When I first started for WW2 relics, many many years ago, I always concentrated on RAF and USAAF bases. My first love was always WW2 aircraft so this seemed natural to me. It was only in later years that I branched out to army bases, POW camps and other military sites. Very glad I did, but I’ll always love aircraft more than anything else!

Anyway, digging aircraft parts is all well and good, but how do you tell one piece of aluminium alloy from another? What on earth do all these codes mean on this Bakelite light switch? Why has this bit of metal got numbers stamped all over it? Why is there a circle stamped in this piece with some random letters stamped inside it?

Just a few of the questions that went through my mind when I first started. Understanding these codes and stamps is half the battle when trying to identify aircraft parts. You have Air Ministry reference numbers; aircraft ‘part’ part numbers; prefixes; suffices; half codes; full codes……it can be quite mind boggling.

So, to help identify those parts, I’ve rattled together this page with all my part number and stamped number references on it, along with a few examples of things I’ve dug in the past. I hope you find it useful in identifying that aircraft part you have!

Air Ministry codes to begin with, then aircraft part codes…..

 

AIR MINISTRY PREFIX CODES

The manual containing all the code references does still exist, but when I spoke to RAF Hendon who have a copy, they explained it was 26 volumes long and wasn’t digitised! So, the prefix numbers giving an item ‘group’ will have to suffice!

1          Tools

• 1A        Tools – General (A-F)

• 1B        Tools – General (G-R)

• 1C        Tools – General (S-Z)

• 1D        Drawing Instruments

• 1E        Armourers’ and Magazine Tools

• 1G        Small tools for high chromium non-corrosive steels and high tensile steels

• 1H        Electrician’s and W/T Mechanics’ Tools

• 1J         Watch and Clock Repair Tools

• 1K        Educational and Vocational Training Tools – Non-Standard

• 1L        Socket Spanners, Accessories and Crowsfoot Wrenches

   2          Bearings

• 2A        Portable machinery, machine tools and accessories

• 2B        Lifting and haulage tackle, vulcanizing and welding tools and materials

   3          Machine Tools

• 3A        Hand and power operated tools other than pneumatic

• 3AP      Pneumatic tools and equipment

• 3B        Machine tool accessories

• 3C        Abrasive wheels, discs, bands and segments (for machine use)

   4          Aerodrome Equipment

• 4A       Workshop Equipment

• 4B        Flags and Visual Signalling Equipment

• 4C        Airfield Equipment

• 4D        Storage Equipment

• 4F        Air Compressors and Servicing Trolleys

• 4FF      Servicing trolley spares

• 4FZ     Air Compressor Spares

• 4G       Aircraft Servicing and Ground Handling Equipment

• 4GA      Winches, bomb and spares

• 4GB      Aircraft standard ground armament handling equipment

• 4K       General Ground Equipment (including Refuelling Equipment)

• 4L        Lifting & haulage tackle

• 4N       Sparking Plug Testing and Servicing Equipment

• 4P       Test benches, test fans & ancillary equipment

• 4PP     Test benches, test fans & ancillary equipment – Spares

• 4Q     Aircraft jacks & lifting tackle

 

 

•  5          Electrical Equipment

• 5A      Ground Lighting and Miscellaneous Equipment

• 5B     Aircraft Wiring Assemblies

• 5C        Aircraft Electrical Stores

• 5CW    Aircraft Electrical Switches, Switchboxes, Relays and Accessory Items

• 5CX     Aircraft Electrical Lamps, Indicators, Lampholders and Accessory Items

• 5CY      Aircraft Electrical Plugs, Sockets, Circuit Markers, Suppressors and Accumulator Cut-outs

• 5CZ     Aircraft Electrical Miscellaneous Stores

• 5D       Aircraft Armament Electrical Stores

• 5E       Cable and Wire Electrical Stores

• 5F     Insulating Materials Electrical Stores

• 5G     Special Ground Equipment

• 5H     Standard Wiring System

• 5J     Batteries Primary and Secondary

• 5K     Electrical A.G.S and Bonding Stores

• 5L     Electric Lamps

• 5P     Ground Charging, Transforming Equipment and Motors

• 5Q     Ammeters, Micro-ammeters, Milli-ammeters, Voltmeters and Milli-voltmeters

• 5S     Strip Wiring Components

• 5U        Aircraft generators, motors & ancillary equipment

• 5UA     Aircraft Engine and Air Driven Electrical Current Producing Equipment and Spares

