedasthe8TFW.Codeswereappliedtoatleast TacticalairliftsquadronsinthePacifictheatrealsoappliedtailcodesduring1968.Themainairliftassetswereassignedtofour
someF-4CbyDecember1966.Initialcodedwithinthe 12TFWunits: (314, 374, 463and483)TacticalAirliftWings. Therewere severalbasingmethodsfor tactical airliftcapacity inSoutheastAsia.
Severalmedium sizedtransports, suchas C-7and C-123 werebased intheatre.The C-130wings basedoutofcountry deployed
XC 557TFS F-4C largedetachmentsintheatre.Thesedetachmentswouldvaryinsizedependingonrequirementsoftheconflict.ThethreePACAFC
XD 558TFS F-4C 130wings(314,374,and4631)\W)maintainedpermanentdetachments,rotatingcrewsandaircraftincountry.Aircraftreturnedto
XN 559TFS F-4C wingbasesformajormaintenance.Squadroncoloursrarelyappliedtoexteriorofaircraft.
XT 391TFS F-4C The14,56,and315AirCommandoWingsandlaterretitledasSpecialOperationsWings,providedthelargestvarietyofunit
movementsisSoutheastAsia.AirCommandounitsappliedtailcodesbetweenAprilandDecember1967.Manyunitsflewtypesthat
UnitscontrolledbyPACAFappliedtailcodesonmosttacticalaircraftby1968.Tailcodeswereassignedtobasesusingthe8/ remaineduncodedthroughouttheconflict,suchasCH-3,0-1,0-2andOV-10A.Thenumberofunits assignedtoSpecialOpera
12TFWmethodofcommonwingletterfirst, followedbyavaryingsecondletter,indicatingthe individualsquadron.Takingsome tions Wings diminished as US forces withdrew from the conflict. The wing common tail codes introduced under theAFM66-1
timetoreachallwings,thegeneralcommencementofcodesinearlyJuly 1968withinPACAFnotedas: concept,didnotfullycatchonwithinPACAFtacticalunitsuntiltheconflictdiminished.Thefollowingwingsadoptedcommontail
codesatdifferenttimes:
A_,B_,C_ 389,390,480TFS 366TFW DaNang,RSVN
HG 347TFW 428,429TFS July 1973 TakhliRTAFB
A AC,AE,AH,AJ,AL,AN 12,16,45TRS,360,361,362TEWS 460TRW TanSonNhutAB,RSVN
OS 51ABW 19TASS,36,TFS October1971 OsanAB,ROK
B BO,BP 390,127TFS(CONUSassigned) 354TFW KunsanAB,ROK
PN 405FW 1TS,523TFS 1972 ClarkAB, Philippin~s
C CB,CE,CK,CP 90,510TFS,604ACS,531TFS 3TFW BienHoaAB,RSVN
UD 432TRW 4,13,421,555TFS,14TRS August1973 UdornRTAFB
D DE,DH,DL 50,345,776TAS 314TAW ChingChuanKangAB,Taiwan
UP 3TFW 35,36,80TFS not implemented KunsanAB, ROK
E EC,EL,EN,EO,ER,ET 1,3,4,5,9,6ACS 14ACW PhanRangAB,RSVN
WP 8TFW 25,433,435,497TFS January 1973 UbonRTAFB
F FA,FG,FO,FP,FY 25,433,435,497,555TFS 8TFW UbonRTAFB
ZZ 18TFW 25,44,67TFS, 15TRS lateorconfirmed1973 KadenaAB,Okinawa
G GG,GL,GR,GT 35,36,80TFS,556RS 347TFW YokotaAB,Japan
H HA,HE,HP,HS 174,416,355,612TFS 37TFW PhuCatAB,RSVN
Tactical Air Command
J JE,JJ,JV 44,34,469TFS 388TFW KoratRTAFB
K KA,KC,KE,KH,KL,KN 457,458,459,535,536537TAS 483TAW PhuCatlVungTauAB,RSVN Continental United States (TAC CONUS)
M MA 815TAS 315AD TachikawaAB,Japan
N NV 82FIS 51FIW NahaAB,Okinawa Asixpagemessagedistributedon10July1968,listsinitialCONUStailcodes.ItalsoreferstoTACR66-12,dated8February1968,
o OC,OO,OY,OZ 13,11TRS,555TFS,14TRS 432TRW UdornRTAFB whichcontainstheinitialapplicationinstructions.Alldatesmarked"10/7/68*"withinthetextareinreferencetoCONUSinitialtail
P PE,PK,PN,PQ,PV 64,509FIS,523TFS,8,13BS 405FW ClarkAFB,Philippines codedate. Considerabletimepassedbeforeapplicationfleetwidewasimplemented.
