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:- First letter signifies the type of equipment used by the squadron, where
- * V stands for fixed-wing aircraft
- * Z is for lighter-than-Air craft, and
- * H is for rotorcraft
- Subsequent letters, 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.
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.
U.S. Navy - List of Fixed Wing Squadron Designations
Between 1927 and 1937 suffix letters were in use to indicate Fleet or Force assignments of a particular squadron.Thus, for example, VF-1B stood for Fighter Squadron One, attached to Battle Fleet.
The full list of pre-war suffix letters is as follows:
| Suffix Letter | Notes |
| A | Squadron attached to Asiatic Fleet |
| B | Squadron attached to Battle Fleet |
| D | Squadron assigned to a Naval District; the "D" in this case is followed by district number |
| F | Squadron attached to Base Force |
| R | Reserve Squadron |
| S | Squadron attached to Scouting Fleet |
A brief resurgence of suffix letters in the Navy squadron designators was seen between 1946 and 1948.
The following suffix letters were in use during that period:
| Suffix Letter | Notes |
| A | Squadron attached to Attack Carrier Air Group |
| B | Squadron attached to Battle Carrier Air Group |
| B | For use by Observation Squadrons attached to Battleship Force |
| C | For use by Observation Squadron attached to Cruiser Force |
| E | Squadron attached to Escort Carrier Air Group |
| L | Squadron attached to Light Carrier Air Group |
In 1948 the use of suffix letters in squadron designators was discontinued.
U.S. Navy - List of Lighter-than-Air Squadron Designations
The following designations for Lighter-than-Air squadron were in use:| Designator | Full Name | Notes |
| ZJ | Airship Utility Squadron | First established in 1944, airship utility squadrons were responsible for non-combat support tasks such as photography, calibration and torpedo recovery. |
| ZP | Airship Patrol Squadron | ZP squadrons were established to carry out patrol, ASW and convoy escort duties. The designation was discontinued in 1961 with the retirement of airships from the active Navy inventory. |
| ZW | Airship Early Warning Squadron | Established in 1956, ZW squadrons were responsible for all-weather airborne early warning services to fleet forces and shore warning nets as a part of the AEW barrier system. Discontinued in 1961. |
| ZX | Airship Development Squadron | Established in 1950, responsibilities of ZX squadrons included operational testing and evaluation of new airship equipment, weapons and systems. Discontinued in 1957. |
U.S. Navy - List of Rotary Wing Squadron Designations
| Designator | Full Name | Notes |
| HA | Helicopter Attack Squadron | Only three squadrons have ever carried this designation, HA-3 flying the Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter between 1967 and 1972, and HA-4 and HA-5 which flew the HH-1K Huey beginning in the late 1970s until they transitioned to the HH-60H Seahawk and were redesignated HCS squadrons. |
| HC | Helicopter Combat Support Squadron | This designation was in use between the 1960s and the 2000s. HC squadrons were tasked with a wide variety of duties such as rescue, carrier onboard delivery, liaison, light transport, Vertical Replenishment and range service. |
| HCS | Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Special | This designation was in use between 1988 and 2006. HA-4 and HA-5 were redesignated HCS-4 and HCS-5 when they transitioned to the HH-60H Seahawk. |
| HCT | Helicopter Combat Support Training Squadron | A one of a kind designation that was in use between 1974 and 1977 by HCT-16. The mission of this squadron was to provide helicopter search and rescue and plane guard service for the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington and overall SAR coverage for the Pensacola Naval air training complex. |
| HM | Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron | Instituted in the 1970s, this designation was assigned to the specialized minesweeping units. Historically, HM squadrons are flying the heaviest helicopter types in the Navy inventory and are thus tasked with logistics and carrier onboard delivery duties as well. |
| HS | Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron | HS designation for the rotary wing ASW squadrons was instituted in the early 1950s. It was discontinued with the retirement of the aircraft carrier based SH-60F Seahawk and the transition of those squadrons to the mulit-mission MH-60S Seahawk. |
| HSC | Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron | This designation was instituted in the 2000s to emphasize multi-role capabilities of the former carrier based ASW HS squadrons and VERTREP HC squadrons as they transitioned from the SH-60F Seahawk and the H-46 Sea Knight respectively to the MH-60S Seahawk. |
| HSL | Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light | HSL designation was instituted in the early 1970s upon the introduction of the ASW variant of the Kaman Seasprite helicopter into the Navy inventory. It was discontinued in the 2000s when the HSL squadrons flying the SH-60B Seahawk transitioned to the MH-60R Seahawk and were redesignated HSM. |
| HSM | Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron | This designation was instituted in the 2000s upon the introduction of the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk multi-purpose helicopter into the fleet service. |
| HT | Helicopter Training Squadron | This designation has been in use for dedicated training squadrons since the 1950s and is still in use today. |
| HU | Helicopter Utility Squadron | This is one of the oldest rotary wing squadron designators in the Navy, in use since 1948 and into the 1960s. Helicopter utility squadrons were typically tasked with such duties as rescue, plane guard, liaison and light transport. |
| HX | Air Test and Evaluation Squadron | Squadrons bearing this designation are responsible for the operational testing and evaluation of new helicopter types, weapons, tactics and techniques. |
U.S. Marine Corps - List of Fixed Wing Squadron Designations
Squadron designations between 1920 and 1937:| Designator | Full Name |
| VF | Fighter Squadron |
| VJ | Utility Squadron |
| VO | Observation Squadron |
| VP | Patrol Squadron |
| VS | Scouting Squadron |
During that period of time a squadron of the Marine Corps could be distinguished from a Navy squadron by a suffix letter "M".
