To explain how unit codes marked on L-4 and L-5 airplanes were issued I would like to quote K. Wakefield:
Blocks of two digit identity code numbers were issued to each Army Head Quarters in North - West Europe by the Artillery Air Officer, 12th ( formerly 1st) Army Group. Within each Army the respective Army Artillery Air Officer issued codes from his allocated block of the corps, divisions and Field Artillery Groups under his jurisdiction. Unit codes were applied in white ahead of the fuselage ‘Star and Bar’, followed by an individual airplane identification letter, also in white, to the rear of the insignia. The letters I and O were normally not used ( to prevent confusion with 1 and 0) but there are numerous exceptions. The first airplane received the letter A and so on. In case they ran out of letters, a double letter was assigned, eg. AA. and so on. Since there was not enough room available, a double letter was applied in form of an underlined letter on the fuselage. On our L-4 for example, the 69-OO is displayed as 69-O_.
A different system, using two letters only, was used for unit identification in Southern and Central Europe by 5th and 7th Armies. This system did not provide for individual airplane identification. That meant the standard two airplanes (2 for each Battalion)or more or other units were carrying the same unit code.
There are no records illustrating each different unit code and the list is not complete.
The listed Unit codes are the result of research performed by K. Wakefield, Arno L., J. O’Leary and Bart "Cubman". If you are aware of errors or you have an update please let us know and we will update this list. Last Update 26.03.2020. Changes are highlighted in red.
Note by Paul Smith and Bart Cubman:
Unit codes were not always changed on individual aircraft that were transferred from one Corps to another or from one Army to another unless the unit that particular code identifies had its code changed. He also mentions that codes for non-divisional units (eg. “ bastard FA Bn’s”) appear to have been assigned by the respective Corps. Paul reached this conclusion based on tracking individual aircraft as they moved around as described in the NUSA journals.
As an example we use our L-4J 44-80344. It served in the 547th FA Bn and was issued a unit code under the 19th Corps, 34th FA brigade, 404th FA Gp. On March 17, it joined the 40th FA Group to
support the 2nd Britisch Army and transferred afterwards back to the 404th FA Group keeping the unit code. In other words, there is no 100% guarantee that the unit codes are always adhering to
the list.
In contrast, there are several records showing L-4’s being flown in to MR&RS Units to have their Unit Codes changed. E.g. Col. Leich illustrates in his personal records that two L-4’s of the 258th FA Gp and 258th FA Bn visited the 50th MR&RS strip at München-Gladbach on March 23, 1945 to have their unit codes changed. Most likely these were changed from 59* to 32*
Update 26.03.2020 J.O’Leary provided the following information and supplied pictures to correct the Unit Codes 25 & 35.
Unit Code 25. V Corps. He refers to the V Corps unit history book, p.161 that shows three photos from the family of a V Corps, 987th F.A Bn. pilot named Lt. George Abright from Hannibal, Mo. He transferred to J. O’Leary’s dad 9th Armored air-section in March 1945. George’s L-4 is coded 25 * L and is at Cerisy la Foret, Normandy, July ‘44. He maintained this same L-4 from June ‘44 thru March 1945.
Unit Code 35. 2nd Div. He refers to a photo of 15th F.A. pilot Lt.Ted Timreck. Ted gave hime about 30 pictures he brought back from the ETO. One of Ted’s photos was taken in a field at Brest in August of ‘44. His L-4 is at center and is coded 35 * H.
Update 28.2.2020 Unit Code 77. 929th FA Bn. A confirmation given by Matthew B., the senior curator for the Museum of Flight in Seattle which has a large collection of documents and items off 1st Lieutenant Charles Shoop who flew L-4s with the 929th FA Bn. of the 104th Infantry Division. In several wartime photos (probably taken in Belgium or Germany), the code 77 appears on an L-4. Mr M. B. can only assume that is part of the code used by the 929th FAB.
Unit Code 40. Bart “Cubman” came across a picture in “Light Planes at War” by K. Wakefield showing a Bücker Bü 181 in US markings. On the same picture is an L-4 with the Unit Code 40 * C and is flown by the 395th FA Bn, 16th Armd Div.
Important Note. There is a complete different opinion between the unit codes 25 & 35. According the research of Ken Wakefield, 25 is 2nd Div. Arty and 35 is V Corps. Evidence by means of pictures supplied by J. O’Leary shows it vice versa in contradiction to K. Wakefield’s research. I changed the unit codes according the evidence but do ask for more information on these codes in form of pictures and history books. Thank you.