Q QB,QF,QG,QW 29,772,773,773,774TAS 463TAW ClarkAFB,Philippines AirNationalGuardandAirForceReservefollowedsuitandbylate1971,tailcodeswereuniversallyappliedonmosttactical
R RC,RH,RK,RM,RU 41,42TEWS,333,354,357TFS 355TFW TakhliRTAFB USAFunits.Astailcodeswereassignedtoindividualsquadrons,thevariationwasratherlarge.Theconformingfirstlettersusually
S SD,SG,SK,SM,SS 306,136,188,308,309TFS 31TFW HoaAB,RSVN coincidedwiththeinitialletterofbasenameorproximatecentresofpopulation.Thesecondletterassignedtocomponents,usually
T TA,TC,TO,TT 609,1,606,602ACS 56ACW NakhonPhanomRTAFB alphabetically,wasdependentonpriorusage inothertheatresandcommands.TheinitialTACCONUSassignedcodeswere:
U UD,UK,UP 391,356,67TFS 475TFW MisawaAB,Japan
V VM,VP,VS 352,614,120TFS 35TFW PhanRangAB,RSVN A AD,AO,AP,AQ 4407,4408,4409,4410CCTS 4410CCTW HurlburtField
W WE,WH,WM,WV 19,309,310,311ACS 315ACW PhanRangAB,RSVN B BA,BB,BC 91,4,9TRS 67TRW BergstromAFB
X XC,XD,XN,XT 557,558,559,391TFS 12TFW CamRangAB,RSVN C CA,CC,CD 481,522,524TFS 27TFW CannonAFB
Y YD,YJ,YP,YU 21,35,41,817TAS 374TAW NahaAB,Okinawa D DB,DY,DZ, 346,347,348TAS 516TAW DyessAFB
Z ZA,ZZ 12TFS,15TRS 18TFW KadenaAB,Okinawa DM 4454,4455,4456,4472CCTS 4453CCTW Davis-MonthanAFB
E EB,ED,EE,EG 4,16,40TFS, 4533TIS 33TFW EglinAFB
Afewofthesecouldnotexistatthesametime(suchas1ACSEC,recodedtoTCinDecember1967).TheB-57units35TFW/ F FB,FC,FD,FE,FF* 43,45,46,47TFS,4530TIS 15TFW MacDillAFB
405FW,tailcodedPQandPV,rotatedfromClarkAFB.The14and315ACW,3TFW,andelementsof460TRWwerenotedwith F FB 47TAS 313TAW ForbesAFB
tailcodesin1967.The355TFWmayhavealsoreceivedtailcodesinearly1968.Tacticalfightersquadronsandwingsdeployedto G GA,GB,GC,GD*,GE 68,431,434,476TFS,4452CCTS 479TFW GeorgeAFB
SoutheastAsiamaintainedCONUScodeswhentemporarilyattached. Unitswithapermanentchangeofstationadoptedin-theatre H HB+, HC+, HD+ 7,8,9TFS 49TFW HollomanAFB
codes.SeveraltacticalfighterunitsmaintainedtailcodesforshortperiodsonreturntoCONUS.TheSouthVietnambasedwings(3, I -IA,IB,IC,10,IE,IF,IG,IH,IIDet1,2,71TAS,317,319,603ACS,4412,4413,4532CCTS1ACW EnglandAFB
12,31,35,37,366TFW, 460TRW)andThailandbased(8,355,388TFW,432TRW)fighterandreconnaissancewingsprovidedan J JK,JL,JM*,IN,JO 4414,4415,4416TES,4417CCTS,29TRS363TRW ShawAFB
abundantvariation ofdifferent tail codes. Dates in text between 1967and 1968, and marked with "*,, indicate the initial coding K KB+,KR,KS, KT 417TFS, 10,22,7TRS 67TRW MountainHomeAFB
periodwithinPACAF. LA 4511,4514,4515,4517CCTS 4510CCTW LukeAFB
AstheUSAFcommitmentinSoutheastAsiaexpandedsodidthenumberofunitswithassignedtailcodes.Therewerenumer L LM,LN,LO 36,37,38TAS 316TAW LittleRockAFB
oustransfersbetweenwings, aswellaswingmovement. Duetothefluidsituation,numerousdeployments,attachmentsandreas LZ 4441CCTS 4510CCTW WilliamAFB