• 5UB      Aircraft Electrically Driven Electrical Current Producing and Transforming Equipment and Spares

• 5UC      Aircraft Electrical Current Control Equipment and Spares

• 5UD      Aircraft Electrical Motors, Blowers and Spares

• 5UE      Aircraft Electrically Driven Pumps, Accessories and Spares

• 5V      Aircraft Electrical Domestic Equipment

• 5W      Aircraft Electrical Actuators, Accessories and Spares

• 5X      Component Parts of Wiring Assemblies

• 6          Navigational & Optical Equipment

• 6A    Aircraft Engine and Flying Instruments, Accessories and Spares

• 6B     Aircraft Navigation Equipment, Accessories and Spares

• 6C     Instrument Test Equipment, Tools, Accessories and Unit Equipment Spares

• 6D     Aircraft Gaseous Apparatus and Ancillary Equipment

• 6E     Miscellaneous Instruments, Accessories and Unit Servicing Spares

• 6F     Aircraft Personnel Equipment

• 6H     Aircraft Automatic Pilots, Marks 4 and 8, Major Components, Servicing Spares and Tools

• 6J     Aircraft Automatic Pilots, Types A3 and A3A and A.L.1, Major Components, Servicing Spares & Tools

• 6T        Aircraft Automatic Pilots

• 6R        Torpedo Attack Trainer

• 6S      Automatic Stabilisers, Major Components, Servicing Spares and Tools

• 6T       Aircraft Auto Pilots, Marks 9, 10, 10A, 13, SEP 2, 14 & 17, Major Components, Servicing Spares & Tools

• 6W      Instrument Ancillaries to Radio Equipment

• 6Z       Radioactivity Detection Equipment and Accessories, Unit and Major Servicing Spares

• 7          Armament

• 7A      Bren machine guns

• 7B        Small arms

• 7D      Ground machine gun mountings

• 7E      Ordnance & ordnance sights

• 7G      Hispano guns

• 7H      Browning machine guns

• 7J       Vickers gas operated machine gun

• 8          Armament – Accessories

• 8A        Machine gun firing gear

• 8B        Machine gun sights

• 8C       Machine gun belt & magazine

• 8D      Special tools for armament equipment, including sights

• 9 Armament – Bomb and Torpedo Sights

• 9A       Aircraft Towed Target Gear

• 9B       Armament Ground Instructional Equipment

• 10 Communications Equipment

• 10A    Miscellaneous Radio (Wireless) Equipment

• 10AB     Miscellaneous Radio (Radar) Equipment

• 10AC     Unassembled Items peculiar to Radio with Generic Headings similar to those in Sections 28 and 29

• 10AD Items and Assemblies performing Circuit Functions (Nomenclature commencing Letters A-K)

• 10AD Items and Assemblies performing Circuit Functions (Nomenclature commencing Letters L-Z)

• 10AF Calculating, Indicating and Measuring Equipment

• 10AG Tools and Tool Boxes peculiar to Radio

• 10AH Telephone Head Equipment, Microphones and Receivers

• 10AJ Mountings and their Component Parts

• 10AK Dials, Handles, Knobs,Plates, Escutcheon, Pointers, Press-buttons and Scales

• 10AL Screens and Insulating Components and their Assemblies

• 10AM Labels (Radio)

• 10AP Boxes, Cases, Covers and Trays, other Cases, Transit

• 10AQ Furniture, Tentage, textile Materials and Ventilator Equipment, peculiar to Radio

• 10AR Machinery, Machine and Mechanical Parts other than those in Section 10AC (Nomenclature commencing Letters A-K)

• 10AR Machinery, Machine and Mechanical Parts other than those in Section 10AC (Nomenclature commencing Letters L-Z)

• 10AT Windows and Visors

• 10AU Strip Metallic

• 10B Radio (Wireless and Radar) Aerial and Mast Equipment and Insulators

• 10BB Radio (Radar) Aerial and Mast Equipment and Insulators

• 10C Radio Chokes, Capacitors and Inductors (see also Joint-Service Catalogue)

• 10CV Joint Service Common Valves

• 10D Radio (Wireless and Radar) Equipment, Modulators, Panels, Receivers, Transmitters etc.

