Aircraft Manufacturer's Codes

[skypilot]

It would appear that Spitfire Spares.com, one of my old haunts now carries these details on their pages so rather than be accused of copyright theft, which I doubt it would be anyway, please see my list below. There are one or two extra details on the website mentioned.

These codes are usually seen stamped either as a prefix to a part number, in a separate circled inspector's stamp or stamped separately on the item. British aircraft parts are almost always stamped - even bolt heads whereas US aircraft tend to mark larger parts and sub-assemblies only.

Please bear in mind there are no hard and fast rules so always be open minded, especially when working at dump sites! You may indeed have just picked up a piece of a TSR-2 at a site where there's no logical explanation for it.


UK Manufacturer Codes:

AS = Airspeed
AW = Armstrong Whitworth
R3 = Avro
BP = Boulton Paul (possibly EP)
FB = Bristol
DH = DeHaviland
EEP = English Electric Preston
F8 = Fairey Engineering
G5 = Gloster
HA = Hawker – also 41H?
HP = Handley Page
MCO = Morris Cowley Oxford
PAC = Percival Aircraft Corporation
PPA = Miles (Phillips & Powis)
R = Republic
SB = Short Brothers
SFR = Rootes Speke
SR = Saunders Roe
SHB = Short & Harland Belfast
SHR = Short & Harland Rochester
TAY = Taylorcraft
VA = Victory Aircraft
VACB = Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich
VACH = Vickers Armstrong Chester
VABL = Vickers Armstrong Blackpool
WA = Westland
DHB = de Havilland, Broughton
DHC = de Havilland, Christchurch
DHL = de Havilland, Lostock (usually propellers)


Miscellaneous Codes:

AGS = Aircraft General Standard (Often on nuts and bolt heads)
ALCLAD = Aluminium (Or “Alooominum” if from former colonies!)
ALCOA = Aluminium Corporation of America
PSC = Pressed Steel Company


UK Aircraft Part Codes:

P39 = Airacobra (Bell)
AW41 = Albermarle Mk1
652A = Anson (All Mk’s)
660 = Argosy
UC61 = Argus Mk1 (Fairchild)
UC61A = Argus Mk II
UC61K = Argus Mk III
701 = Avro Athena T2
540 = Avro 504K
582 = Avro 504N

187 = Baltimore (Martin)
156 = Beaufighter Mk1F
152 = Beaufort
192 = Belvedere (Westland)
B101 = Beverley (Blackburn) C1
555 = Bison
142M = Blenheim Mk IF
149 = Blenheim Mk Ib
160 = Blenheim Mk V
130A = Bombay
B26 = Botha
164 = Brigand
F2A = Bristol Fighter
B103 = Buccaneer
B339E = Brewster Buffalo
105A = Bristol Bulldog Mk II & IIa

EA3 = Canberra B2
EA2 = Canberra PR3
EA4 = Canberra Mk24
SC4 = Canberra U/D 10
28 = Catalina Mk I
CH47 = Chinook HC1
DHC1 = Chipmunk T10
DH60 = Cirrus Moth Mk I & II
DH106 = Comet Mk I – IV
20 = Commando

C47 = Dakota Mk I
C53 = Dakota Mk II
C47A = Dakota Mk III
C47B = Dakota Mk IV
P82 = Defiant
DH104 = Devon
89A = Dominie Mk I
89B = Dominie Mk II

AS10 = Envoy Mk III

229 = Fortress Mk I

60M = Gipsy Moth

HP57 = Halifax Mk I
HP59 = Halifax Mk II
HP61 = Halifax Mk III
HP63 = Halifax Mk IV
HP63 = Halifax Mk V
HP70 = Halifax Mk VIII
HP71 = Halifax Mk IX
HP52 = Hampden Mk I
HP54 = Harrow
NA16 = Harvard I
NA66 = Harvard II
NA88 = Harvard IIa
AT16 = Harvard IIb
HP67 = Hastings
HP94 = Hastings C4
DB7 = Havoc I
DB7A = Havoc Mk II
P1182 = Hawk (BAe)
C130K = Hercules (Lockheed)
HP50 = Heyford
DH103 = Hornet
AS51 = Horsa (Also marked AS58)
L-214 = Hudson Mk I
L-414 = Hudson Mk II-VI
P1067 = Hunter Mk I
P1099 = Hunter Mk6
P1101 = Hunter T7
97 = Hurricane