signmentsmaygounrecorded. Manyofthesemovementsarestillclassified. M MC,MD,ME,MF,MG 560,561,562,563TFS,4519CCTS 23TFW McConnellAFB
N NA, NB, NC, ND 428,429,430TFS,4527CCTS 474TFW NellisAFB
HISTORY OF TAIL CODES
12 TAILCODE 13
o SACoperations.CodedtacticaloperationsbeganwiththearrivalofFCtailcodedF-4Ein1970.Bytheendof1972allunitsadopted
OA,OB 39,40TAS 317TAW LockbourneAFB
theAKtailcode.On7/7/89AlaskanCommandactivatedasasubordinatetoUSPacificCommandtocontrolAAC.On9/8/90the
P PB,PG,PR 777,778,779TAS 464TAW PopeAFB
AACfurtherreassignedtoPacificAirForcescommandandredesignatedtooriginalWorldWarIItitle,EleventhAirForce.
S SA,SB,SC 334,335,336TFS 4TFW Seymour-JohnsonAFB
S SR,ST, 62,61TAS 64TAW SewartAFB
TS 4446,4447,4449CCTS 4442CCTW SewartAFB
Tactical Air Command - Military Airlift Command (MAC)
WA Det1 4525FWW NellisAFB
W WB,WC,WD,WF 4536,4537,4538,4539CCTS 4525FWW NellisAFB
TacticalairliftunitsstartedapplyingtailcodesonC-7,C-123andC-130inthesummerof1968.Numeroustemporarydeployments
Z ZD,ZE 436,478TFS 4531TFW HomesteadAFB
inSoutheastAsiaandotherlocationsoccurredwithtailcodesapplied.Mostnotable,atRAPMildenhallandRhein-MainAB,West
Germany, which rotated C-130temporarily attachedsquadrons. These deployments under513 and 322TAWcontrol, continued
*indicatesnotcarried
untilapermanentTASwasassigned.
+indicatescodeassignedwhilewithUSAFE,anticipatingCONUSmove
UnderAFM66-1conceptwingcommontailcodeswereadoptedbythe airliftunitsinJune1972.Theseshortlivedtailcodes
lasteduntilfirstofDecember1974whenMACassumedcontrolofalltacticalairliftassets.Alltailcodeswereeliminatedfrom C
7,C-123,andC-130tacticaltransports(markedas1/12/74+intext)withinTAC,ANG,andAFRES.
United States Air Force Reserve (AFRES)
TailcodingofAFRESaircraftgenerallybeganinmid1972.AirForceReservetacticalunitsadoptedtheTACstandardpreAFM66
1tailcodemethod:TailcodesmaintainedthroughasometimesverycomplexchangingcommandstructureinvolvingGroupsand
wings.AswithAirNationalGuardunits,flyingsquadronswerestationedseparatelyfromlikecontrolledunitsthusAFM66-1hadno
effect.Severalunitstookyearsbeforeoptingtoutilizetailcodes.
Reservespecialoperations,tacticalfighter, andtacticaltransportsquadronsflewtailcodedA-lOA,A-37A1B,C-7A,C-123K,
C-130AIB,F-4CIDJE,F-16A1B/CID,F-105BIDIFandCH-3Eaircraft.Tailcodesweredroppedontacticaltransporttypeson1/12/
74whenMACassumedcontrolofallregularforcetacticalairliftunits.
Air National Guard (ANG)
AirNationalGuardtacticalunitsfirstappliedtailcodesonFederalActivatedDutyinresponsetotheseizureofUSSPueblo,on24
June1968.ThisprecipitateddeploymentreactionfromTACandincludedcalled-upANGunitsunderfederalactiveduty.Tailcodes
F-16DFalcon86-0041WA,64AS57FWW,NeliisAFB,withblackandyellowcheckeredtailstripe,onaggressorcamouflage. wereassignedtounitsfordeploymentsinCONUSandAsianbases.Theinitialunits,codedanddeployedinCONUSwere:
Photo:PatrickMartin,CFBNamao,18May1990.
