IJNAF UNIT CODE PREFIXS
BY JAMES F. LANSDALE

CHINA OPERATIONS
JULY 7, 1937 - NOVEMBER 15, 1940

CODE PREFIX UNIT/COMMENT
K- CF/2 Sf KAGA
L- CF/1 Sf HOSHO
R- CF/1 Sf RYUJO
S- CF/2 Cfg 12 fg (until 10/37)
T- CF/2 Cfg 13 fg (until 10/37)
V- KAGA replaced by
AKAGI (1941)
W- SORYU
X- CF/ 1 Cfg Kisarazu fg; replaced later by Takao fg (10/39)
Y- CF/ 1 Cfg Kanoya fg
Z- CHIYODA
1- CF IZUMO (Flag)
2- MIZUHO
3- CF/2 Cfg 12 fg
4- CF/ 2 Cfg 13 fg
5- CF/ 2 Sf KAGA (Until 10/37)
KAMOI
CHIYODA
8- CF/3 Cfg 15 fg (From 6/38; second formation)
9- CF/3 Cfg 14 fg
10- CF/3 Cfg 15 fg (Until 12/38; first formation)
11- (Unknown cruiser)
13- NOTORO
15- KINUGASA MARU

IJNAF Air Unit Codes: December 1941-November 1942

The following unit codes were in affect in December 1941 or came into effect before November 1942. In December the single Roman letter air unit code prefix for the Base Air Forces were changed. Prefixes have been obtained from MIS documents in the National Archives or AFHRC at Maxwell AFB.

Prefix: Unit: Remarks ( unit as redesignated by 1 November 1942)

F- : 4 fg: (702 fg)
G- : Genzan fg: (755 fg)
H- : Mizawa fg: (705 fg)
II- : 22 Sf fighter unit (became Kanoya fg fighter unit 4/42)
K- : Kanoya fg: (751 and 253 fg)
L- : 4 Fleet transport unit
M- : Mihoro fg: (701 fg)
N- : 11 Air Fleet transport unit
O- : Toko fg: (851 fg)
P- : SW Area Fleet transport unit
Q- : 2 fg: (582 fg)
R- : Kisarazu fg: (707 fg)
S- : Chitose fg: (703 fg)
T- : Takao fg: (753 fg)
U- : 6 fg: (204 fg)
V- : Tainan fg: (251 fg)
W- : 14 fg: (802 fg)
X- : 3 fg: (202 fg)
Y- : Yokohama fg: (801 fg)
Z- : 1 fg: (752 fg)

IJNAF AIR UNIT CODE PREFIXES: NOVEMBER 1942 by James F. Lansdale

The following summary of IJNAF unit code prefixes, as applied to the vertical surfaces of naval aircraft, is based on information contained within captured documents analyzed by the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) of the United States. These documents were located at the USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama and at the National Archives, Washington D.C. The captured documents revealed for the first time that the IJNAF had changed its air unit code prefix system from the one introduced since December 1941.

The summary is based on information contained within Japanese Air Organization Memoranda Nos. 11 and 12, prepared by the Headquarters, Allied Air Forces, South West Pacific Area, 10 July 1944 and Japanese Aircraft Tail-Markings, prepared by Headquarters, Allied Air forces, Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence Division, May 1945. Please note that while the Japanese Navy Combined Fleet Headquarters proscribed the use of these codes beginning in December 1942, some were not used by units in the field or, if applied, frequently painted over or changed. As units were disbanded or transferred their codes changed as well. There was a major revision in May 1943 and by August 1943 the Roman letter/Arabic numeral codes were changed again to all numeral code prefixes.

Combined Fleet Secret Order: Reference Air Unit Tail Markings, November 1942

UNIT/S PREFIX
Mobile Force/s

11 Sf L1- (KAMIKAWA MARU)
L2-..(KUNIKAWA MARU)
5 Bg/452 fg M1- (KIMIKAWA MARU)
802 fg N1- (AKITSUSHIMA)
851 fg N2- (NOTORO)
1 KF P1- (SAGARA MARU)
2 KF P2- (SANYO MARU)
3 KF P3- (SANUKI MARU)
1 KF/936 fg P4-
2 KF/932 fg P5-
2 KF/934 fg P6-
3 KF/954 fg P7-
8 F R1- (KIYOKAWA MARU)
Base Air Force/s
26 Sf/705 fg T1-
26 Sf/204 fg T2-
26 Sf/582 fg T3-
25 Sf/251 fg U1-
25 Sf/702 fg U2-
25 Sf/801 fg U3-
24 Sf/703 fg W1- (changed to 201 fg)
24 Sf/752 fg W2-
24 Sf/201 fg W3- (changed to 552 fg)
24 Sf/552 fg W4-
23 Sf/753 fg X1-
23 Sf/202 fg X2-
22 Sf/701 fg Y1- (changed to 755 fg)
22 Sf/755 fg Y2- (changed to 252 fg)
22 Sf/252 fg Y3- (552 fg, 7/43)
22 Sf/802 fg Y4- (7/43)
21 Sf/253 fg Z1-
21 Sf/751 fg Z2-

JFL980124

Rabaul Fighter Units: 1942-1944

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