TypeS = Jaguar
TypeM = Jaguar T2
GA5 = Javelin
145 = Jet Provost

683 = Lancaster (All Mks)
691 = Lancastrian
32 = Liberator
22 = Lightning (P-38)
P1B = Lightning Mk IF
P25 = Lightning Mk 2F
P26 = Lightning Mk 3F
P11 = Lightning T4
P27 = Lightning T5
694 = Lincoln
P8 = Lysander

M14 = Magister Mk I
679 = Manchester
179 = Marauder
M25 = Martinet TT1
M9 = Master Mk I
M19 = Master Mk II
M27 = Master Mk III
M16 = Mentor
G41A = Meteor Mk I
G41F = Meteor F4
G43 = Meteor T7
G41K = Meteor F8
G41L = Meteor FR9
G41M = Meteor PR10
NA62B = Mitchell Mk I
NA82 = Mitchell II
NA-108 = Mitchell III
98 = Mosquito (All Mks)
NA73 = Mustang I (Also NA83)
NA91 = Mustang Ia
NA102 = Mustang III
NA109 = Mustang IV
NA97 = A-36 Apache (with dive brakes)
NA99 = P-51A / Mustang II
NA103 = P-51C (early version) / Mustang III
NA104 = P-51B (later version) / Mustang III
NA111 = P-51C (later version) / Mustang III
NA111 = P-51K-NT (early Dallas-built = Mustang IVA
NA122 = P-51D-NA (later version) / Mustang IV
NA124 = P-51D-NT (late version Dallas built) / Mustang IV

26 = Neptune
HS801 = Nimrod (BAe)

AS10 = Oxford MkI & II
AS46 = Oxford MkV

P66 = Pembroke
F-4 = Phantom
P28 = Proctor I
P30 = Proctor II
P34 = Proctor III
P31 = Proctor IV

DH82B= Queen Bee (Pilotless?)

C1-13 = Sabre (F-86)
696 = Shackleton
382 = Spiteful
300 = Spitfire Mk I; Ia; Ib
329 = Spitfire Mk IIa & IIb
375 = Spitfire Mk IIc
353 = Spitfire Mk IV
332 = Spitfire Mk Vb
331 = Spitfire Mk Vb
349 = Spitfire Mk Vc & LF Vb
352 = Spitfire F Vb
351 = Spitfire Mk VII
359 = Spitfire Mk III
361 = Spitfire Mk IX
362 & 387 = Spitfire Mk X
365 = Spitfire Mk XI
366 = Spitfire Mk XII & XIII
367 & 353 = Spitfire Mk XIII
369 & 379 = Spitfire Mk XIV & XIVe
380 = Spitfire Mk XVI
394 = Spitfire Mk XVIII
389 & 390 = Spitfire Mk XIX
356 = Spitfire Mk F21; F22 & F24
SB29 = Stirling
S25 = Sunderland
541 = Swift (Shorts)
546 = Swift (Supermarine)
171 = Sycamore HA12

82 = Tiger Moth
81A-1 = Tomahawk Mk I
81A-2 = Tomahawk Mk II
621 = Tutor (Avro)
89 & 93 = Thunderbolt

637 = Valetta
706 & 710 = Valiant
100 = Vampire Mk F1; F3; F5; F9
113 = Vampire NF10
115 = Vampire T11
668 = Varsity
112 = Venom
V146 = Ventura
237 = Ventura Mk V
HP80 = Victor
498 = Viking C2
FB27 = Vimy Mk IV
698 = Vulcan