TheFBtailcodesrepeatedfor47TAS313TAW,and43TFS15TFW.NotesinglecodesforallbutoneCCTWandtheFWW. CS 138TFS F-86H 140TFW CannonAFB
Thefollowing CONUSwingsadoptedacommontailcodeclosetotheAFM66-1 dateof1/4/72(notedwithinitialcommoncode CT 104TFS F-86H 140TFW CannonAFB
assignedcomponents): XA 119TFS F-100CIF 113TFW MyrtleBeachAFB
XB 121TFS F-100CIF 113TFW MyrtleBeachAFB
AH 1SOW 317,415,547,549SOS,4407CCTS HurlburtField RB 154TRS RF-101 123TRW LittleRockAFB
BA 67TRW 12,45,91TRS BergstromAFB RG 165TRS RF-101 123TRW RichardsGebaurAFB
CC 27TFW 481,522,524TFS CannonAFB RJ 192TRS RF-101 123TRW RichardsGebaurAFB
DB 463TAW 18TATS,772,773TAS DyessAFB
ED 33TFW 58TFS EglinAFB Theseunitsarelistedamonginitialtailcodedunits.ThemajorityoftacticalAirNationalGuardunitsfollowedsuitby1972.As
EL 23TFW 74,75,76TFS EnglandAFB tailcodeswereassignedtoindividualsquadrons,thevariationwasratherlarge.Thebulkoftailcodesabbreviatingstatenamesuch
FB 313TAW 47,48TAS ForbesAFB as;SD"SouthDakota",IA"Iowa"andOK"Oklahoma."OthersrepresentingclosepopulationcentressuchasBC"BattleCreek",
FF 1TFW 27,71,94TFS,4501TFRS MacDillAFB WG"GreaterWilmingtonAirportDelaware"andSG"SchenectadyAirportNewYork."Inadditiontopersonnel,thefollowingfive
GA 35TFW 434TFS,4435TFRS,4452,4535CCTS,35OMS GeorgeAFB NationalGuardtacticalfightersquadronsdeployedtoRSVNascompleteunits,adoptingtailcodeswithinregularforcewings:
HO 49TFW 7,8,9,417TFS HollomanAFB
JO 363TRW 16,18TRS,33TRTS,62TRS ShawAFB BP 127TFS F-100CIF 354TFW *25/6/68-10/6/69
LK 314TAW 16TATS,61,62TAS LittleRockAFB BO 166TFS F-lOOCIF 354TFW *417/68-10/6/69
LM 316TAW 36,37,38TAS LangleyAFB SG 136TFS F-100C 31TFW 14/6/68-18/5/69
MB 354TFW 353,355,356TFS,4554TFRS MyrtleBeachAFB SM 188TFS F-lOOCIF 31TFW 25/12/66-10/9/70
MO 347TFW 389,390,391TFS MountainHomeAFB VS 120TFS F-100CIF 35TFW 4/67-18/4/69
NA 474TFW 428,429,430TFS NellisAFB
PB 317TAW 39,40,41TFS PopeAFB *DeploymentdatestoKunsanAB, ROK
SJ 4TFW 334,335,336TFS Seymour-JohnsonAFB
ZF 31TFW 307,308,309TFS HomesteadAFB AirNationalGuardflyingsquadronsnumberbetween101and199,thuseasilyidentified.TheAirForceconceptAFM66-1did
notaffectANGtailcodes,asunitswereindividuallybased,remotefromcontrollingstructures.
ThesixteenC-7A,C-130A,BandEequippedTacticalAirliftSquadronsstartedcarryingtailcodesinApril1970.AirNational
Air Defense-Tactical Air Command GuardC-130 airliftsquadronsattemptedasystemofendingtailcodeswith the letterG, eightofthe fifteen doingso.Tailcodes
droppedonAirNationalGuard,regularandAFRESairliftunitswhenTACacquiescedtoMACcontrolon1/12/74.Sometailcodes
Air Defense Command declinedafterAir National Guard units gradually assumed moreofthe air defense mission. RegularAir carriedaslateasOctober1975.ManytacticalGuardunitsdidnotapplytailcodesonaircraftuntilthe 1980s,whileothers,suchas
Force air defense dedicated assets declined until 1/10/79 when interceptor units realigned from Aerospace Defense Command the188TFS(NM),NewMexicoAirNationalGuarddidnotapply assignedcodes.
