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United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978
 

United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978

By Brian Rogers
Midland Publications, ©2006
ISBN 1-85780-197-0
Softbound, 272 Pages

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

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.