Buzz number

Buzz number is a term applied to the large letter and number combination applied to United States Air Force military aircraft in the years immediately after World War II, through the early 1960s. This moniker evolved from aircrew speculation that the large numbers were meant to dissuade "buzzing" (very-low-altitude high-speed passes over populated areas) by increasing the likelihood of being identified and punished.

A jet aircraft with nose air intake sits on the tarmac, wearing U.S. Air Force insignia and "FW-754" coding on the nose
This F-100 has the buzz number "FW-754" on its nose.

The first two letters of a buzz number indicated the type and designation of an aircraft while the last three were generally the last three digits of the aircraft serial number. Air Force fighters used buzz numbers starting with the letter F (or P, when fighters were designated as "pursuit" aircraft before June 1948), while bombers started with the letter B. For example, a P-51 Mustang would have a buzz number such as FF-230 while an F-86 Sabre might be FU-910. A B-66 Destroyer would have a buzz number such as BB-222. One of the last Air Force fighters to carry a buzz number was the F-4 Phantom II (FJ), then called the F-110 Spectre by the Air Force.

List of buzz codes
A lineup of silver piston-engined fighters, the one in the front of the line with clearly visible U.S. Air Force insignia and 'PQ-332" coding on the rear fuselage
A P-82 Twin Mustang with a buzz number near its tail
A radial piston-engined aircraft on a snowy airfield, a hangar behind and its pilot in front, with U.S. Air Force insignia and "AA-783" code below the cockpit
Douglas F-24 Banshee in 1950, with 'AA' buzz number
A part of a black, delta-winged aircraft with engine nacelle partway out the wing; U.S. Air Force insignia on the fuselage, "USAF" labeling on the wing, and "FX-936" coding on the nacelle
'FX-' code on Lockheed YF-12; possibly the last buzz number

This table lists U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army aircraft by buzz-number prefix. Note that some aircraft types changed prefixes during their career, while other prefixes were re-used after an earlier type was retired.

