List of USAAF squadron codes

This is an incomplete list of squadron codes used by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft operating in Europe during World War II.

For each squadron code—painted on the plane's fuselage—the associated bombardment squadron (BS) is listed, along with the squadron's bombardment group (BG).

Most commonly, a group would have four squadrons.

Also listed is the group's tail code—the noted letter would appear inside the geometric shape (for example, ▲J means the letter J would appear inside a triangle).

Some squadrons and groups also used specific color bands on the wings or empennage of their aircraft; such colorings are not presented here.

A B-17 with squadron code 2G
A B-24 with squadron code 2C, denoting the 838th Bombardment Squadron of the 487th Bombardment Group (tail Square P)
A B-17 with squadron code LL, denoting the 401st Bombardment Squadron of the 91st Bombardment Group (tail Triangle A)
A B-17 with squadron code VE, denoting the 532d Bombardment Squadron of the 381st Bombardment Group (tail Triangle L)
A B-17 with squadron code WF, denoting the 364th Bombardment Squadron of the 305th Bombardment Group (tail Triangle G; obscured in photo)
A B-17 of the 385th Bombardment Group (tail Square G)