(ADCOM)toAirDefenseTacticalAirCommand(ADTAC).
FurtherdeclineinactiveAirForceairdefenseunits,sawthewithdrawaloftheairdefensededicatedF-106andarrivaloftheF
15.Tailcodeswere LY,IS and TCassignedto three F-15fighter interceptorsquadrons(48, 57and318FIS). Intheprocessthe United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE)
formercolourfulFISmarkingsgivingwaytostandardblackTACtailcodes.
During 1970 the USAFEemulated the PACAF standard tail code system.The first letterofthe tail code represented the wing,
usuallyduplicatingtheparentbasename.Thesecondletterdesignatedthesquadron.ThelettersR,S,T,UandVdesignatedwithin
Alaskan Air Command USAFEtoavoidduplicationofmajoritytailcodesutilizedbyTACandPACAFunits.Theinitialnotedunits:
AlaskanAirCommandredesignatedfromthemajoroperatorofaerialassetsinWorldWarII,EleventhAirForceon18/12/45.The
AACoperatedprimarilyasanAirDefensetaskedcommanduntiltheearly1960s,whentheemphasischangedtoincludesupportof
TAILCODE HISTORY OF TAIL CODES
14 15
A-AR,AS,AT 1,30,32TRS 10TFW RAPAlconbury
B-BR,BS,BT,BU,BV 391EWS,22,23,53,525TFS 36TFW BitburgAB,Germany
C-CR 32TRS 17AF CampNewAmsterdam, Netherlands
H-HR,HS 10,496TFS 50TFW HahnAB,Germany
U-UR,UT 79,55,55TFS 20TFW RAPUpperHeyford
L-LR,LS,LT 492,493,494TFS 48TFW RAPLakenheath r
R-RR,RS 38TRS,526TFS 26TRW RamsteinAB,Germany
T-TJ,TK,TL 307,353,613TFS 401TFW TorrejonAB,Spain 70842 I _.
'-.r-
W-WR,WS,WT 78,91,92TFS 81TFW RAPBentwaters
Z-ZR,ZS 17TRS 86TFW ZweibruckenAB,Germany
ThereweretwoexceptionstoR,S,T,UandVsystem.First,the401TFWusingJ,KandLassecondletters.Thisduetothe
TSandITtail codes in priorusageby the 22and 602SOS.These56 SpecialOperationsWingunitsflew theA-1E/GIH/Jfrom
NakhonPhanomRTAFB.Thesecondexception,20TFW,startedwithUastheinitialletter.Thisabruptlyabandonedduetopossible
usageofUSasatailcode(un-serviceableorUnitedStates)andswitchedtoJ_rangecodes.
- -
OnthefirstofApril1972,thetailcodesystemchangedwithUSAFEwiththeimplementationofAFM66-1,wingmaintenance
concept.Asaresult, thesingletwo-lettertailcode nowdesignatedentirewing.Thisnewcommonwingtailcode,usuallyalready --
usedwithinthewing,appliedduringthelaterhalfof1972.Theinitialwingcodeassignmentnotedas:
AR 10TRW 1,30,32TRS RAPAlconbury
BT 36TFW 22,53,525TFS BitburgAB,Germany
HR 50TFW 10,313,496TFS HahnAB,Germany
LK 48TFW 492,493,493TFS RAPLakenheath
RS 26TRW 38TRS,526TFS RamsteinAB,Germany F-I02ADeltaDagger57-0842"HappyHanscom"HH6520TestGroup,HanscomField.Photo:T.Cuddy1958-59,Isham
SP 52TFW 23,TFS,391EWS SpangdahlemAB,Germany collection.