12TH ARMY GROUP: 1ST, 3RD, 9TH AND 15TH US ARMIES | 30.03.20 | |||||||||
21 | 8 | Armored Division Artillery | 398 | Armd FA Bn | 399 | Armd FA Bn | 405 | Armd FA Bn | ||
22 | 1? | US Army Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
23 | 1? | US Army Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
24 | 3 | US Army Artillery (HQ) | 357 | FA Bn | ||||||
25 | 5 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | 987 | FA Bn | ||||||
26 | 7 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | 188 | FA Group | ||||||
28 | 12 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | 774 | FA Bn | ||||||
29 | 15 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | 250 | FA Bn | ||||||
32 | 119 | Field Artillery Group | 228 | FA Group | ||||||
33 | 9 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 26 | FA Bn | 34 | FA Bn | 60 | FA Bn | 84 | FA Bn |
33-V | 256 | FA Bn | ||||||||
34 | 1 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 5 | FA Bn | 7 | FA Bn | 32 | FA Bn | 33 | FA Bn |
35 | 2 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 12 | FA Bn | 15 | FA Bn | 37 | FA Bn | 38 | FA Bn |
36 | 4 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 20 | FA Bn | 29 | FA Bn | 42 | FA Bn | 44 | FA Bn |
37 | 76 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 302 | FA Bn | 355 | FA Bn | 364 | FA Bn | 901 | FA Bn |
38 | 8 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 28 | FA Bn | 43 | FA Bn | 45 | FA Bn | 56 | FA Bn |
39 | ? | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
40 | 16 | Armored Division Artillery | 395 | FA Bn | ||||||
41 | 63 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 718 | FA Bn | 861 | FA Bn | 862 | FA Bn | 863 | FA Bn |
43 | 29 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 110 | FA Bn | 111 | FA Bn | 224 | FA Bn | 227 | FA Bn |
44 | 30 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 113 | FA Bn | 118 | FA Bn | 197 | FA Bn | 230 | FA Bn |
45 | 35 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 127 | FA Bn | 161 | FA Bn | 216 | FA Bn | 219 | FA Bn |
46 | 79 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 183 | FA Bn | ||||||
47 | 83 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 322 | FA Bn | 323 | FA Bn | 324 | FA Bn | 908 | FA Bn |
48 | 90 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 343 | FA Bn | 344 | FA Bn | 345 | FA Bn | 915 | FA Bn |
49 | 2 | Armored Division Artillery | 14 | Armd FA Bn | 78 | Armd FA Bn | 92 | Armd FA Bn | 696 | FA Bn |
51 | 69 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 724 | FA Bn | 879 | FA Bn | 880 | FA Bn | 881 | FA Bn |
52 | 3 | Armored Division Artillery | 54 | Armd FA Bn | 67 | Armd FA Bn | 391 | Armd FA Bn | ||
53 | 4 | Armored Division Artillery | 22 | Armd FA Bn | 66 | Armd FA Bn | 94 | Armd FA Bn | ||
54 | 5 | Armored Division Artillery | 47 | Armd FA Bn | 71 | Armd FA Bn | 95 | Armd FA Bn | ||
55 | 6 | Armored Division Artillery | 128 | Armd FA Bn | 212 | Armd FA Bn | 231 | Armd FA Bn | ||
56 | 7 | Armored Division Artillery | 434 | Armd FA Bn | 440 | Armd FA Bn | 489 | Armd FA Bn | ||
57 | 82 | Airborne Division | 319 | Glider FA Bn | 320 | Glider FA Bn | 376 | Para FA Bn | 456 | Para FA Bn |
59 | 258 | Field Artillery Group | 196 | FA Bn | ||||||
61 | 70 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 725 | FA Bn | 882 | FA Bn | 883 | FA Bn | 884 | FA Bn |
62 | 8 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
63 | 9 | US Army Artillery (HQ) | 349 | FA Group | 659 | FA Bn | ||||
65 | 94 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 301 | FA Bn | 356? | FA Bn | 390 | FA Bn | 919 | FA Bn |
66 | 95 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 378 | Inf Reg | ||||||
67 | 9 | Armored Division Artillery | 3 | Armd FA Bn | 16 | Armd FA Bn | 76? | Armd FA Bn | 73 | FA Bn |
68 | 13 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
69 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | 547 | FA Bn | |||||||
70 | 42 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 232 | FA Bn | 292 | FA Bn | 402 | FA Bn | 542 | FA Bn |
72 | 2 | French Armored Division | ||||||||
73 | 17 | Airborne Division | ||||||||
74 | 26 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 101 | FA Bn | 102 | FA Bn | 180 | FA Bn | 263 | FA Bn |
75 | 4 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | ||||||||
76 | 102 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 379 | FA Bn | 380 | FA Bn | 381 | FA Bn | 927 | FA Bn |
77 | 104 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 385 | FA Bn | 386 | FA Bn | 387 | FA Bn | 929 | FA Bn |
78 | 10 | Armored Division Artillery | 419 | Armd FA Bn | 420 | Armd FA Bn | 423 | Armd FA Bn | ||
82 | 16 | US Corps Artillery (HQ) | ||||||||
86 | 78 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 307 | FA Bn | 308 | FA Bn | 309 | FA Bn | 903 | FA Bn |
