Corps Squadron Codes

I have a question on RFC/RAF/AFC aircraft codes.

I have scout squadrons under control but am not able to work out how Corps squadron aircraft were coded.

The AFC scout aircraft were coded A Flt A-H for 4AFC and A-F for 2AFC, B Flt 1-8 (4AFC) and 1-6 (2AFC), C Flt S-Z (4AFC) and U-Z (2AFC).

3AFC is another story I have seen pictures of a/c coded 'J' and '13'! Anyone know how this works and give me a list of the codes used by each flight?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Gordon:
RFC/RAF Squadron Flight codes were generally:
A Flight: A-F; A 1 to A 6 sometimes separated by the roundel.
B Flight: G-L; 1 -6: B 1 to B 6 sometimes separated by the roundel.
C Flight: M-R: C 1 to C 6 sometimes separated by the roundel.
When Camel squadrons allotment was increased to 24 machines with 8 machines /flight the letteror number were adjusted to fit.
The CO generall used X, Y or Z.
An example is 56 Squadron ( S.E.5a), at various times used A 1 to 6, B 1 to 6, C 1 to 6. Then A-F, G-L, M -W, then A -F, 1 -6 and M-W.
Blue skies,
Dan-San Abbott

Gordon,

>3AFC is another story

I have wondered about those too. Six to a flight means 13, j and K are outside the scout way of doing things.

Circle period;
A3816 'B' ( Sandy and Hughes )
A3662 'J' ( doped over D 4 on top wing? )
B589? 'N'
????? '13'

No Squadron marking period;
A4397 'D' (Francis's Sylvia)
B3420 'K'
??748 'O' (M&M)
B2275 'Q' ( Armstrong and Mart according to M&M )
A381? 'C'
C2413 'C'
C2309 'C'


Francis was in A Flight when they went over and took over as flight commander of A Flight later, so if Sylvia was his regular mount, that would be the same as the Scout flight markings. Wrigley has that for the battles on the 4th of July that C Flight supplied the contact patrols, and that the first contact patrols carried out over Hamel were by Armstrong. Does that mean he was in C Flight? Maybe 13 as a plane number was a boastful fly in the face of superstition choice? Maybe as Corps squadrons rarely flew as formal flights the aircraft were christened with a flight marking rather than given one to denote their flight organization in the air?

The Datafile has a couple of high numbered RE8's in RFC Squads too, A3474 '18' 34 Sqn, '11' 21 Sqn, C2731 '1' 5 Sqn, A4267 '7' 52 Sqn.

I dunno. Sorry I havent the references to be precise and am not of more help



cam
AFC - http://members.nbci.com/pointcook/

As far as I know, RFC aircraft didn't carry squadron codes as per WW2 - two-letter code for the squadron, one letter for the individual aircraft - but carried distinctive white 'bar' markings which could be in the form of vertical wrapped-around-the-rear fuselage, oblique 'dashes' on the sides behind the roundel, etc. Some squadrons applied geometric shapes for recognition purposes; 85 RFC's white hexagon marking is perhaps the best-known, eventually being incorporated in the squadron's RAF badge and carried on their Hurricanes in WW2.

Aircraft usually carried individual letters or numbers to identify them within the squadron, while the aircraft's SERIAL NUMBER was displayed on the rear fuselage and/or vertical tail surfaces.

Hope this helps.