Waiver issued stating that gliders, liaison aircraft and helicopters, and troop carrier aircraft do not require camouflage any longer, November 1945

Since the war had ended, Procurement Division (WF), in a letter to HQ AAF, dated October 24, 1945, questioned whether camouflage was now required on gliders, liaison aircraft, troop carriers and helicopters, because this required the stocking of camouflage materials. The Production Division (Washington, DC) granted a waiver dated November 14, 1945, stating that those types of aircraft no longer required camouflage, pending revision of Mil. Req, Policy No. 15,

Supplement to T. O. 07-1-1 adds new identification markings for all aircraft operating within the continental United States, November 1945.

The war was now completely over and huge numbers of aircraft were being returned to the US. It would seem that the number of low – flying aircraft incidents was on the rise and as a result, the AAF issued directions in T. О. 07-1-1B, November 6, 1945, for new identifi­cation numbers to be painted on all aircraft (except helicopters and lighter-than-air). These have become popularly known as “Buzz Numbers.” The applicable portions of the supplement read as follows:

NOTE The work directed in paragraphs 17.b. and 17.c. will be accomplished prior to oral (he next 100-hour inspec­tion by all activities within the continental limits of the United States having permanently assigned aircraft.

1. Paragraph 17.b. of T. O. No. 07-1-1, dated 20 July 1945, is hereby revised to read as follows:

Republic XP-84-RE, 45-59475, was the first prototype of the second AAF jet fighter to enter service. It made its first flight on February 28,1946, from Muroc AAB, and was finished in the same manner as the Lockheed P-80A. (USAF)

Northrop XB-35-NO, 42-13603, made its first (light from Hawthorne, California, on June 25,1946. Culmination of Jack North rop’s efforts to produce a large all-wing aircraft, it suffered from major propeller gearbox and propeller problems, which kept it mostly grounded at Muroc AAB. It was natural metal finish all over. (TJSAF)

b. IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS.

(1) On all aircraft, except helicopters and lighter-than-air, operating solely within the continental limits of the United States, an identification marking will be placed on the lower surface of the left wing, and each side of the fuselage if space permits without relocation of the insignia. These identification markings will consist of two letters and three numerals determined as outlined below. Letters and numerals will be of uniform size, with the letters separated from the numerals by a dash.

(2) The wing markings will be centrally placed on single-engine aircraft and will be placed outboard of engine nacelles on other aircraft, with the top of the letters and numerals forward. The letters and numerals will be of the same height as the wing insignia, with the width at least two-thirds of the height, and the width of each stroke at least onc-sixth of the height.

(3) The exact location and size of the fuselage markings will depend upon the fuselage surface available therefor. Normally, they will be of such size as to cover approximately three-fourths of the surface on which they are placed, but the height of the letter and numerals need not exceed 48 inches. The proportion of the width of the letters and numerals and the width of the stroke to the height will be the same as that of the wing markings in so far as practicable.

(4) The identification markings will be yellow on camouflaged surfaces and black on aluminized surfaces and of either gloss or lusterless enamel or lacquer.

(5) The first letter of the identification marking will identify the type of aircraft, the second letter will be an equivalent for the model number, and the numerals will be the last three numerals of the radio call number. The letters to be used for the various types and models, together with an example of the identification marking of a specific aircraft of each type, are set forth below:

LETTER DESIGNATION LETTER EQUIVALENT

FOR TYPE MODEL FOR MODEL

Attack Aircraft

A	24	A	Example: OnA-26B
A	25	A	marking AF No.
A	26	A	43-22465, the
A	31	A	identification
A	41	A	would be AC-465

Bomber Aircraft

В	17	А	Example: On TB-17F
В	19	В	AF No. 42-3410, the
В	24	С	identification marking
в	25	D	would be BA-410
в	26	Е
в	29	F
в	32	G
В	37	Н
в	39	J
в	42	К
в	44	L

Cargo Aircraft C CQ3 A Example: On C-45, C 43 B AF No. 44-47050, c 45 C identification marking C 45 C would be CC-050 C 46 D C 47 E C 48 F C 49 G C 53 H c 54 J c 60 К c 64 L c 69 M c 74 N c 78 P c 82 Q c 87 R c 97 S c 99 T c 117 U

Photographic Aircraft F 2 A Example: On F-5E, F 5 В AF No. 44-25908, the F 6 C identification marking F 7 D would be FB-908 F 9 E F 10 F F 13 G Liaison Aircraft L 2 A Example: On L-5, AF L 3 В No. 42-15060, the L 4 C identification marking L 5 D would be LD-060 L 6 E L 14 F Observation Aircraft 0 9 A Example: On OA-I0A, 0 10 В AF No. 44-34040, the О 47 C identification marking : 0 60 D would be OB-040 О PB-2B E Reconnaissance Aircraft (Excepted) Gliders (Engine Driven) G PG-2 A Example: On PG-3, AF G PG-3 В No. 45-26888, the identification marking would be GB-888 Fighter Aircraft P 38 A Example: On P-38J, AF P 39 В No, 42-67126, the P 40 C identification marking P 42 D would be PA-126 P 47 E P 51 F P 55 G P 58 H P 59 J P 61 К P 63 L P 75 M P 80 N P 81 P P 82 Q P 83 R P 84 S Trainer Aircraft T AT-6 A Example: On AT-11, T AT-7 В AF No. 42-36867, the T AT-1 c identification marking T AT-21 D would be TC-867 T ВТ-13 E

T	PT-13	F
T	PT-17	G
T	PT-19	H
T	PQ-8	J
T	PQ-14	К

2. Paragraph 17.c. of T. 0. 07-1-1, dated 20 July 1945, is hereby revised to read as follows:

c, Radio call numbers are not required on primary trainers which do not have radio equipment and which bear field identifying numbers; however, identification markings required by paragraph 17.b. are applicable to primary trainers.