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.

[citation needed] 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.

This table lists U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army aircraft by buzz-number prefix.

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.
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