United
States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978
By Brian Rogers
Midland Publications, ©2006
ISBN 1-85780-197-0
Softbound, 272 Pages
Keeping track of unit designations in the USAF can be
challenging at times. I experienced this when I researched F-86Ds in the
Air Force and ADC. It seemed that every weekend some part of some unit
was getting redesignated. Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, but
the Air Force, in trying to balance between operational requirements and
heritage, has gone through its fair share of unit changes and redesignations.
This book aims at deciphering some of those changes, at least those since
1978. The author has clearly done his research, and the result is a logical
presentation of every USAF unit designation since 1978.
The book begins at the top, with a description of Air Force Wings. The
information presented for these include date of changes, location and
changes, major command assignment, and unit designator, or tail code.
Following this comes a section on the individual squadrons. This includes
the original designation, the current designation, squadron nickname,
organizational changes, aircraft types operated, tail code, and primary
color of the squadron fin stripe. This is also continued for Air National
Guard units, and there is also a reference on tail markings, allowing
you to cross-reference based on tail codes.
While much of this book is tabular data, there are many photos spread
throughout the book, including some in color. These serve mainly to illustrate
some of the main themes presented in the data, rather than any spectacular
or unique aircraft, but they do manage to break up the monotony of the
database. While I would not recommend this book as one for some light
evening reading (unless you suffer from insomnia, in which case this will
put you out real quick), this is a reference well worth having as it clearly
identifies squadron, aircraft, and markings. One look at a photo and you
could find out all sorts of specifics on that plane and unit.
My thanks to Specialty Press
for the review copy.
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