• 10DB Radio (Radar) Equipment, panels, Power Units, Racks, Receivers and Transmitters

• 10E Magnets and Radio Valves (Industrial Types)

• 10F Radio (Wireless and Radar) Starters and Switch Gear

• 10FB Radio (radar) starters and Switch Gear

• 10G Ground Telephone and Telegraph Equipment

• 10GP Ground Telephone and Telegraph Equipment – Post Office Pattern

• 10H Radio Connectors, Discs Indicating, Fuses, Leads, Plugs and Sockets and Ancillary Parts, Holders and Terminals.

• 10HA Radio (Wireless and Radar) Connectors, Cords Instrument and Leads

• 10J Radio Remote Controls

• 10K Radio (Wireless and Radar) Power Units and Transformers

• 10KB Radio (Radar) Power Units and Transformers

• 10L Radio (Wireless and Radar) Control Units

• 10LB Radio (Radar) Control Units

• 10P Radio (Wireless and Radar) Filter and Receiver Units

• 10PB Radio (Radar) Filter and Receiver Units

• 10Q Radio (Wireless and Radar) Indicating Units

• 10QB Radio (Radar) Indicating Units

• 10R Radio (Wireless and Radar) Transmitter Units

• 10RB Radio (Radar) Transmitter Units

• 10S Radio (Wireless and Radar) Test Equipment

• 10SB Radio (Radar) Test Equipment

• 10T Radio Monitors and Wavemeters

• 10U Radio (Wireless and Radar) Amplifying Units, Loudspeakers and Sound Reproduction Equipment

• 10UB Radio (Radar) Amplifying Units and Loudspeakers

• 10V Radio (Wireless and Radar) Oscillator Units

• 10VB Radio (Radar) Oscillator Units

• 10W Radio Resistors and miscellaneous Spares

• 10X Radio Crystal Units

• 10Y Cases Transit (general radio purposes)

• 11         Bombing Equipment

• 11A Aircraft Bomb Gear

• 11C Rocket Projector Gear

• 12         Ordnance

• 12A Bombs (Live)

• 12B Bombs (Dummy)

• 12C Ammunition

• 12E Torpedoes

• 12F Misc. Armament

• 13 Drawing Instruments

• 14         Photographic Equipment

• 14A Cameras

• 14B Photographic Processing Equipment, Enlargers and Accessories

• 14C Projection, Assessing Apparatus and Epidiascopes

• 14D      Slides, lantern, Instructional

• 14 E Duplication negatives for instructional sound films

• 14 F Married lavender prints for instructional sound films

• 14H Photographic Test Apparatus

• 14J       Film strips

• 15         Parachutes and Rescue Equipment

• 15A Man-carrying Parachutes

• 15C Equipment-dropping and Sea-rescue Apparatus

• 15D Air Sea Rescue and Equipment, and Supply-dropping Parachutes

• 16         Mechanical Transport and Marine Craft

• 16A Mechanical transport, vehicles complete

• 16B Mechanical transport, accessories

• 16C      Mechanical transport, tools & workshop garage equipment

• 16D Mechanical transport, ball & roller bearings

• 16E Mechanical transport, electrical equipment

• 16F Marine craft

• 16G Mooring spares

• 16H Marine craft – general stores

• 16K Carburettors, fuel infection pumps, petrol pumps, air cleaners, and autovacs

• 16L Mechanical transport, proprietary brake & braking equipment

• 16M Mechanical transport, proprietary chassis components & spares

• 16P Marine salvage equipment

• 16Q Marine craft electrical spares

• 16R Universal launching trolley spares

• 16T Mechanical transport wheels, rims, tyres, tubes etc

• 17         Balloon Equipment

• 18         Marine Engines

• 19         Musical Equipment

• 20         Tentage

• 21         Barrack Equipment

• 21A China, earthenware & glass

• 21B Woodware

• 21C Metalware

• 21D Gymnastic equipment

• 21E Textiles

• 21F Ground fire-fighting appliances

• 21G Hospital equipment excluding medical & surgical supplies

• 21H Hairdressing equipment

• 21K Dog team equipment

• 22         Clothing and Accoutrements

• 22A Material

• 22B Necessaries, including underwear

• 22C Flying clothing

• 22D Boots & shoes

• 22E Tropical service dress

• 22F Blue-grey service dress

• 22G Miscellaneous clothing and accoutrements

• 22H Badges

• 22J Full dress uniform RAF Central Band

• 22K Civilian uniforms

• 22L Women’s Royal Air Force

• 22N Heavy duty dress

• 22P Survival equipment

• 23         Anti-Gas Items

• 23A Anti-gas equipment

• 23B Clothing, anti-gas

• 25         Aircraft Propellers, Radiators and associated items

• 25A Propellers

• 25B Aircraft Radiators

• 25D Spinners for Fixed Pitch Propellers and Fairey Spares for Metal Propellers

   

