USMC Helicopter and Tiltrotor Squadron Tailcodes

Tailcodes

In 1946 the Navy started assigning Visual Identification codes to squadrons in order to make it easier to identify aircraft assigned to each particular squadron. Marine Corps squadrons, being part of Naval Aviation, also use these codes. In 1950 Marine codes were assigned according to the location of the squadron: A - Asia; L - East Coast (Atlantic); W - West Coast. HMX-1, being a test and development squadron, was assigned a code starting with X (XM).

OPNAV Instruction 3561.2A (Visual Identification System for Naval Aircraft) dated 24 July 1956 reorganized the code assignments according to Command. Each squadron would be assigned a two-letter code reflecting its current assignment:

New Marine codes are not assigned by location, rather they are usually assigned because they aren't in use by Navy units. Once assigned, the code is used only by that squadron until it is deactivated. The code then becomes available for a new user. A few squadrons have been reactivated with new codes assigned, but usually the old code is retained if available.

The first codes used by USMC helicopter squadrons were in the "H" series, except for HMX-1 which used XM" codes and East Coast units used "E". The use of "I" and "O" was prohibited due to the ease of confusion with "1" and "0". New squadrons formed since about 1964 are assigned whatever codes are available, making it impossible to tell where a squadron was first activated.

Reserve squadrons didn't use individual squadron codes until 1972. Prior to this they used the ID code of which ever base they were assigned to. This meant that all Navy and Marine Reserve squadrons at the same location had the same code (either 6x or 7x). Marine Reserve squadrons began using codes starting with "5" in 1968, and then switched to individual codes in 1972.

Headquarters, MAG/H&MS/MALS

These squadrons operated a small number of helicopters in addition to the usual fixed-wing logistics aircraft. Although the H&MS/MALS squadrons ceased to operate aircraft during the 1980s/90s, their ID codes continued to appear in the OPNAV 05400 list through 1998.

USMC RESERVE HELICOPTER SQUADRON TAILCODES 1958-72

Until 1972, when they were assigned individual squadron tailcodes, all USMCR squadrons used the Base/Station ID of the NAS/MCAS they were assigned to.