Code nameManufacturerAircraftNotes
AADouglasA-24/F-24 Banshee[1]
ABCurtissA-25 Shrike[1]
ACDouglasA-26 Invaderrecoded BC in 1948[1]
ADVulteeA-31 Vengeance[1]
AEConvairXA-41[1]
BABoeingB-17 Flying Fortress[1]
BAMartinB-57 Canberra[1]
BBDouglasXB-19[1]
BBDouglasB-66 Destroyer[1]
BCConsolidatedB-24 Liberator[1]
BCDouglasB-26 Invaderoriginally AC[1]
BDNorth AmericanB-25 Mitchell[1]
BENorth AmericanB-45 Tornadorecoded BH in 1948[1]
BFBoeingB-29 Superfortress[1]
BGConsolidatedB-32 Dominator[1]
BGNorthropXB-35[1]
BHLockheedB-37 Ventura[1]
BHNorth AmericanB-45 Tornadooriginally BE[1]
BJBoeingXB-39 Superfortress[1]
BKDouglasXB-42 Mixmaster[1]
BKBoeingB-50 Superfortress[1]
BLBoeingXB-44 Superfortress[1]
BMConvairB-36 Peacemaker[1]
CABeechcraftCQ-3 Expeditor[1]
CADouglasC-124 Globemaster II[1]
CBBeechcraftUC-43 Traveler
CCBeechcraftC-45 Expeditor
CDCurtissC-46 Commando
CEDouglasC-47 Skytrain[1]
CFDouglasC-48
CGDouglasC-49
CHDouglasC-53 Skytrooper
CJDouglasC-54 Skymaster[1]
CKLockheedC-60 Lodestar
CLNoorduynUC-64 Norseman
CMLockheedC-69 Constellation
CNDouglasC-74 Globemaster[1]
CPCessnaUC-78 Bobcat[1]
CPConvairC-131 Samaritan[1]
CQFairchildC-82 Packet[1]
CQFairchildC-119 Flying Boxcar[1]
CRConsolidatedC-87 Liberator Express[1]
CSBoeingC-97 Stratofreighter/KC-97 Stratofreighter[1]
CTConvairXC-99[1]
CUDouglasC-117 Skytrooper[1]
CVDouglasC-118 Liftmaster[1]
CWLockheedC-121 Constellation[1]
CYChaseYC-122 Avitruc[1]
CZChaseC-123 Provider[1][2]
CZFairchildC-123 Provider[1]
FABeechcraftF-2 Expeditorcancelled 1948[1]
FBLockheedF-5 Lightningcancelled 1948[1]
FCNorth AmericanF-6 Mustangcancelled 1948, to FF[1]
FDConsolidatedF-7 Liberatorcancelled 1948[1]
FEBoeingF-9 Flying Fortresscancelled 1948, to BA[1]
FFNorth AmericanF-10 Mitchellcancelled 1948, to BD[1]
FGBoeingF-13 Superfortresscancelled 1948, to BF[1]
FHNorthropF-15 Reportercancelled 1948, to FK[1]
FNorthropN-156F[3]
FALockheedF-38 Lightningpreviously PA[1]
FALockheedF-94 Starfire[1]
FANorthropF-5 Freedom Fighter[1][4]
FBBellF-39 Airacobrapreviously PB[1]
FBMcDonnellF-101 Voodoo[1]
FCCurtissF-40 Warhawkpreviously PC[1]
FCConvairF-102 Delta Dagger[1]
FDRepublicXF-103[1]
FERepublicF-47 Thunderboltpreviously PE[1]
FEConvairF-106 Delta Dart[1]
FFNorth AmericanF-51 Mustangpreviously PF[1]
FGLockheedF-104 Starfighter[1]
FHRepublicF-105 Thunderchief[1]
FJBellF-59 Airacometpreviously PJ[1]
FJMcDonnellF-110 Spectre[1]
FKNorthropF-61 Black Widowpreviously PK[1]
FLBellF-63 Kingcobrapreviously PL[1]
FNLockheedF-80 Shooting Starpreviously PL, recoded FT[1]
FPConvairXF-81previously PP[1]
FQNorth AmericanF-82 Twin Mustangpreviously PQ[1]
FRBellXF-83previously PR[1]
FSRepublicF-84 Thunderjetpreviously PS[1]
FTLockheedF-80 Shooting Starpreviously PN, FN[1]
QFTLockheedQF-80 Shooting Star[1]
FUNorth AmericanF-86 Sabrepreviously PU[1]
FVNorthropNorthrop F-89 Scorpion[1]
FWNorth AmericanF-100 Super Sabre[1]
FXLockheedYF-12 Blackbird[5] Unofficial?
FYNorth AmericanYF-93
FYNorth AmericanYF-95recoded FU
GAWacoPG-2[1]
GBWacoPG-3[1]
GCWacoCG-4[1]
GDLaister-KauffmanXCG-10 Trojan Horse[1]
GEWacoCG-13[1]
GFChaseYCG-14[1]
GGWacoCG-15[1]
GHChaseXCG-18[1]
GJChaseXCG-20[1]
JTCessnaYAT-37D[6]
LATaylorcraftL-2 Grasshopper[1]
LAPiperL-4 Grasshopperoriginally LC[1]
LBAeroncaL-3 Grasshopper[1]
LBStinsonL-5 Sentineloriginally LD[1]
LCPiperL-4 Grasshopperrecoded LA[1]
LCAeroncaL-16originally LH[1]
LBStinsonL-5 Sentinelrecoded LB[1]
LDRyanL-17B/U-18B NavionSee LJ for North American L-17A/C, U-18A/C[1]
LEInterstateL-6 Cadet[1]
LEBoeingL-15 Scout[1]
LEPiperL-18 Super Cub[1]
LFPiperL-14[1]
LFCessnaL-19 Bird Dog[1]
LGConvairL-13 Grasshopper[1]
LGde Havilland CanadaL-20 Beaver[1]
LHAeroncaL-16recoded LC[1]
LHPiperL-21 Super Cub[1]
LJNorth AmericanL-17A/C, U-18A/C NavionSee LD for Ryan L-17B, U-18B[1]
LJBeechcraftL-23 Seminole[1]
LKAero CommanderL-26[1]
OAGrummanOA-9 Goose[1]
OBConsolidatedOA-10 Catalina[1]
OCNorth AmericanO-47[1]
ODKellettYO-60[1]
OEBoeingPB2B-1 Catalina[6]
PALockheedP-38 Lightningrecoded FA in 1948[1]
PBBellP-39 Airacobrarecoded FB in 1948[1]
PCCurtissP-40 Warhawkrecoded FC in 1948[1]
PDCurtissXP-42[1]
PERepublicP-47 Thunderboltrecoded FE in 1948[1]
PFNorth AmericanP-51 Mustangrecoded FF in 1948[1]
PGCurtissXP-55 Ascender[1]
PHLockheedXP-58 Chain Lightning[1]
PJBellP-59 Airacometrecoded FJ in 1948[1]
PKNorthropP-61 Black Widowrecoded FK in 1948[1]
PLBellP-63 Kingcobrarecoded FL in 1948[1]
PMFisherP-75 Eagle[1]
PNLockheedP-80 Shooting Starrecoded FT in 1948[1]
PPConvairXP-81recoded FP in 1948[1]
PQNorth AmericanP-82 Twin Mustangrecoded FQ in 1948[1]
PRBellXP-83recoded FR in 1948[1]
PSRepublicP-84 Thunderjetrecoded FS in 1948[1]
PUNorth AmericanP-86 Sabrerecoded FU in 1948[1]
QFPiaseckiH-21 Workhorse[6]
QKCulverQ-14 Cadet[6]
RFNorth AmericanRF-51 Mustang[6]
TANorth AmericanAT-6 Texan[1]
LTANorth AmericanLT-6G Texan[1]
TBBeechcraftAT-7 Navigator[1]
TCBeechcraftAT-11 Kansan[6]
TCMikoyan-GurevichMiG-15[7]
TCConvairTF-102 Delta Dagger[8]
TDFairchildAT-21 Gunner[1]
TDBeechcraftT-34 Mentor[1]
BTEVulteeBT-13 Valiant[1]
TECessnaT-37 Tweet[6]
PTFBoeingPT-13 Kaydet[1]
TFNorth AmericanTF-51 Mustang[6]
TFNorthropT-38 Talon[6][9]
TGBoeingPT-17 Kaydet[1]
TGLockheedTF-104 Starfighter[6]
TGNorth AmericanT-39 Sabreliner[6]
THFairchildPT-19[1]
TJCulverPQ-8 Cadet[1]
TKCulverPQ-14 Cadet[6]
TLNorth AmericanT-28 Trojan[1]
TPConvairT-29 Flying Classroom[1]
TQFairchildT-31[1]
TRLockheedT-33 Shooting Star[6]
UGde Havilland CanadaU-6 Beaver[6]
UHPiperU-7 Super Cub[6]
UKAero CommanderU-4/U-9[6]
YFNorth AmericanYF-93[10]
YTCessnaYAT-37D[6]