• 26 Airframe Spare Parts

• 26AE Chipmunk T MK 10

• 26AF Hurricane including Tempest spares

• 26AJ Spitfire & Seafire

• 26AL Sunderland 5

• 26AN Oxford 1 & 2

• 26AQ Sea Hawk

• 26AT Wellington B10 T10 & 18

• 26BA Halifax

• 26BJ Martinet 1

• 26BM Attacker F & B

• 26BN Proctor 3 & 4

• 26BP Beaufighter TT10

• 26BT Barracuda 3

• 26BU Gannet AS1 & T2

• 26BV Sycamore HR

• 26BW Dominie 1

• 26BX Typhoon including Tempest spares

• 26BY Mosquito & Sea Mosquito

• 26BZ Firefly

• 26DA Javelin F (AW)

• 26DB Whirlwind & Westland Sikorsky S55

• 26DC Vulcan B

• 26DD Anson

• 26DE Victor B1

• 26DF Beverley C

• 26DG Seamew

• 26DH Scimitar F1

• 26DJ Belvedere HC

• 26DK Lightening

• 26DL Comet 2

• 26DM Britannia

• 26DN Gnat Trainer

• 26DP Alouette (British spares)

• 26DQ Basset CC1

• 26DR Beaver AL

• 26DV Venom FB NF & Sea Venom FAW

• 26EA Lancaster , Lincoln 2 & York C1

• 26ED Horsa 2

• 26EH Meteor F8 & T7

• 26EM Sea Otter

• 26EN Auster

• 26ER Tempest 2, TT5 & 6

• 26ET Meteor NF & TT20

• 26EV Vickers 1000 Transport Aircraft

• 26EW Hornet & Sea Hornet

• 26FA Brigand

• 26FC Vampire & Sea Vampire

• 26FH Sea Fury

• 26FK Hastings

• 26FL Valetta & Viking

• 26FM Prentice T1

• 26FN Devon C

• 26FP Shackleton

• 26FR Winged Targets

• 26FU Balliol & Sea Balliol

• 26FV Dragonfly HC & HR

• 26FW Heron

• 26FX    Hunter & De Havilland N139D(Type 110)

• 26FY Sea Vixen

• 26FZ Canberra

• 26GA Bristol standard parts for Beaufighter, Brigand & Buckmaster

• 26KK Osprey

• 26LK Hercules CMK1

• 26LX Lynx

• 26MM SA330E Anglo-French Helicopter

• 26NA Buccaneer

• 26NB Belfast

• 26PH Phantom GRF

• 26PJ Jet Provost T

• 26PN Percival Provost T1

• 26PP Pembroke HC, C1 & Sea Prince

• 26RA Jaguar

• 26SA Pioneer CC1

• 26SH Sea King

• 26SK Skeeter

• 26SR Valiant B

• 26SS Swift

• 26SW Scout [& Wasp]

• 26TA    Andover

• 26TD Dominie T

• 26TP Twin Pioneer

• 26TT Tiger Moth 2

• 26TV Varsity T1

• 26UU Wellington 1

• 26V Hart DB & India & T

• 26VA Harrier GR

• 26VC VC10C

• 26WA Argosy

• 26WX Wessex

• 27 General Aircraft Equipment

• 27A Aircraft Wheel Equipment

• 27B Aircraft Air and Oil Filters, Fuel and Oil Coolers

• 27C Survival Equipment

• 27D Miscellaneous Aircraft Cover Equipment

• 27F Aircraft Pumps and fuelling Equipment (Airborne)

• 27G Aircraft Brake System Equipment

• 27H Miscellaneous Aircraft Equipment

• 27J Aircraft Control Handles with Gun, Camera, R.P. and Brake Operating Mechanisms

• 27K Teleflex Aircraft Remote Control Equipment

• 27KA Exactor Aircraft Remote Control Equipment

• 27KB Aircraft Controls – Roller Chains

• 27KD Pressurised Cabin Equipment – Normalair

• 27M Aircraft Hydraulic and Undercarriage Equipment – Lockheed

• 27N Airborne Fire Fighting Equipment

• 27P      Emergency and Special Rations

• 27Q      Aircraft Hydraulic and Undercarriage Equipment – Dowty

• 27R B.L.G. Oleo Leg Equipment

• 27S      Standard Ball and Roller Bearings other than M.T.

