Aircraft Redesignations in 1962

Copyright © 2000-2005 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

• U.S. Systems of Aircraft Designation by Andrew Chorney
• U.S. Military Designation Systems by Derek O. Bridges
• Designation Systems FAQ by Emmanuel Gustin

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!). I have reproduced this in my list. 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
 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 is missing. This was probably skipped 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 redesignation of the F2Y Sea Dart to F-7 remains the mystery of the redesignation process. The F2Y project had been dead since 1956, so why did the Navy nominate it for the F-7 slot? The most likely explanation is that at least one of the YF2Y-1 aircraft had not been formally stricken from the Navy's inventory by 1962.

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, 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. The really astonishing fact is, that although the P-6 designation is not assigned, source [1] says the next available design number in the P-series would be P-7A. My only explanation is, that P-6 was indeed intended for the redesignation of P6M, but this was removed in the last minute (perhaps for political reasons).

11. The S-1 designation was not used, 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 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

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Last Updated: 16 January 2005