World War II Naval Aircraft Squadron Designations

The basic tactical and administrative unit of Naval aviation is the squadron. The number of aircraft in a squadron vary according to the type and mission.  World War II squadrons consist of as few as six aircraft and as many as thirty-six or more. A standard WWII Carrier Air Group consists of four -  eighteen plane squadrons. But, extra squadrons and added strength squadrons are common.  Marine Air Groups (MAG) and Wings (MAW) as well as Navy shore based squadrons varied in strength as tasks demand.  Patrol and Search aircraft form Fleet Air Wings.

Fixed wing aircraft squadrons (heavier than air) are denoted by the letter "V."  Rotary wing (helicopter) squadrons use "H."  The lighter than air (airship or LTA) squadrons are designated by the letter "Z."  Marine squadrons are noted by the second letter "M."  Hence, VF-1 is  Navy Fighting Squadron One and VMF-1 is Marine Fighting Squadron One.  The "ing" on Fighting, Bombing and Scouting has fallen from use.  Present use is Fighter Squadron.

Squadron numbering is not linear.  Some squadrons by function are numbered in ascending order.  Other squadrons take numbers from the wing or the ship to which they were assigned.  Pre-WWII Carrier Groups, composed of VF, VS, VB and VT squadrons are identified by the carriers' number.  Therefore, USS Enterprise (CV-6) has VB-6, VF-6, VS-6 and VT-6 on board at the start of WWII. With the loss of carriers and formation of new squadrons the matching of carrier and squadron numbers is no longer possible.

Designation [Number] Name [Number] VB Bombing Squadron VC Composite Squadron VCS Cruiser Scouting Squadron VD Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron VF Fighting Squadron VF(N) Night Fighting Squadron VGF Escort Fighting Squadron VGS Escort Scouting Squadron VH Air-Sea Rescue Squadron VJ Utility Squadron VM Miscellaneous  Squadron (Naval Base) VN-D Training Squadron (Naval District) VO Observation Squadron VOT Operational Training Squadron VP Patrol Squadron VP-D Patrol Squadron (Naval District) VPB Patrol Bombing Squadron VR Transport Squadron VRE Transport-Evacuation Squadron VRF Ferry Squadron VRS Service Squadron VS Scouting Squadron VS-D Scouting Squadron (Naval District) VSB Scout Bombing Squadron VT Torpedo Squadron VTB Torpedo Bombing Squadron VX-D Experimental Squadron (Naval District) VMB Marine Bombing Squadron VMD Marine Photographic Squadron VMF Marine Fighting Squadron VMF(N) Marine Night Fighting Squadron VMJ Marine Utility Squadron VMO Marine Observation Squadron VMOT Marine Operational Training Squadron VMP Marine Patrol Squadron  VMPB Marine Patrol Bombing Squadron VMR Marine Transport Squadron VMRF Marine Ferry Squadron VMRS Marine Service Squadron VMS Marine Scouting Squadron VMSB Marine Scout Bombing Squadron VMT Marine Torpedo Squadron VMTB Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron VMW Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron ZJ Airship Utility Squadron ZN Airship Training Squadron ZP Airship Patrol Squadron ZS Airship Scouting Squadron

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