• 27T Controllable Gills

• 27U Airborne Heaters

• 27UA Aircraft Cabin Cooling Equipment

• 27V Aircraft Controls – Teddington

• 27VA Aircraft Controls – Dunlop

• 27VC Aircraft Controls – Palmers

• 27W Aircraft Hydraulic and Undercarriage Equipment – Standard Design

• 27WW  Aircraft Windscreen Wiper Equipment

• 27Y       Aircraft Hydraulic and Undercarriage Equipment – Electro-Hydraulic Co. Ltd.

• 27Z Turner Duplex Hand Pumps for Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

• 27ZA Exactor Self Sealing Couplings

• 28         General Hardware

• 28A      Streamline Wires and Tie Rods

• 28D Bolts A.G.S.

• 28E Clips A.G.S.

• 28F Couplings A.G.S.

• 28FP Aircraft Fastener and Quick Release Pins

• 28G Eyebolts A.G.S.

• 28H Ferrules A.G.S.

• 28J Filler Caps and Fuel Filters A.G.S.

• 28K Fork Joints A.G.S.

• 28L Locknuts, Lockwashers A.G.S.

• 28M Nuts A.G.S.

• 28N A.G.S. Miscellaneous A to O

• 28P Pins A.G.S.

• 28Q Rivets A.G.S.

• 28R A.G.S. Miscellaneous P to R

• 28S Screws A.G.S. Miscellaneous A to O

• 28T Studs A.G.S.

• 28U Trunnions and Turnbuckles A.G.S.

• 28V Unions A.G.S.

• 28W Washers A.G.S.

• 28X Wire A.G.S.

• 28Y A.G.S. Miscellaneous S to Z

• 29         Nuts, Bolts and Rivets

• 29A Bolts and Nuts, General Hardware

• 29B Screws, General Hardware

• 29C Eyelets, Roves, Screw Cups, Washers, General Hardware

• 29E Pins, Woodruff Keys, General Hardware

• 29F Rivets, General Hardware

• 29G Buttons upholstery, fasteners, hasps, hinges, locks, studs, turn-buttons

• 29H      Bowden accessories, clips hose & bulldog, seals, shackles, steel wire rope

• 30         Metals

• 30A      Metals – Ferrous

• 30B      Metals – Non-Ferrous

• 31         Timber

• 31A      Timber – Aircraft

• 31B      Timber – General

• 32

• 32A Cordage

• 32B Adhesive tapes, textiles, packaging materials & misc. soft goods

• 32C Rubber materials

• 32D Repair materials for self sealing tanks

• 33         General Paints and Chemicals

• 33A General paints & painter’s materials

• 33B Aircraft primers, finishes, paints & associated materials

• 33C General chemicals & miscellaneous materials

• 33D Laundry supplies, barrack & hospital cleaning materials

• 33E Lighting & heating materials except coal & coke

• 33F Disinfectants

• 33G Materials for plating plant

• 34         Fuels, Lubricants and Oils

• 34A Aviation fuels & aircraft engine lubricating oils

• 34B Lubricants & associated materials for airborne equipment.

