U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Squadron Designations

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps have a well-defined set of principles that govern the designations given to their aircraft squadrons. This designation system was introduced in 1922 and, although there have been changes and additions to it over time, the system as a whole is still in use to present day.

Basic Principles The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps squadron designation comprises a combination of letters and numerals, each having a precise meaning. From left to right, the designation includes the following three components:Doll, Jackson, Riley 1983, p.10. First letter signifies the type of equipment used by the squadron, where V stands for fixed-wing aircraft (originally – heavier-than-air) Z is for lighter-than-Air craft, and H is for rotorcraft (helicopters) Subsequent letters (one or several), known as "class letters", indicate the primary mission of the squadron. Finally, a numeral, preceded by a dash, is the unique number of the squadron within its class.

Thus, for example, VP-1 is the designator for Patrol Squadron One, where the "V" stands for Heavier-than-Air and the class letter "P" stands for Patrol, while ZP-1 is the designator for Airship Patrol Squadron One, with the "Z" indicating Lighter-than-Air.

Two or more class letters may follow the "V". In such designators the following letters usually narrow down the class specified by the preceding one: for example, VAH-1 stands for Heavy Attack Squadron One. There are exceptions to this rule, however. In a designation like VAW-123, the "AW" is to be treated as an unbreakable combination that signifies Airborne Early Warning and has nothing to do with "A" for Attack.

What follows is a list of designations that have been used or are in use by actual squadrons of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.Grossnick 1995, p.8-16.

U.S. Navy - List of Fixed Wing Squadron Designations Designator Full NameNotesVAAttack SquadronThis designation first came into use in 1945, with carrier-based bomber (VB) and torpedo bomber (VT) squadrons being re-classified as attack squadrons. It was discontinued with the retirement of the Grumman A-6 Intruder in 1997.VA(AW)All Weather Attack SquadronThe Navy employed this designator for squadrons equipped with all-weather variants of the Douglas AD Skyraider. It was discontinued with the demise of the wide-body Skyraiders from the Navy inventory, and squadrons equipped with newer all-weather attack aircraft such as Grumman A-6 Intruder received "plain" VA designators.VAHHeavy Attack Squadron This designator was first given in the 1950s to former composite (VC) squadrons flying the North American AJ Savage. VAH squadrons existed until the early 1970s.VA(HM)Heavy Attack (Mining) SquadronThe Navy employed this designator in the 1950s for a very small number of Lockheed P2V Neptune units specifically tasked with minelaying duties.VAKTactical Aerial Refueling SquadronThis designator was only used for a very short time by a small number of reserve units flying the Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior tanker variant. The majority of squadrons flying the KA-3B tankers did so while still being designated Heavy Attack Squadrons, and squadrons flying other types of tanker-capable aircraft such as the Grumman KA-6D Intruder did so without any change in designation.VALLight Attack SquadronOnly one squadron has ever carried this designation, VAL-4 flying the North American OV-10 Bronco aircraft between 1969 and 1972.VAPHeavy Photographic SquadronThis designator was instituted in the early 1950s for photo-reconnaissance squadrons equipped with heavy carrier-capable aircraft such as the North American AJ-2P Savage. It was discontinued with the demise of the last photo reconnaissance Douglas RA-3B Skywarriors in the early 1970s.VAQTactical Electronic Warfare SquadronThis designator was instituted upon the introduction of the Douglas EKA-3B Skywarrior variant in the late 1960s. Before that, dedicated electronic warfare assets have been part of composite (VC) or early warning (VAW) squadrons.VAQElectronic Attack SquadronIn early 1998 the VAQ designation was changed from "Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron" to "Electronic Attack Squadron". VAWCarrier Airborne Early Warning SquadronThis designator was first given in the late 1950s to former composite (VC) squadrons flying the Douglas AD-5W Skyraider. Since then all airborne early warning units were designated as VAW.VBBombing SquadronCarrier-based bomber squadrons, designated as VB, first appeared in the early 1920s. After the end of the World War II all remaining VB units were re-designated as attack squadrons (VA).VBFFighter-Bomber SquadronAlthough most World War II era carrier-based fighter units have routinely performed ground attack missions, some squadrons have been specifically designated as VBF during the course of war. VBF designation was discontinued after the war, and until the introduction of the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet the Navy squadrons flying tactical fighters have carried out ground attack duties while being designated VF.VCComposite SquadronThere have been several waves of composite squadrons in the U.S. Navy. From 1942 until 1945 the VC designation was assigned to squadrons that comprised fighter and bomber aircraft and flew from escort carriers. All such units were disestablished with the post-war mothballing of escort carriers.

The second wave, starting from 1945 and until the late 1950s, consisted of large units that provided detachments of specialized night attack, heavy attack, photographic reconnaissance, electronic warfare and airborne early warning aircraft to active carriers. Many such detachments later transformed into dedicated VA(AW), VAH, VFP, VAP and VAW squadrons.