See also

References
Citations
  1. Andrade 1979, p. 249
  2. Adcock 1992, p.7.
  3. Johnsen 2006, p.10.
  4. Johnsen 2006, p.6.
  5. Sgarlato 1979, p.82.
  6. Swanborough and Bowers 1989, p.43.
  7. Hooftman 1965, p.59.
  8. Kinzey 1990, p.17.
  9. Johnsen 2006, p.58.
  10. "North American YF-93". Fact Sheets. National Museum of the United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2017-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Bibliography
  • Adcock, Al (1992). C-123 Provider in action. Aircraft In Action. Vol. 124. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0-89747-276-0.
  • Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leichester, UK: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  • Hooftman, Hugo (1965). Russian Aircraft. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8168-8100-0. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  • Johnsen, Frederick A. (2006). Northrop F-5/F-20/T-38. WarbirdTech Series. Vol. 44. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-094-2.
  • Kinzey, Bert (1990). F-102 Delta Dagger in Detail & Scale. Detail & Scale. Vol. 35. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 978-0-8306-3046-2. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  • Sgarlato, Nico (1979). USAF Aircraft of Today. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-068-0.
  • Swanborough, Gordon; Peter M. Bowers (1989). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-87474-880-2. Douglas XCG-17.
Further reading
  • Bowers, Peter M.; David W. Menard (2006). Buzz Numbers: The Explanations and Regulations Behind America's Military Aircraft Identification System. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-103-1.
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