TJ 401TFW 612,613,614TFS TorrejonAB,Spain
UH 20TFW 55,77,79TFS RAPUpperHeyford
Air Force Logistics Command (APLC)
WR 81TFW 78,91,92TFS RAPBentwaters
ZR 86TFW 17TRS ZweibruckenAB,Germany
The United StatesAir Force operates five Air Logistics Centers throughout United States. These overhaul and repair facilities
usuallyarewithoutpermanentlyassignedaircraft.TheonlytailcodeinstandardappearanceisatWarnerRobbinswithasingleF
The48TFWstartedwiththeLKtailcode,beforeswitchingtoLNduringF-4Dconversion.InJanuary1973severalinterwing
15switchingbetweenWRandRGtailcode.StoredF-105wentthroughasimilarsequenceofcodes.
changesoccurredincludingthe26TRWand86TFWswitchedbasesandtailcodesRSandZR.The32TFSmaintainedtheCRtail
codeafterAFM66-1.
Air Training Command (ATC)
AirTrainingCommandappliedtailcodestoT-37andT-38inFlyingTrainingWings.Theaircraft,paintedinspecialblueandwhite
(FS.595a 15044and17925) horizontally splitscheme adopted in the mid 1980s.Tail codes and serialswere painted red. These
codesarenotrecognisedastruetailcodesbyAirTrainingCommandexceptNTascarriedbytheT-43Aofthe454FlyingTraining
SquadronatMatherAFB. Inaddition,the71FTWaircraftcarriedaverydifferentstylizedOKcode.
F-4DPhantom66-0227LN,492TFS48TFW,RAFLakenheath,withoutsquadroncolours.Photo:BobArcher,13August1976.
Air Force Systems Command (APSC)
TheAirForceSystemsCommandhastwoprimarylocationsfor aircraftoperationsutilizingtailcodes.TheAirForceFlightTest
CenteratEdwardsAFBcontrolsthe6512TestSquadronthroughthe6510TestWing.TheArmamentDivisionbasedatEglinAFB
controlsthe3246TestWing,3247TestSquadron.OtherfacilitiessuchasWrightPattersonflyuncodedaircraft.Inadditionseveral
tacticalfighterwings hadtestdesignatedand taskedsquadronsassigned.Theseunits adoptedstandardTACtail codesalongwith
regularunits.Theseunitsprovidedseveralexamplesinvariationofthestandardtailcodepractise.Thisduetopaintschemescarried
on from previous users, mixed with special test markings. Tail code application also varied due to the combination of special F-4DPhantom65-0748XT,134TFS158TFG,VermontANG,BurlingtonlAP.AircraftrefinishesfollowedT.O. 1-1-4tothe
purposemarkings.Notalltypescarriedtailccdes.The6520TestGroup,atHanscomAFB,exhibitedHHonaircrafttailsinthelate letter(seePage239),paintingXTratherthanthecorrectVTfor134TFS.Photo:MartyIsham.
fifties.Althoughsimilartocurrentpresentationtheseblacksuperimposedcodeswerenottruecodes.
16 TAILCODE United States Air Forces Pacific
3dTactical FighterWing
8thTactical FighterWing
12thTactical FighterWing
14thAir Commando -Special OperationsWing
18thTactical FighterWing
31stTactical FighterWing
35thTactical FighterWing
37thTactical FighterWing
F-4DPhantom66-7725SP,170TFS183TFG,IllinoisANG,SpringfieldAirport.The170TFSpaintedanF-4DwithSPtailcodefor 49th Tactical FighterWing
SpringfieldbeforerealizingSPwasassignedwithintheUSAFE.Photo:CharlesBMayer,VolkFieldANGB,8August1984.
51st FighterInterceptor -Air Base -Composite (Tactical) -FighterWing
54th Tactical FighterWing
56thAir CommandoWing
314thTacticalAirliftWing
315thAir Commando -Special OperationsWing -TacticalAirliftWing
326thAir Division
347thTactical FighterWing
354thTactical FighterWing
355thTactical FighterWing
366thTactical FighterWing
374thTacticalAirliftWing
388thTactical FighterWing
405th FighterWing
432nd Tactical Reconnaissance -Tactical FighterWing
460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing -Group
463dTacticalAirliftWing
474th Tactical FighterWing
F-4DPhantom66-758289TFSTanZipaintedtorepresentcommander'snameofthe89TFS,ifonlyforaveryshortperiod.Photo: 475th Tactical FighterWing
WalterDramen.
483dTacticalAirliftWing
633d Special Operations Wing
17