236 = Walrus
462 = Warwick ASR Mk I
413 & 611 = Warwick II
460 = Warwick III
474 & 475 = Warwick V
485 = Warwick ASR Mk VI
345 = Washington B1
P14 = Welkin
287 = Wellesley
285 & 290 = Wellington I
408 & 409 = Wellington Ia
415 & 450 = Wellington Ic
298 & 406 = Wellington II
417 & 440 = Wellington III
410 & 424 = Wellington IV
407 & 421 = Wellington V
442 & 449 = Wellington VI
429 = Wellington VIII
440 = Wellington X
454 & 458 = Wellington XI
455 = Wellington XII
466 = Wellington XIII
467 = Wellington XIV
P9 = Whirlwind
188 & 38 = Whitley Mk I
197 = Whitley II
205 = Whitley III
209 & 210 = Whitley IV & IVa
207 = Whitley V
217 = Whitley VII
244 = Wildebeeste I
258 = Wildebeeste II
267 = Wildebeeste III
286 = Wildebeeste IV

685 = York C1



US Aircraft Part Codes

T6 family are:

16- NA-16 series
19- BT-9
28- NJ-1
36- BC-1
49- Harvard I
54- BC-2
55- BC-1A
58- BT-14
59- AT-6
64- NA-64
65- SNJ-2
66- Harvard II
68- NA-50A (P64)
74- Harvard II
76- Harvard II
85- SNJ-3
88 - T6C, T6D, SNJ-4 SNJ-5
119- T6D
121- T6D, T6F
168 - T6G
182- T6G
186- T6J


Trainers

AT-6 North American = 55,59-
AT-6 A North American =77,78-
AT-6 B North American = 84-
AT-6 C North American = 88-
AT-6 D North American = 88,121-
AT-6 F North American = 121-
AT-6 G North American = 168-
AT-11 Beechcraft = 804-
AT-17 Cessna = 54576
BT-9 North American = 19-
BT-9 A North American = 19A-
BT-9 B North American = 23-
BT-9 C North American = 29-
BT-13 Vultee = 63,74,79-
BT-14 all North American = 58-
BT-15 Vultee = 63,74,79-
PT-13 Stearman = 75-
PT-19 Stearman = 64,68-
T-6 A Raytheon = 133-
T-28 A North American = 159,171,174,189-
T-28 B North American = 200,219-
T-28 C North American = 226,252-
T-33 A Lockheed = 176,177,178+
T-34 B Beechcraft = 45-
T-37 Cessna = 412+
T-38 Northrop = 2,3-
T-39 A North American = 246,265,276-
T-39 B North American = 270-
T-39 D North American = 277,285-
T-39 E North American = 282-
T-39 G North American = 306-


Laison & Observation

L-1 Stinson = 70-
L-5 Stinson = 76-
L-19/ O-1 Cessna = 172 to 186+, 800 to 890+
O-47 A North American = 25-
O-47 B North American = 51-
OV-1 Grumman = 134-
OV-10 Rockwell = 249,300,305-
O-2 A Cessna = 142+


Fighters & Recce.

P-38 Lockheed = 19,20,21,22,23,24+
P-39 Bell = 12,14,15,23,24,25,26-
P-40 40,A,B,C on Curtis-Wright = 81-
P-40 E, on Curtis-Wright = 87-
P-47 D Republic = 89,93,101-
P-47 N Republic = 96-
P-51 North American = 91-
P-51 A North American = 99-
P-51 B North American = 102,104-
P-51 C North American = 103,111-
P-51 D North American = 109,111,122,124-
P-51 H North American = 126-
P-51 K North American = 111-
P-59 Bell = 27-
P-61 A,B Northrop = 51- or 513, 516, 517
P-63 Bell = 33,37,41-
P-80 Lockheed = 174,175,176+
P-82 North American = 120-
P-82 B North American = 123-
P-82 E North American = 144-
P-82 F North American = 149-
P-82 G,H North American = 150-
F-84 Republic = 30,37,38+L+
F-86 A North American = 140,151,161-
F-86 D North American = 164,165,173,177,190,201-
F-86 E North American = 170,172-
F-86 F North American = 172,176,191,193,202,227,231,238,256-
F-86 H North American = 187,203-
F-86 K North American = 205,222,213,221,242-
F-94 C Lockheed = 45+
F-100 A North American = 180,192-
F-100 C North American = 214,217,222-
F-100 D North American = 223,224,235,245-
F-100 F North American = 243,255,261,262-
F-101 McDonnell = 20,33+
F-102 A Convair = 8-
F-104 A Lockheed = 72,76,77,78,79+
F-105 D Republic = 57,79-
F-106 A Convair = 8-
F-107 A North American = 212-
F-111 General Dynamics = 12+L+
F-117 A Lockheed = 20-
F-4 all McDonnell = 32,53-
F-5 Northrop = 2,3,4,6,7,14-
F-15 all McDonnell Douglas = 67,68+L+
F-16 all General Dynamics = 16+L+
F-22 Lockheed = 50+L
SR-71 Lockheed = 4A,549-


