Aircraft Redesignations in 1962
Copyright © 2000-2007 Andreas Parsch
Introduction
As is well known, the DOD unified all military aircraft designations in 1962 under a common designation system, based on the USAF's. For a detailed description of the post-1962 system, see article on Current Designations Of U.S. Military Aircraft, and for information about the older pre-1962 systems you may refer to Wikipedia.
This article is intended to provide a definitive listing of all redesignations. It is based on the following two official documents:
| [1] | AFR 66-11, AR 700-26, BUWEPSINST 13100.7 "Designating, Redesignating, and Naming of Military Aircraft" (18 September 1962) |
| [2] | "Model Designation of Military Aircraft" (15 February 1963) |
[1] defines the new designation system, includes a compact list of all designations (incl. the old designations), and says that a complete listing of all current designations is to be published at regular intervals. [2] is the first such listing, and contains essentially the same designations, with a few additions and deletions.
General Notes
1. The following listing shows all redesignations defined in [1] or [2]. A [1] in the first column indicates, that the designation was removed from the list in [2], while a [2] means, that the redesignation was missing in [1] (presumably due to an oversight). The few new designations assigned between the publishing of [1] and [2] fall outside the scope of the redesignation listing.
2. [1] contains some designations of Navy aircraft with a "Y" (for prototype) prefix. The corresponding old Navy designations are always written with the uncommon "Y/" prefix (note the slash!). Most of these Navy "Y" designations were removed in [2] anyway.
3. Of course, relatively few USAF aircaft were effected by the redesignations. Most redesignations of USAF aircraft fall into 3 categories:
- Addition of a mission symbol for helicopters: The USAF system allowed helicopter designations without a mission symbol (e.g. H-19B). This is not allowed in the new joint designation system (requiring UH-19B).
- Addition of a model letter suffix: The USAF system allowed designations without model suffix for experimental and prototype aircraft (e.g. XB-70, X-15). This is not allowed in the new joint designation system (requiring XB-70A, X-15A).
- Change of a few prefix letters (e.g. A to E, S to H).
4. The entry "Navy" in the Service column of the table also includes Marine Corps aircraft.
The List
New Designation Old Designation Service
[2] A-1D AD-4NA Navy
[2] EA-1D AD-5E Navy
A-1E AD-5 Navy
EA-1E AD-5W Navy
[2] UA-1E AD-5 (Tow) Navy
EA-1F AD-5Q Navy
A-1G AD-5N Navy
A-1H AD-6 Navy
A-1J AD-7 Navy
A-2A AJ-1 Navy
[1] YA-3A Y/A3D-1 Navy
A-3A A3D-1 Navy
[1] YEA-3A Y/A3D-1Q Navy
EA-3A A3D-1Q Navy
[1] YRA-3A Y/A3D-1P Navy
[2] RA-3A A3D-1P Navy
A-3B A3D-2 Navy
EA-3B A3D-2Q Navy
