SER

SERIAL #

AF

BG

BS

PHOTO CREDITS

ARIES

B

-

24

HNB

-

15

-

FO

42-52693

8

492

857

~

~

N/A

• NAME =

  • More than one listing for the "Same Name" indicates Different Aircraft, Nose Art, or Group/Squadron assignments designated by Version #s (V1), (V2)... etc. under the "V#" column.

  • A lot of aircraft names started with "The". They will be listed by the following "Word" in their name.

    Example: WITCH, The

  • Note: AKA = "Also Known As" <Name never applied> and will be represented by the last "3" #s in the S/N (Serial Number)

• TP =

  • Type
      B - Bomber
    CB - Cargo/Transport Bomber
      F - (F7) Photo Reconnaissance - Very Long Range (VLR) Combat Mapping
    LB - Land Bomber (NOT Liberator British)
            LB-30s repossessed by the U.S. were not given (and did not carry) U.S. Serial Numbers.
            Carried on AAF books as LB-30s with their British serials. These S/Ns were put on the fin
            (where AAF serials were normally placed)
    RB - Restricted Bomber
    SB - Snooper Bomber (13th AF / 868th BS "SNOOPERS")
    TB - Training Bomber
    WB - (Post War Nomenclature) Long Range Weather Reconnaissance (LRW)
    XB - Experimental Bomber

• M# =

  • Model Number
      7 - (A/B) Photo Reconnaissance
    24 - Liberator (Bomber)
    30 - Liberator (Land Bomber) - Consolidated Model Number

• SER =

  • Series: A-N

  • Note: May have additional designators after the Series "Letter"... (Examples: 1 | SH | etc.)
       1 - Nose Turret Modification
    AS - Anti-Submarine
    AZ - AZON
    EA - Eagle
    HO - H2X (Mickey Radar) + G-H
    NT - Night
    SA - Carpetbagger 801st BG (P) became 492nd BG in Aug 44 (No squadron code)
    SH - H2X (Mickey Radar)
    SO - H2S (British radar for blind bombing installed in early 482nd BG (P) PFF aircraft)

• BLK =

  • Block of serial numbers (increments of 5... 1, 5, 10, 15, etc.)

• MF =

  • Manufacturer
    CF - Consolidated/Fortworth
    CO - Consolidated/San Diego
    DT - Douglas/Tulsa
    FO - Ford/Willow Run
    NT - North American/Dallas

• SERIAL # =

  • Serial Number - 2digit number, starting the S/N, represents the Fiscal Year Funds that were used to pay for the airplane, usually (but not always) the same as the fiscal year in which the plane was ordered.

• AF =

  • Air Force Unit Assignment

• BG =

  • Bombardment Group
       1P = 1st Provisional Bomb Group - Halverson Project (HALPRO)

• BS or RS or SQ or WNG=

  • Bombardment Squadron

  • Reconnaissance Squadron - LRW (Long Range Weather Reconnaissance)

  • Squadron - F-7 (Photo Reconnaissance Squadron)

  • Wing - F-7 (Reconnaissance Wing)

• SC =

  • Squadron Code - Two letter designation on the fuselage, denoting the Bombardment Squadron

• RCL/# =

  • Radio Call Letter / #
    # = "Battle", "Constructor", "Distribution", "Last #s of S/N ", "Line" or any other #s shown on PICs
    "~"  =  N/A <Not Applicable>

    Can either be located on the Tail or Fuselage -
    In the "Data Table", (-R) is pronounced "Bar R" and could also be presented as (R).
    (R-) is pronounced "R Bar" and could also be presented as (R)
    
    Note: Although (R) and (R) can be represented on the web site, true "Text Format" will not permit these! So in order to keep the integrity in the "Text File";
    
    R¯  =  (Bar Above R) "Bar R" (R) 
    R_  =  (Bar Below R)  "R Bar" (R)

• V#-P =

• Version Number-Photo Number

(00) = No Other Version (On-Site)

(A#) = Assembly Ship (Lead Formation)

(P#) = Nose Art Panel

(R#) = Restoration/Representation

(W#) = Long Range Weather Reconnaissance (LRW)

• Photo Credits = 

  • Copyright by Photographer, Owner, or "Origin" of the image
         AFM - US Air Force Museum, Dayton, Ohio
          CAF - Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, Texas
      NARA - National Archives and Records Administration
      NASM - National Air and Space Museum
    SDASM - San Diego Air & Space Museum
       USAF - United States Air Force