Attack

A-1 Douglas = 525+
A-7 Ling-Temco-Vought = 215,216,218-
A-10 Fairchild = 160+L+
A-26 Douglas = 412,415,419,512,515,519+
A-27 North American = 69-
A-35 Vultee = 72-, 88-
A-36 A North American = 97-
A-37 Cessna = 41+


Bombers

B-17 all Boeing # = one to three digit number followed by a dash.
B-24 D thru J Consolidated = 32+L+
B-25 North American = 62-
B-25 A North American = 62A-
B-25 B North American = 62B-
B-25 C North American = 82,90,93,94,96-
B-25 D North American = 87,100-
B-25 G North American = 96- NOTE: 96 is also used for C
B-25 H North American = 98-
B-25 J North American = 108-
A/B-26 Douglas = 412,415,419,512,515,519+
B-26 all Martin = 34,36,38-
B-29 all Boeing # = one to three digit number followed by a dash.
B-32 all Consolidated = 33-
B-36 Convair = 36L
B-45 North American = 130-
B-45 A North American = 147-
B-45 C North American = 153-
B-52 Boeing = 4,5,25,34,35,36-
B-57 Martin = 272-
B-70 North American = 259,278-
B-1 A,B Rockwell = L3,L5,L6,L12,L30,L32,L63+


Transports

C-45 all Beachcraft = 74,84,94,734,784,794-
C-46 all Curtis-Wright = 20-
C-47 all Douglas = 511,512,513,514+
C-54 Douglas = 517,523,524+
C-78 Cessna = 54576
C-119 Fairchild = 110-
C-130 Lockheed = 3+L+ to 38+L+
C-135 Boeing = 5,6,8,9,25,35,39,60,64,65,69,90+
C-141 B Lockheed = 5+L+
C-5 A Lockheed = 4+L+
E-3 A Boeing = 65,69,204+
C17 Lockheed = NBA+


Helicopters

AH-1 all Bell = 209,212-
UH-1 all Bell = 204,205-
H-2 all Kaman = K6+
H-3 all Sikorsky = S61+
H-34 all Sikorsky = S16+
CH-46 all Boeing = A02+L+
H-47 all Boeing = 114+L+
H-53 all Sikorsky = 65+
H-54 all Sikorsky = S64+
H-58 all Bell = 206-
H-60 A Sikorsky = 7+####-
AH-64 A Hughs-McDonnell-Douglas = 7-


USN Trainers

SNB all Beachcraft = 74,84,94,734,784,794-
SNJ 1 North American = 52-
SNJ 2 North American = 65,79-
SNJ 3 North American = 77-
SNJ 4 North American = 88-
SNJ 5 North American = 88,121-
T2J 1 North American = 241,249,253,266-
T3J North American = 246,277,285-
T-28 B North American = 200,219-
T-28 C North American = 226,252-
T-34 B Beechcraft = 45-


USN Fighters

F2H McDonald = 15-, 23-
F3H McDonald = 25-
F4F all Grumman = 71+
FM all General Motors = 71+
F6F 3,5 Grumman = 24,25,26,27+
F7F all Grumman = 37,38,39,40+
F8F all Grumman = 10 to 16+,23,33,53,55,57+,66 to 80+
F9F all Grumman = 136+,137+,139+
F4U all Chance-Vought = VS+
FG all Goodyear = VS+
Fallschirmjager 1 North American = 134,141-
Fallschirmjager 2 North American = 179,181-
Fallschirmjager 3 North American = 194,215-
Fallschirmjager 4 North American = 208,209,244,248-
F-4 all McDonnell-Douglas = 32,53-
F8U all Chance-Vought = CV+
F-14 all Grumman = A51+L+
F-18 all Northrop Grumman = 74+L+