Thus, VF-2M stood for Marine Fighter Squadron Two, VO-8M stood for Marine Observation Squadron Eight, and so forth.
In 1937 the suffix letters in squadron designators were discontinued, and the letter "M" signifying the Marine Corps was moved into a fixed place after the "V". Designations of all existing Marine squadrons were changed accordingly: e.g., VF-2M became VMF-2.
Squadron designations after 1937:
| Designator | Full Name | Notes |
| VMA | Marine Attack Squadron | VMA designation was introduced after the World War II for use by Marine Corps squadrons dedicated to ground attack mission. Today VMA squadrons fly the AV-8B Harrier. |
| VMA | Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron | This designator was instituted with the introduction of the Grumman A-6 Intruder all-weather attack bomber into the Marine Corps Aviation in 1966 and was discontinued in 1993 with its retirement. |
| VMAQ | Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron | In the mid-1970s, the Marine Corps composite community was reorganized and split into tactical electronic warfare and photographic reconnaissance squadrons. Today VMAQ squadrons operate Grumman EA-6B Prowler highly specialized electronic warfare aircraft. |
| VMAQT | Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron | VMAQT squadrons are tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMAQ squadrons. |
| VMAT | Marine Attack Training Squadron | VMAT squadrons are tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMA squadrons. |
| VMB | Marine Bombing Squadron | Marine bombing squadrons, in existence during the World War II years, were first equipped with the Douglas SBD Dauntless and tasked with bombing missions in support of the Marine Corps units. Starting from 1943, a number of new VMB squadrons were formed to fill the need for a long range, land based bomber that could be used against enemy shipping and submarines. These VMB squadrons operated the North American PBJ-1 Mitchell. |
| VMC | Marine Composite Squadron | Marine composite squadrons, appearing in the early 1950s, consolidated specialized night attack, electronic warfare and airborne early warning aircraft and were tasked with supporting other Marine aviation units. |
| VMCJ | Marine Composite Squadron | Marine composite squadrons changed their designation from VMC to VMCJ in the late 1950s when photographic reconnaissance assets of VMJ squadrons were integrated into existing composite squadrons. VMCJ units continued to perform electronic warfare and photographic reconnaissance tasks until the 1970s, when these two types of missions were again separated into different types of squadrons, VMAQ and VMFP respectively. |
| VMD | Marine Photographic Squadron | The VMD designation was in use by photographic reconnaissance squadrons of the Marine Corps during the World War II years, to be replaced with VMJ after the war. |
| VMF | Marine Fighter Squadron | This is one of the oldest squadron designator in the Marine Corps, in use until the 1970s when it was discontinued with the retirement of the Vought F-8 Crusader. |
| VMFA | Marine Strike Fighter Squadron | VMFA designation gradually came into use in the mid-1960s with the widespread introduction of the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber into squadron service. Today VMFA squadrons fly the single-seat variants of the F/A-18 Hornet and the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II multirole fighters. |
| VMFA | Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron | This squadron designation was instituted upon the introduction of the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D Hornet into the Marine Corps inventory. |
| VMFAT | Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron | VMFAT squadrons are tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMFA and VMFA squadrons. |
| VMF | Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron | This designation was introduced in the mid-1950s to replace the earlier night fighter variant, VMF. While those squadrons that received the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II in the early 1960s have quickly acquired the new Fighter Attack designation, the units equipped with the Vought F-8 Crusader continued to use the VMF variant well into the 1970s until the retirement of the Crusader from the Marines inventory. |
| VMF | Marine Night Fighter Squadron | VMF designator was instituted during the World War II years for squadrons composed of radar-equipped fighters. In the mid-1950s this designation was discontinued in favor of the VMF variant to reflect the true all-weather role of newer radar-equipped aircraft. |
| VMFP | Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron | In the mid-1970s, the Marine Corps composite community was reorganized and split into tactical electronic warfare and tactical reconnaissance squadrons. The single resulting reconnaissance squadron, VMFP-3, operated the McDonnell-Douglas RF-4B Phantom II dedicated photo-reconnaissance variant until its demise in 1990. |