• 34C Liquid fuels for ground & marine use

• 34D Lubricants & associated materials for ground & marine use

• 35         Aircraft Engines – Complete

• 36 Aircraft Engine Spares

• 36AB Bombardier 20801

• 36AC Olympus

• 36AD Viper

• 36AE Conway

• 36AF Rover airborne aux power plant

• 36AH Proteus

• 36AK Orpheus

• 36AL Alvis Leonides

• 36BB Artouste Patouste & Turmo

• 36BC Nimbus

• 36DD Rolls Royce Merlin and tools

• 36DE Gnome

• 36DG Gyron Junior

• 36DT Dart

• 36FF Gypsy Major & Gypsy Queen & De Havilland tools

• 36HH Rolls Royce Griffon and tools

• 36HS Hawker Siddeley fuel control equipment

• 36JJ Derwent turbine engines

• 36KK Goblin 2 & 3

• 36LL Lucas fuel equipment

• 36M Sabre and Napier repair tools

• 36MM Dowty fuel system equipment

• 36NG Gazelle

• 36PG Pegasus

• 36PP Python 2 & 3 engine

• 36Q Rolls Royce Nene jet

• 36R Bristol Mercury, Centaurus & Hercules tools

• 36SN Rolls Royce Spey Mk201/202

• 36SS Sapphire

• 36ST Rolls Royce Spey Mk250

• 36SY Rolls Royce Spey

• 36TN Rolls Royce Tyne

• 36TT Ghost

• 36TU Rolls Royce Turmo III

• 36U Cheetah & Armstrong Siddeley tools

• 36VV Rolls Royce Avon jet

• 36W Centaurus & Bristol tools

• 36WW  Double Mamba

• 37         Aircraft Engine – Magnetos and Spares

• 38         Airframes – Complete

• 39         Hangars          

• 40         Packing Cases and Containers

• 40H Gun Turret Cases and Airtight Containers

• 41 Marine Craft Spares

• 42 Generating Sets and Searchlights

• 44 Balloons

• 45 Balloon Inflation Equipment

• 49 Blowers

• 50 Aircraft Gun Equipment

• 50A Aircraft Gun Turrets

• 50CC Boulton Paul Gun Turret and Gun Mounting Tools

• 50DD Bristol Gun Turret Tools

• 50EE Frazer Nash Gun Turret Tools

• 50H Aircraft Gun Turret Maintenance Equipment

• 50J Free Gun Mountings

• 51         Kites

• 52 Recognition Models

• 53         Equipment and Bodies – MT

• 53A Trailer, water carrying, 300 gallons, ECD purification plant

• 53AE AEC

• 53B Zwicky pumps & pumping equipment

• 53BE Bedford

• 53BL Lacre Runway Sweeper

• 53CC Water, 10 gallons, ECD purification plant

• 53D Ambulance bodies, heavy

• 53DC Decompression Chambers

• 53DH Tipping bodies

• 53DM Edbro Tippers

• 53DJ Gas producer units

• 53DT De-Icing Truck

• 53EM Platform, bomb carrying trailer

• 53F Workshop bodies

• 53FA Trailer Fire Pump

• 53FC Water, 200 gal, Thompson Bros (on Bedford MWC)

• 53FD Ford

• 53FE MT Coachwork Spares

• 53FG Sweeping equipment

• 53FJ Water filtering equipment

• 53FM Domestic fire tender equipment

• 53HH Mobile servicing trailer equipment

• 53H Water Tankers

• 53JJ Silicol plant trailer, Type A2

• 53K Butterfield pumping eqpt 950-1000 galls (on Bedford QL)

• 53KK Silicol plant trailer, Type B2

• 53L Butterfield pumping eqpt 900 galls (on 4-wheel trailer)

• 53LE Leyland

• 53MF Massey-Ferguson Tractors

• 53P      De-icing equipment bodies

• 53PA Phoenix Refueller

• 53RR Thompson Refuellers

• 53RT Rootes (Commer, Hillman, Humber, Karrier)

• 53RV Rover

• 53SP Siriens Platform

• 53Q Coles crane, vehicle mounted

• 53T Stores bodies

• 53U Air bottle bodies

• 53UU Water tanker, 350 gal (Bedford OY)