USN Attack

A-1 Douglas = 525+
AJ 1 North American = 146,156,160-
AJ 2 North American = 169,184-
AJ 2P North American = 175,183-
A3J 1,2 North American = 247,263,269-
A3J 3 North American = 269,279,283,296-
A-4 Douglas = 155,355,400,557,566,567,582+
A-5 see A3J North American
A-6 all Grumman = 128+L+
A-7 Ling-Temco-Vought = 215,216,218-
AV-8 B McDonald = 75+L+


USN Bombers

PBM Martin = 162-
PBY all Consolidated = 28-
PB4Y all Consolidated = 100-
P2V Lockheed = 14,28,30,31,33,41,42,43,44,51,52,
53,66,82+,87 to 98+
P-3 Lockheed = 800 to 940+
C-2 A Grumman = 123+L+
S-2 all Grumman = 89+L+
SB2C 5 Curtis-Wright = 84-
SBD Douglas = 106,109,119,205,206,219,405,406,412,
419,505,506,515,519+
TBM 3 Grumman = 20,21,22,32,34,35,36,51+


Drones

BQM-34 A Ryan = 124+L+



Notes:
No list can ever be claimed as definitive and 100% accurate or complete - there is and always will be inaccuracies and anomalies.

You will have already noted contradictions e.g. 32 prefix could be a B-24 Liberator or an F-4 Phantom! Chances are that when the manufacturers were allocated part number prefixes, "diggers" were not consulted or borne in mind! Use common sense although there will be some dump sites where you could indeed get parts from both - RAF Burtonwood being a prime example! Makes the hobby more fun!

The list cannot ever be considered complete - there are over 50 different codings for various Spitfire marks alone (if you wish to spend £100 you can the book with every part number for Spitfires listed!). Neither have I put every little piece of information I have here - got to keep some secrets to myself! What I have put is what I personally have compiled and is relatively freely available if you knew where to look. I have simply created a quick access reference that you can cut and paste for your own use. I will do a similar thread for the RAF reference numbers e.g. 5D/xxx etc.

Hope this helps and that no-one sees this as being a spoilsport....there's more than enough stuff to dig up for everyone to enjoy.

I would be grateful if anyone has any other codes to add to the database such as German or Soviet aircraft.

Happy hunting!

[Steve T]

Superb list. This needs sticking in the aircraft archaeology section so we can access it easily

Steve T

[Elliott1940]

Yes, it was originally pinched from the FlyPast firum and posted on spitfire spares without any credit to those who worked hard (including myself) to put it together.

The original link here: Aircraft part number list v4 - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

Please feel free to contribute any ammendments/additions etc.

[skypilot]

Elliott, yes indeed a lot of it is on the Flypast forum however a proportion of it came from my own efforts and I have added to it as new material has become available. I also had a lot of RAF codes on an old, typewriter printed list that dates back to the 80's, which may well have formed part of various researchers lists so I have not simply just lifted it and I am not claiming it is my own work, as stated elsewhere.

I hope that clears up any suggestion that I have simply pinched it and passed it off as my own.

[Elliott1940]

Hi SP - no I wasn't imying you had pinched it, rather that Graham Adlam did.

Sorry for any confusion

[skypilot]

No problem, and none taken () - I can understand how you would feel. More than once I have lent photos to one person and then found copies of them in the property of a third party who do not have the courtesy to acknowledge from whence such material was sourced.

I think there may be a couple on my list(s) that you have not got or added in as yet? e.g. Hurricane, 4x/xxxx series and so forth, so please feel free to add them to the FP list if you wish.

[islander]

Wellington wreck part numbers.

Recently the wreck of a Vickers Wellington was found on the tidal flats south of the Frisian Island Vlieland in the north of the Netherlands.
I salvaged some parts from the wreck site and these have several numbers.

Here some photo's of a detail of the geodetic structure with the numbers.
Would anybody on this forum know if these numbers and letters could, in any way, be of help in identifying this aircraft.

Kind regards,

Dirk Bruin
Vlieland