USAF aircraft designation

[Eric Mc]

The USAAF didn't bother giving any of the "foreign" types they operated in WW2 any official designations using their standard letters- P(fighter), B(bomber), C(transport), U(utility) etc.

As mentioned above, as well as the Spitfire, a number of other British aircraft flew in USAAF (and US Navy) service. The Beaufighter and Mosquito were used and I know the DH89 Dominie (military version of the Dragon Rapide airliner) were used by USAAF units. As far as I know they were never allocated US military designations.

[Dr Jekyll]

I thought the Mosquito was designated F-8.

[Eric Mc]

In that era, "F" would have been allocated to photo-reconnaissance aircraft. For example, the F-5 was the photo version of the P-38 Lightning.

[dr_gn]

Dr Jekyll said:

I thought the Mosquito was designated F-8.

Which was when the F- designation was for photo-reconnaissance types, rather than fighter types.

[Eric Mc]

A quick internet search does seem to support the fact that F-8 was allocated to USAAF photo-reconnaissance Mosquitos.

It just shows that the allocation of US Army prefixes to aircarft could be very hit and miss. As far as I know, they never allocated a B or P prefix to any bomber or fighter variants they used.

[Dr Jekyll]

dr_gn said:

Dr Jekyll said:

I thought the Mosquito was designated F-8.

Which was when the F- designation was for photo-reconnaissance types, rather than fighter types.

I know, I was illustrating the point that on one occasion the USAAF did allocate an official designation to a foreign type.

[Eric Mc]

It was a rare event whenever it happened.

To be honest, the Americans were always reluctant to use any designs built by foreign countries. An aircraft had to be exceptional for them to chose it (or they had to be desparately short of aircraft). And whenever they did chose a foreign type, they would try and obtain licence production in the USA if at all possible. In WW2, of course, it was expedient, especially in overseas theatres of operations, to accept available aircraft. That is why they ended up with some Spitfires, Mosquitoes, Beaufighters and Dominies.

Post war it was a different matter. Three significant British designs were ordered by the US military. The Canberra, the Harrier and the Hawk. These were built under licence in the USA and received full US designations - B-57, AV-8 and T-45.

[MartG]

Off the top of my head I can only think of one 'foreign' fighter which has received an F designation in USAF service - the Israeli built F-21 Kfir bought ( or leased ) for dissimilar air combat training

[irocfan]

what about the Harrier?

[dr_gn]

irocfan said:

what about the Harrier?

Joint development and manufacture in the US though by what was McDonnell Douglas. Same with the Goshawk (T-45) and the earlier Canberra (B-57) built by Martin.

[lufbramatt]

irocfan said:

what about the Harrier?

Harrier was designated AV-8 (a,b or c) is USMC service. Fits in to the V-series for vertical/short takeoff aircraft (such as the V-22 Osprey) but with an added "A" to show its attack mission usage.

[Eric Mc]

irocfan said:

what about the Harrier?

As explained in one of my posts above -

post war overseas designs adapted for US military use were generally given proper US designations.

Another example is the C-23 Sherpa - which was the USAF designation for the Shorts 330.
The Alenia C-27 is a US designation for what had been the FIAT/Aeritalia G-222.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

Although technically a C27 is a development of the G222 and has C130J engines and props.

[Eric Mc]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Although technically a C27 is a development of the G222 and has C130J engines and props.

I know.

It's the American designation I was pointing out.