• 53V Compressor plant bodies

• 53Y Fire tender bodies

• 53Z Photographic Bodies

• 53ZT Photographic Trailers

• 53ZZ Photographic Train Mk 1 & 2

• 54         Plotting Equipment

• 54A Plotting Equipment

• 56 Power Plant Spares

• 56R Power plant spares – Bristol, Type E

• 56DD Power plant spares – Rolls Royce, Type E

•  

  61 Mechanical Transport Spares

• 61AC ACE Machinery Co

• 61AE AEC

• 61AL Albion

• 61AR Ariel

• 61AS    Alvis

• 61AT Atkinson

• 61AU Austin

• 61AW All Wheel Drive

• 61B Accessories & fittings

• 61BB Forklift Truck, Boss

• 61BE Bedford

• 61BG Bristol/Gardner

• 61BH British Hoists

• 61BL Lacre Runway Sweeper

• 61BR Brockhouse

• 61BT British Trailer

• 61BU Rolls Royce ‘B’ Series Engines

• 61BY Bicycles

• 61BZ Zwicky

• 61C Tools & General MT Spares

• 61CA Carrimore Trailers

• 61CC Car cruiser, caravan

• 61CD Cranes and Caravan Trailers

• 61CJ Taylor ‘Jumbo’ Crane

• 61CR Crossley

• 61CS Coles Crane

• 61CX Forklift Truck, Coventry Climax

• 61CY Chrysler

• 61DB David Brown

• 61DE Dennis

• 61DM Edbro

• 61DM Daimler

• 61DS Douglas

• 61DX Dixon Bate

• 61DY R Type Trailer Mk 2, 4-Wheeled

• 61BZ Zwicky

• 61EA Eagle

• 61EC Forklift Truck, Conveyancer

• 61EY Eaton, Yale & Towne Forklift Truck

• 61FD Ford

• 61FR Ransome & Rapier Forklift Truck

• 61FT Stacatruc Forklift Truck

• 61GA Gardner Engine

• 61HA Hands Abbey, Hands Templewood & Wright

• 61HF Harvey Frost

• 61JA James Motor Cycles

• 61KL Jones KL Cranes

• 61LA Lacre-Lorries Ltd

• 61LE Leyland

• 61LM Lancer Forklift Truck

• 61LS Lister Engine

• 61MD Meadows

• 61MF Massey-Ferguson

• 61MN Morrison Electricar

• 61MS Morris

• 61NN Norton

• 61NU Nunn trailer

• 61PF    Lansing Bagnall Forklift Truck

• 61PK Perkins Engines

• 61RE Reliance Forklift Truck

• 61RP British Rotary Snow Plough

• 61RT Rootes

• 61RV Rover

• 61SC Scammel

• 61SL Sentinel Tractor

• 61SM Scottish Motors

• 61SP Siriens Platform

• 61SS S.S. Cars

• 61ST Standard

• 61SW Sicard Trailer Runway Sweeper

• 61SY Shelvoke & Drewry Forklift Truck

• 61TA Tasker

• 61TH Thornycroft

• 61TR Triumph Motor Cycle

• 61VW Volkswagen

• 61WA Weldall & Assembly Ltd (Snow Plough Fitting)

• 61WC Winget, 4-wheeled trailer

• 61WR Tractor, Armament, Special

• 61WS Wolsley

• 61WT Wilmott

• 61ZA Interservice

• 62

• 63 D.A.I.S. Test Apparatus

• 64 Aircraft Engine Servicing Tools

• 65         Injectors and Spares – Aircraft Engines

• 66 

• 67 Tools – Injector Pumps

• 67A Injector pump hand tools, Claudel Hobson RAE type

• 67B Injector pump hand tools, SU type

• 67C Injector pump hand tools, Rolls Royce type

• 67D Tools – fuel metering pumps for injectors 

• 68 Airborne Auxiliary Power Plants

• 71         Gas Cylinders and Compressors

• 71B Plant (Mobile, Transportable and Static) and Plant Accessories

 

 

Manufacturer Codes/inspectors stamps – RAF aircraft

AS = Airspeed
AW = Armstrong Whitworth
BP = Boulton Paul (possibly EP)
C = Canadair (inspector’s id number is arranged vertically within the C) (Sabre Mk.4 & Mk.6)
CAA = Commonwealth Aircraft
CCF = Canadian Car & Foundary (Hurricane Mk.IIB and Mk.IIC)
CH = Claudel Hobson
DH = de Havilland
DHB = de Havilland, Broughton
DHC = de Havilland, Christchurch
DHL = de Havilland, Lostock (usually propellers)
EEP = English Electric Preston
FB = Bristol
F8 = Fairey Engineering
FL = Folland
FM = Fairey
GAL = General Aircraft Limited
G5 = Gloster
GHCH = George Hardman Ltd. of Haywood Lancs
HA = Hawker – also 41H?
HP = Handley Page
HPL = High Speed Plastics Ltd. of Bangor, N.Wales
LAP = London Aircraft Production Group (Halifax)
LBSB = Austin Motors Longbridge
LTAF = London Aircraft Production Group (Halifax)
MCO = Morris Cowley Oxford
N = Noorduyn (UC-64 and Harvard)
PAC = Percival Aircraft Corporation
PP = Miles
PPA = Miles (Phillips & Powis)
R = Republic
R2 = Rootes Secturities (Blenheim, Beaufighter and Halifax)
R3 = Avro
RR = Rolls Royce
RY = Avro (Yeadon)
SB = Short Brothers
SFR = Rootes Speke
SR = Saunders Roe
SHB = Short & Harland Belfast
SHR = Short & Harland Rochester
TAM = Tampier (Bloctube Controls Ltd. of Aylesbury)
TAY = Taylorcraft
VA = Victory Aircraft
VACB = Vickers Armstrong Castle Bromwich
VACH = Vickers Armstrong Chester
VABL = Vickers Armstrong Blackpool
WA = Westland