[1] YRA-3B Y/A3D-2P Navy
RA-3B A3D-2P Navy
TA-3B A3D-2T Navy
[1] YA-4A Y/A4D-1 Navy
A-4A A4D-1 Navy
[1] YA-4B Y/A4D-2 Navy
A-4B A4D-2 Navy
[1] YA-4C Y/A4D-2N Navy
A-4C A4D-2N Navy
A-4E A4D-5 (note 1) Navy
[1] YA-5A Y/A3J-1 Navy
A-5A A3J-1 Navy
A-5B A3J-2 Navy
A-5C A3J-3 (note 2) Navy
A-6A A2F-1 Navy
EA-6A A2F-1H Navy
UB-26J JD-1 Navy
DB-26J JD-1D Navy
EB-47E E-47E (note 3) Air Force
RB-47E R-47E (note 3) Air Force
RB-47H R-47H (note 3) Air Force
EB-47H ER-47H (note 3) Air Force
RB-47K R-47K (note 3) Air Force
XB-70A XB-70 Air Force
RC-45J SNB-5P Navy
TC-45J SNB-5 Navy
HC-47A SC-47A Air Force
EC-47D AC-47D Air Force
HC-47D SC-47D Air Force
C-47H R4D-5 Navy
EC-47H R4D-5Q Navy
LC-47H R4D-5L Navy
SC-47H R4D-5S Navy
TC-47H R4D-5T Navy
VC-47H R4D-5Z Navy
C-47J R4D-6 Navy
EC-47J R4D-6Q Navy
LC-47J R4D-6L Navy
SC-47J R4D-6S Navy
TC-47J R4D-6T Navy
VC-47J R4D-6Z Navy
TC-47K R4D-7 Navy
EC-54D AC-54D Air Force
HC-54D SC-54D Air Force
VC-54N R5D-1Z Navy
C-54P R5D-2 Navy
VC-54P R5D-2Z Navy
C-54Q R5D-3 Navy
VC-54Q R5D-3Z Navy
C-54R R5D-4R Navy
C-54S R5D-5 Navy
VC-54S R5D-5Z Navy
C-54T R5D-5R Navy
EC-54U R5D-4 Coast Guard
RC-54V R5D-3 Coast Guard
C-117D R4D-8 Navy
LC-117D R4D-8L Navy
TC-117D R4D-8T Navy
VC-117D R4D-8Z Navy
C-118B R6D-1 Navy
VC-118B R6D-1Z Navy
C-119F R4Q-2 Navy
C-119J MC-119 Air Force
C-121J R7V-1 Navy
EC-121K WV-2 Navy
YEC-121K Y/WV-2 Navy
EC-121L WV-2E Navy
EC-121M WV-2Q Navy
WC-121N WV-3 Navy
DC-130A GC-130A Air Force
HC-130B SC-130B Air Force
HC-130E SC-130E Air Force
C-130F GV-1U Navy
KC-130F GV-1 Navy
LC-130F C-130BL Navy
[1] HC-130G SC-130B Coast Guard
C-131F R4Y-1 Navy
C-131G R4Y-2 Navy
C-140C UV-1 Navy
C-1A TF-1 Navy
EC-1A TF-1Q Navy
C-2A (none) (note 4) Navy
[2] VC-3A RM-1Z Coast Guard
E-1B WF-2 Navy
E-2A W2F-1 Navy
F-111A TFX (note 4) Air Force
F-111B TFX (note 4) Navy
F-1C FJ-3 Navy
DF-1C FJ-3D Navy
MF-1C FJ-3M Navy
DF-1D FJ-3D2 Navy
[1] YF-1E Y/FJ-4 Navy
F-1E FJ-4 Navy
[1] YAF-1E Y/FJ-4B Navy
AF-1E FJ-4B Navy
F-2C F2H-3 Navy
F-2D F2H-4 Navy
[1] YF-3B Y/F3H-2 Navy
F-3B F3H-2 Navy
MF-3B F3H-2M Navy
F-3C F3H-2N Navy
F-4A F4H-1F Navy
F-4B F4H-1 Navy
RF-4B F4H-1P Navy
F-4C F-110A Air Force
RF-4C RF-110A Air Force
F-5A N-156 (note 4) Air Force
F-5B N-156 (note 4) Air Force
[1] YF-6A Y/F4D-1 Navy
F-6A F4D-1 Navy
[1] YF-7A Y/F2Y-1 (note 5) Navy
[1] YF-8A Y/F8U-1 Navy
F-8A F8U-1 Navy
DF-8A F8U-1D Navy
QF-8A F8U-1KD Navy
[1] YRF-8A Y/F8U-1P Navy
RF-8A F8U-1P Navy
TF-8A F8U-1T Navy
F-8B F8U-1E Navy
[1] YF-8C Y/F8U-2 Navy
F-8C F8U-2 Navy
[1] YF-8D Y/F8U-2N Navy
F-8D F8U-2N Navy
[1] YF-8E Y/F8U-2NE Navy
F-8E F8U-2NE Navy
DF-9E F9F-5KD Navy
F-9F F9F-6 Navy
DF-9F F9F-6D Navy
QF-9F F9F-6K Navy
QF-9G F9F-6K2 Navy
F-9H F9F-7 Navy
F-9J F9F-8 Navy
[1] YAF-9J Y/F9F-8B Navy
AF-9J F9F-8B Navy
RF-9J F9F-8P Navy
[1] YTF-9J Y/F9F-8T Navy
TF-9J F9F-8T Navy
F-10A F3D-1 Navy
F-10B F3D-2 Navy
EF-10B F3D-2Q Navy