87 | 84 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 325 | FA Bn | 326 | FA Bn | 327 | FA Bn | 909 | FA Bn |
88 | 87 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 334 | FA Bn | 335 | FA Bn | 336 | FA Bn | 912 | FA Bn |
89 | 99 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 370 | FA Bn | 371 | FA Bn | 372 | FA Bn | 924 | FA Bn |
93 | 103 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 382 | FA Bn | 383 | FA Bn | 384 | FA Bn | 928 | FA Bn |
94 | 106 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 589 | FA Bn | 590 | FA Bn | 591 | FA Bn | 592 | FA Bn |
96 | 12 | Armored Division Artillery | 493 | Armd FA Bn | 494 | Armd FA Bn | 495 | Armd FA Bn | ||
97 | 14 | Armored Division Artillery | 499 | Armd FA Bn | 500 | Armd FA Bn | 501 | Armd FA Bn | ||
98 | 219 | FA Group | ||||||||
13 | Airborne Division | |||||||||
101 | Airborne Division | |||||||||
11 | Armored Division Artillery | 490 | Armd FA Bn | 491 | Armd FA Bn | 492 | Armd FA Bn | |||
13 | Armored Division Artillery | 496 | Armd FA Bn | 497 | Armd FA Bn | 498 | Armd FA Bn | |||
16 | Armored Division Artillery | 393 | Armd FA Bn | 396 | Armd FA Bn | 397 | Armd FA Bn | |||
20 | Armored Division Artillery | 412 | Armd FA Bn | 413 | Armd FA Bn | 414 | Armd FA Bn | |||
BC | 3 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 9 | FA Bn | 10 | FA Bn | 39 | FA Bn | 41 | FA Bn |
5 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 19 | FA Bn | 21 | FA Bn | 46 | FA Bn | 50 | FA Bn | |
28 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 107 | FA Bn | 108 | FA Bn | 109 | FA Bn | 229 | FA Bn | |
36 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 131 | FA Bn | 132 | FA Bn | 133 | FA Bn | 155 | FA Bn | |
? | 44 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 156 | FA Bn | 157 | FA Bn | 217 | FA Bn | 220 | FA Bn |
45 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 158 | FA Bn | 160 | FA Bn | 171 | FA Bn | 189 | FA Bn | |
65 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 720 | FA Bn | 867 | FA Bn | 868 | FA Bn | 869 | FA Bn | |
66 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 721 | FA Bn | 870 | FA Bn | 871 | FA Bn | 872 | FA Bn | |
71 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 564 | FA Bn | 607 | FA Bn | 608 | FA Bn | 609 | FA Bn | |
75 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 730 | FA Bn | 897 | FA Bn | 898 | FA Bn | 899 | FA Bn | |
79 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 310 | FA Bn | 311 | FA Bn | 312 | FA Bn | 904 | FA Bn | |
80 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 313 | FA Bn | 314 | FA Bn | 315 | FA Bn | 905 | FA Bn | |
86 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 331 | FA Bn | 332 | FA Bn | 404 | FA Bn | 911 | FA Bn | |
89 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 340 | FA Bn | 341 | FA Bn | 563 | FA Bn | 914 | FA Bn | |
? | 95 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 358 | FA Bn | 359 | FA Bn | 360 | FA Bn | 920 | FA Bn |
97 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 303 | FA Bn | 386 | FA Bn | 389 | FA Bn | 922 | FA Bn | |
100 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 373 | FA Bn | 374 | FA Bn | 375 | FA Bn | 925 | FA Bn |
5TH AND 7TH US ARMIES | 30.03.20 | |||||
A | 5 | US Army Artillery HQ | ||||
AA | 1 | Armd Div, Div Arty HQ | ||||
AB | 1 | Armored Division Artillery | 27 | FA Bn | ||
AC | 1 | Armored Division Artillery | 68 | FA Bn | ||
AD | 1 | Armored Division Artillery | 91 | FA Bn | ||
BA | 3 | Inf Div, Div Arty HQ | ||||
BB | 3 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 9 | FA Bn | ||
BC | 3 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 10 | FA Bn | ||
BD | 3 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 39 | FA Bn | ||
BE | 3 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 45 | FA Bn | ||
CA | 34 | Inf Div, Div Arty HQ | ||||
CB | 34 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 125 | FA Bn | ||
CC | 34 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 151 | FA Bn | ||
CD | 34 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 175 | FA Bn | ||
CE | 34 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 185 | FA Bn | ||
DB | 36 | Infantry Divsion Artillery | 131 | FA Bn | ||
DE | 155 | FA Bn | ||||
E | 17 | FA Gp. | ||||
EE | 7 | Army | ||||
FA | 13 | FA Bgde | ||||
FH | 141 | FA Bn | ||||
FJ | 248 | FA Bn | ||||
FP | 935 | FA Bn | ||||
FX | Corps Artillery | 977 | FA Bn | |||
JA | 6 | FA Gp. Arty HQ | ||||
JB | 59 | FA Bn | ||||
JC | 69 | FA Bn | ||||
JD | 93 | FA Bn | ||||
UC | 602 | FA Bn | ||||
UD | 460 | Para FA Bn |
Liaison Squadrons in the ETO | ||
6C | 14 | Liaison Squadron |
47 | Liaison Squadron | |
N/A | 72 | Liaison Squadron |
121 | Liaison Squadron | |
2B | 125 | Liaison Squadron |
8R | 153 | Liaison Squadron |
158 | Liaison Squadron | |
167 | Liaison Squadron | |
173 | Liaison Squadron |