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

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
55, 56 = AT-6
77, 78 = AT-6A
84 = AT-6B
88 = AT-6C
121 = AT-6D
168 = AT-6G
804 = AT-11
54576 = AT-17
701 = Avro Athena T2
540 = Avro 504K
582 = Avro 504N

187 = Baltimore (Martin)
PD = Battle
PC = Battle
PA = Battle
156 = Beaufighter Mk1F
152 = Beaufort
126 = Beaufort DAP
192 = Belvedere (Westland)
B101 = Beverley (Blackburn) C1
555 = Bison
142M = Blenheim Mk IF
149 = Blenheim Mk Ib
160 = Blenheim Mk V
130A = Bombay
12, 13, 14 or 19 = Boomerang (CAC)
B26 = Botha
164 = Brigand
F2A = Bristol Fighter
19 = BT-9
19A = BT-9A
23 = BT-9B
29 = BT-9C
63, 74, 79 = BT-13
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
C1 = Chipmunk T10
60 = Cirrus Moth Mk I & II
6 = Comet Mk I – IV
20 = Commando

C47 = Dakota Mk I
C53 = Dakota Mk II
C47A = Dakota Mk III
C47B = Dakota Mk IV
P82 = Defiant
104 = Devon
89A = Dominie Mk I
‘(B = Dominie Mk II
4 = Dove

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
(letter prefix) 49 = Hamilcar
HP52 = Hampden Mk I
HP54 = Harrow
16 = Harvard I
66 = Harvard II
88 = Harvard IIa
AT16 = Harvard IIb
HP67 = Hastings
HP94 = Hastings C4
DB7 = Havoc I
DB7A = Havoc Mk II
75 = Hawk (Curtis)
P1182 = Hawk (BAe)
C130K = Hercules (Lockheed)
14 = Heron
HP50 = Heyford
3 = Hornet
87 = Hornet Moth
AS51 = Horsa (Also marked AS58)
16 = Hudson
L-214 = Hudson Mk I
L-414 = Hudson Mk II-VI
P1067 = Hunter Mk I
P1099 = Hunter Mk6
P1101 = Hunter T7

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

87 = Kittyhawk (P-40)

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
252 = Martinet
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)

73 = Mustang I (Also NA83)
91 = Mustang Ia
97 = A-36 Apache (with dive brakes)
99 = P-51A / Mustang II
102 = Mustang III
103 = P-51C (early version) / Mustang III
104 = P-51B (later version) / Mustang III
106 = Mustang
109 = Mustang IV
111 = P-51C (later version) / Mustang III
111 = P-51K-NT (early Dallas-built = Mustang IVA
122 = P-51D-NA (later version) / Mustang IV
124 = 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

82B = Queen Bee (Pilotless?)

C1-13 = Sabre (F-86)
10 = Sea Vixen
VS2 = Sea Wolf
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
21 = Trident
621 = Tutor (Avro)
89 & 93 = Thunderbolt

637 = Valetta
706 & 710 = Valiant
A00 = Vampire Mk F1; F3; F5; F9
13 = Vampire NF10
15 = Vampire T11
668 = Varsity
12 = Venom
V146 = Ventura
237 = Ventura Mk V
HP80 = Victor
498 = Viking C2
FB27 = Vimy Mk IV
698 = Vulcan

03 = Wackett (CAC) (02, 06)
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
AW = Whitley
SP = Whitley
01 or 02 = Wirraway (CAC)
244 = Wildebeeste I
258 = Wildebeeste II
267 = Wildebeeste III
286 = Wildebeeste IV

685 = York C1

 

US Aircraft part number prefix codes

 

 

TYPE	MODEL	MANUFACTURER		PREFIX
USAF 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-
USAF Fighters & Recon.
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-
USAF 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+
USAF 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+
USAF 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+
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+
FJ	1	North American	134,141-
FJ	2	North American	179,181-
FJ	3	North American	194,215-
FJ	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+

 

Now let’s look at a few of the many aircraft parts I’ve recovered over the years…..

This case I take with me to military shows and schools when displaying relics. Reduces set up time!

 

 

 

Individual images of Air Ministry coded items…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now on to examples of aircraft part stamps.