MF-10B F3D-2M Navy
TF-10B F3D-2T2 Navy
[1] YF-11A Y/F11F-1 Navy
F-11A F11F-1 Navy
[2] F-11B F11F-1F (note 6) Navy
UH-1 HU-1 (note 7) Army
UH-1A HU-1A Army
[2] YUH-1B XH-40A Air Force
UH-1B HU-1B Army
UH-1D HU-1D Army
UH-1E HU-1E Navy
UH-2A HU2K-1 Navy
UH-2B HU2K-1U Navy
[1] YSH-3A Y/HSS-2 Navy
SH-3A HSS-2 Navy
VH-3A HSS-2Z Navy
OH-4A HO-4 Army
OH-5A HO-5 Army
OH-6A HO-6 Army
OH-13E H-13E Army
OH-13G H-13G Army
OH-13H H-13H Army
UH-13H H-13H Air Force
UH-13J H-13J Air Force
OH-13K H-13K Navy
TH-13L HTL-4 Navy
TH-13M HTL-6 Navy
TH-13N HTL-7 Navy
UH-13P HUL-1 Navy
HH-13Q HUL-1G Coast Guard
UH-13R HUL-1M Navy
[2] HH-19A SH-19A Air Force
[2] UH-19A H-19A Air Force
HH-19B SH-19B Air Force
UH-19B H-19B Air Force
UH-19C H-19C Army
UH-19D H-19D Army
CH-19E HRS-3 Navy
UH-19F HO4S-3 Navy
HH-19G HO4S-3G Coast Guard
CH-21A H-21A Air Force
CH-21B H-21B Air Force/Army
HH-21B SH-21B Air Force
CH-21C H-21C Army
OH-23B H-23B Army
OH-23C H-23C Army
OH-23D H-23D Army
OH-23F H-23F Army
UH-25B HUP-2 Navy
UH-25C HUP-3 Navy
CH-34A H-34A Army
CH-34C H-34C Army
LH-34D HUS-1L Navy
UH-34D HUS-1 Navy
VH-34D HUS-1Z Navy
UH-34E HUS-1A Navy
HH-34F HUS-1G Coast Guard
[1] YSH-34G Y/HSS-1 Navy
SH-34G HSS-1 Navy
SH-34H HSS-1F Navy
[1] YSH-34J Y/HSS-1N Navy
SH-34J HSS-1N Navy
CH-37A H-37A Army
CH-37B H-37B Army
CH-37C HR2S-1 Navy
NH-41A YH-41 Army
UH-41A H-41 Air Force
HH-43A H-43A Air Force
HH-43B H-43B Air Force
UH-43C HUK-1 Navy
OH-43D HOK-1 Navy
[2] TH-43E HTK-1 Navy
CH-46A HRB-1 Navy
XCH-46B HX/H-2 (note 4, note 8)Air Force
CH-46C HC-1A Army
CH-47A HC-1B Army
XH-48A HX/H-1 (note 4) Air Force
QH-50A DSN-1 Navy
QH-50B DSN-2 Navy
QH-50C DSN-3 Navy
XH-51A (none) Navy
O-1A L-19A Army
O-1B OE-1 Navy
O-1C OE-2 Navy
TO-1D TL-19D Army
O-1E L-19E Army
(note 9)
P-2D P2V-4 Navy
P-2E P2V-5F Navy
DP-2E P2V-5FD Navy
EP-2E P2V-5FE Navy
SP-2E P2V-5FS Navy
P-2F P2V-6 Navy
MP-2F P2V-6M Navy
TP-2F P2V-6T Navy
P-2G P2V-6F Navy
[1] YP-2H Y/P2V-7 Navy
P-2H P2V-7 Navy
SP-2H P2V-7S Navy
LP-2J P2V-7LP Navy
YP-3A Y/P3V-1 Navy
P-3A P3V-1 Navy
QP-4B P4Y-2K Navy
P-5A P5M-1 Navy
SP-5A P5M-1S Navy
TP-5A P5M-1T Navy
P-5B P5M-2 Navy
SP-5B P5M-2S Navy
(note 10)
(note 11)
[1] YS-2A Y/S2F-1 Navy
S-2A S2F-1 Navy
TS-2A S2F-1T Navy
S-2B S2F-1S Navy
S-2C S2F-2 Navy
RS-2C S2F-2P Navy
S-2D S2F-3 Navy
S-2E S2F-3S Navy
[2] S-2F S2F-1S1 Navy
T-1A T2V-1 Navy
[1] YT-2A Y/T2J-1 Navy
T-2A T2J-1 Navy
T-2B T2J-2 Navy
DT-28B T-28BD Navy
ET-29C AT-29C Air Force
T-33B TV-2 Navy
DT-33B TV-2D Navy
DT-33C TV-2KD Navy
[1] YT-34B Y/T-34B Navy
T-39D T3J-1 Navy
U-1B UC-1 Navy
U-6A L-20A Air Force/Navy/Army
U-7A L-21A Air Force
U-8D L-23D Army
RU-8D RL-23D Army
U-8E L-23E Army
U-8F L-23F Army
U-9B L-26B Army
U-9C L-26C Army
RU-9D RL-26D Army
U-10A L-28A Air Force
U-11A UO-1 Navy
(note 12)
HU-16A SA-16A Air Force
HU-16B SA-16B Air Force
HU-16C UF-1 Navy
LU-16C UF-1L Navy
TU-16C UF-1T Navy
HU-16D UF-2 Navy
