USAF aircraft designation
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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_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.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.
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.
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.
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