| VMFT | Marine Fighter Training Squadron | In the past, VMFT squadrons were tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMF squadrons. Today, the single existing squadron of such type, VMFT-401, provides instruction to active and reserve squadrons through dissimilar adversary combat tactics. |
| VMFT | Marine All-Weather Fighter Training Squadron | VMFT squadrons were tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMF squadrons. |
| VMGR | Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron | With the introduction of the KC-130F aerial refueling variant of the Lockheed Hercules in the early 1960s, several former VMR squadrons were re-designated VMGR, and their primary mission became aerial refueling. Besides that, VMGR squadrons are tasked with providing assault transport of troops, equipment, and supplies. |
| VMGRT | Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Training Squadron | VMGRT squadrons are tasked with training pilots and crews on the aircraft employed by VMGR squadrons. |
| VMJ | Marine Utility Squadron | Between the 1937 and 1945 the VMJ designation was assigned to Marine Corps squadrons tasked with support duties such as target towing, liaison and logistics |
| VMJ | Marine Photographic Squadron | Marine photographic reconnaissance squadrons were assigned this designation for a brief period between 1945 and the early 1950s when the photo reconnaissance assets were integrated into composite squadrons. |
| VMIT | Marine Instrument Training Squadron | This was a short-lived designation used in the 1950s by a small number of squadrons specially tasked with instrument flight training for the Marine Corps pilots. |
| VML | Marine Glider Squadron | In existence between 1942 and 1943, glider squadrons were supposed to be a part of the Marine Corps glider infantry force. The program was terminated with the general disillusionment in offensive glider operations. |
| VMO | Marine Observation Squadron | Although initially conceived for the purpose of observation and artillery spotting, VMO squadrons performed a wide variety of tasks, including fighter, close air support, liaison, rescue and medevac missions. The designation was in use until the 1990s when it was discontinued with the retirement of the North American OV-10 Bronco. Despite being formally assigned to the fixed wing category, VMO squadrons routinely operated helicopters throughout the 1950s and 1960s. |
| VMP | Marine Photographic Squadron | The VMP designation was in use by photographic reconnaissance squadrons of the Marine Corps during the World War II years, to be replaced with VMJ after the war. |
| VMR | Marine Transport Squadron | The mission of VMR squadrons is to support the Marine Corps operations with transporting personnel and cargo, medical evacuation and aerial resupply. |
| VMS | Marine Scouting Squadron | Since their inception, Marine Corps scouting squadrons normally flew the same types of light scout bomber aircraft as did their Navy VS counterparts and were tasked with scouting and bombing duties. During the World War II years the VMS designation gradually gave way to VMSB, with both disappearing after the war end. |
| VMSB | Marine Scout Bombing Squadron | Marine scout bombing squadrons, in existence during the World War II, were tasked with bombing, close air support and scouting missions. They operated the Vought SB2U Vindicator, Douglas SBD Dauntless and Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. |
| VMT | Marine Training Squadron | VMT designation was in use for the Marine Corps training squadrons until the 1960s when the Corps introduced the practice of giving specialized designations to training squadrons depending on the mission type they were training for, such as VMAT, VMFT, VMFT and so forth. |
| VMTB | Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron | Marine torpedo bombing squadrons, in existence during the World War II, performed bombing and close air support missions. They operated the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber aircraft. |
| VMU | Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron | This squadron designation was instituted in 1996, a considerable time after the widespread introduction of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles into the Marine Corps inventory has begun. The primary mission of VMU squadrons is aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the Marine Corps ground troops. |
| VMX | Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron | VMX-1, the only squadron in existence bearing the VMX designation, is responsible for the operational testing and evaluation of new aircraft types, weapons, tactics and techniques for the Marine Corps. It operates fixed wing, rotary wing and tiltrotor assets, depending on the current programs. |