HU-16E UF-2G Coast Guard
OV-1A AO-1A Army
OV-1B AO-1B Army
OV-1C AO-1C Army
[1] CV-2A AC-1 Army
CV-2B AC-1A Army
XV-3A (none) (note 13) Army
XV-4A VZ-10 Army
XV-5A VZ-11 Army
XV-6A VZ-12 Army
CV-7A AC-2 Army
X-13A X-13 Air Force
X-15A X-15 Air Force
X-20A X-20 Air Force
X-21A X-21 Air Force
EZ-1B ZPG-2W Navy
SZ-1B ZPG-2 Navy
EZ-1C ZPG-3W Navy
Notes:
1. A-4D was skipped. This was probably done to avoid confusion with the old A4D basic designation. In the F-4 series, the F-4H designation was also skipped later on. On the other hand, the F-9F was used in redesignations of the F9F series.
2. RA-5C is not listed. This means that the often quoted A3J-3P old designation was never officially assigned before 1962.
3. The R-47 and E-47 designations didn't conform to the USAF system, but had apparently been officially assigned to some RB-/EB-47s before 1962.
4. A few aircraft received their first official designations during preparation for the redesignation effort. For these types, either no or a non-standard old designation is quoted in [1].
5. The F2Y Sea Dart was included in the redesignation process, because a single YF2Y-1 had not yet been formally stricken from the Navy's inventory by June 1962 (when the process of selecting the new designations for all existing aircraft had already been completed).
6. The question whether the F11F-1F Super Tiger was ever redesignated as F-11B or not has been answered differently by various authors. The sources [1] and [2] seem to indicate, that the Navy initially chose not to include it in the joint designation system, but later decided otherwise!
7. UH-1 is the only new designation listed in [1] or [2] without a model suffix letter. It seems that an exception was made to avoid having to "shift up" all the existing model suffixes A ... E to B ... F.
8. The HX/H-2 was very briefly designated as XH-49A before finally becoming the XCH-46B.
9. The P-1 designation was not used, presumably because it was very convenient to assign P-2 through P-5 to P2V, P3V, P4Y and P5M.
10. The P-6 designation, which is generally regarded as the post-1962 designation of the P6M SeaMaster, is missing in both sources. In fact, official DOD aircraft nomenclature records say that P-6 was skipped in 1962 at the request of the Navy (probably to avoid any confusion with the P6M). Source [1] explicitly says the next available design number in the P-series would be P-7A.
11. The S-1 designation was not used, presumably because it was very convenient to assign S-2 to the sole existing S-aircraft, the S2F.
12. The designations U-12 through U-15 were not used, probably to keep the number 16 for the SA-16.
13. The entry "none" for the old designation of the XV-3A is surprising, because the aircraft was previously designated XV-3.
Comments and corrections to: Andreas Parsch
Back to Home page
Last Updated: 17 April 2007