First Air Division
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
91BG A 92BG B 303BG C 305BG G
322BS Lingers OR 325BS Sandpipe JW 358BS Whipcream VK 364BS Liftboy JJ
323BS Oboe LG 326BS Goldfinch NV 359BS Eavesdrop BN 365BS Monsoon KY
324BS Dimple DF 327BS Davey PY 360BS Toydoll GN 366BS Grubby WF
401BS Mutter LL 407BS Quilpen UX 427BS Newrow PU 422BS Ancient XK
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
306BG H 351BG J 379BG K 381BG L
367BS Morepork BO 508BS Carlton DS 524BS Nightjar FO 532BS Afghan VE
368BS Nular GY 509BS Hotmint RQ 525BS Haircut FR 533BS Tabby VP
369BS Baema RD 510BS Tipstaff TU 526BS Mystic LP 534BS Midget GD
423BS Eating WW 511BS Partnership YB 527BS Heartstring WA 535BS Colby MS
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
384BG P 398BG W 401BG S 457BG U
544BS Clinker BK 600BS Moorhen K8 612BS Jabwock IN 748BS Wedon
545BS Splashboard JD 601BS Newway N7 613BS Marco IW 749BS Eclipse
546BS Luggage SO 602BS Enclasp N8 614BS Golfclub IY 750BS Bluebell
547BS Dragon SU 603BS Adorn 30 615BS Buzzard SC 751BS Cutter
 
Second Air Division
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
44BG A 93BG B 389BG C 392BG D
66BS GR   328BS Oxpug NV   564BS Complex YO   576BS Vitos CI
67BS NB   329BS Furcoat JW   565BS Protrap EE   577BS Caldron DC
68BS Smokeyblue WQ   330BS Maywind UX   566BS Boorish RR   578BS Hazard EC
506BS GJ   409BS Thrufare PY   567BS Lounger HP   579BS Faceup GC
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
445BG F 446BG H 448BG I 453BG J
700BS Displease IS   704BS Headlock FL   712BS CT   732BS Lightman ES
701BS Wallet MK   705BS Accept HN   713BS IG   733BS Tripup F8
702BS Markum WV   706BS Manage RT   714BS EI   734BS Dizzy E8
703BS Baffle RN   707BS Loosend JU   715BS IO   735BS Bowfinch H6
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
458BG K 466BG L 467BG P 489BG W
752BS Hussar 7V   784BS Owlish T9   788BS Shirtmaker X7   844BS Steerage 4R
753BS Fiction J4   785BS Eglan 2U   789BS Acford 6A   845BS Hourglass T4
754BS Cotstring Z5   786BS Agram U8   790BS Hamos Q2   846BS Ember 8R
755BS Affab J3   787BS Behead 6L   791BS Baron 4Z   847BS Gallop S4
 
Unit Call Sign Code                      
491BG Z                      
852BS Ballot 3Q                        
853BS Farkum T8                        
854BS Semen 6X                        
855BS Quadrant V2                        
 
Third Air Division
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
34BG S   94BG A 95BG B 96BG C
4BS Daisy Q6   331BS Agmer GL 334BS Neglect BG 337BS Paintbrush AW
7BS Extol R2   332BS Rotate QE 335BS Inland ET 338BS Grating BX
18BS Bawdry 8I   333BS Cedar TS 336BS Landberg QE 339BS Bookie MZ
391BS Laurel 3L   410BS Total XM 412BS Abush QW 413BS Cabbage QJ
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
100BG D 385BG Hardlife G 388BG H 390BG J
349BS Kidmeat XR   548BS Summer GX   560BS Soapdish   568BS Cavort BI
350BS Poohbah LN   549BS Fancyfrock XA   561BS Caprice   569BS Boaster CC
351BS Mafking EP   550BS Alfrek SG   562BS Darklock   570BS Anteat DI
418BS Rubber LD   551BS Boston HR   563BS Fairman   571BS Longshore FC
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code
447BG K 452BG L 486BG Fickle O/W 487BG P
708BS Munru CQ   728BS Pinetree 9Z   832BS Trappist 3R 836BS Winner 2G
709BS Kirkland IE   729BS Instinct M3   833BS Pebbly 4N 837BS Rathmore 4F
710BS Inlay IJ   730BS Spencer 6K   834BS Deepseat 2S 838BS Entrap 2C
711BS Curlhair IR   731BS Acquit 7D   835BS Nightdress H8 839BS Bluntish R5
 
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code              
490BG Hangstrap T   493BG X              
848BS Ratchet 7W   860BS Shunter NG                
849BS Abrade W8   861BS Bagman Q4                
850BS Baddog 7Q   862BS Compar 8M                
851BS Gotam S3   863BS Pilar G6                
 
Special Units
Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code Unit Call Sign Code      
25BG     482BG     492/801BG          
652BS Rater   812BS Lasthouse   856BS Reachfirth        
653BS Paintjar   813BS Hermanson   857BS Nextmorn        
654BS Smalleck   814BS Jetty   858BS Garbage        
36BS Picnic   859BS Punchard        
406BS Globy        
 
These special units were formed in the Spring of '44 and served as recon, radio or pathfinder units. The 492nd was disbanded and became the 801st BG.
 
Combat Bombardment Wings
1st Air Division 2nd Air Division 3rd Air Division
Wing Sep 43-Mar44 Apr-44 Wing Sep 43-Mar44 Apr-44 Wing Sep 43-Mar44 Apr-44
1CBW Goonchild Swordfish 2CBW Winston Bourbon 4CBW Franklin Hotshot
40CBW Bullpen Foxhole 14CBW Hambone Hardtack 13CBW Zootsuit fireball
41CBW Fatgal Cowboy 20CBW Pinestreet Bigbear 45CBW Wolfgang Vampire
94CBW Ragweed Woodcraft 95CBW Shamrock Shamrock 92CBW Gocart
96CBW Redstar Lincoln 93CBW Clambake
Aircraft markings served to identify the aircraft by Division, Group and Squadron. Air Division markings were carried on the tail and consisted of a triangle (1st AD), circle (2nd AD), and square (3 AD). The group letter code was painted within this symbol. Squadron codes were painted on the fuselage, normally just forward of the empannage. Individual aircraft were also identified by a single letter code (excluding I and O) forward of the national symbol. In January '45, color coding became authorized and the color and arrangement of markings changed. For more information see www.heavybombers.com.
Source:
USAAF HANDBOOK 1939-1945, by Martin W. Bowman
www.heavybombers.com by Scott Burris
other

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