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Quiz about Aircraft Names Letters  Numbers
Quiz about Aircraft Names Letters  Numbers

Aircraft Names, Letters & Numbers Quiz


What does the name, letter or number that was given to a WW2 aircraft tell you about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by Plumbus. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
Plumbus
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
171,004
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
10 / 20
Plays
2584
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 96 (9/20), Guest 2 (10/20), Guest 99 (9/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. The Messerschmitt Bf.109 was one of many earlier Messerschmitt designs that did not employ the abbreviation Me. as a prefix in its name. What did Bf. stand for? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. The Allies devised a system of code names to aid recognition of Japanese aircraft. Masculine names were given to fighters, feminine names to bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. What types of names were given to training aircraft? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. All Japanese Army aircraft were designated with a Ki- prefix followed by a number (e.g. Ki-46). What did Ki- stand for? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. Italian aircraft also had an abbreviation as a prefix before their production number (e.g. Macchi C.200). Generally, what did this prefix identify? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. As an example of Japanese Naval aircraft nomenclature, which digit of the famous A6M2 'Zero' aircraft indicated that it was a carrier-based fighter aircraft? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. At the beginning of what year did the Soviet Air Force change its designations for aircraft from initials indicating its role (e.g SB-2 and DB-3) to the initials of the design bureau from which it came(e.g. Yak-9 and Tu-2)? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. With the proliferation of sub-series of many German types, some were given an additional suffix, particularly later in the war. In the Messerschmitt Bf.109F-4/R1, for example, the R was an abbreviation of 'Rustsatz'. What did this word indicate? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. In the US Army Air Force, the A-prefix indicated that the type was a light bomber or attack aircraft (e.g. A-20 Havoc). This designation was the same for US Navy aircraft.


Question 9 of 20
9. What were SNCAO, SECM, SNCASCO, SNCAC, SNCAN, SNCASO, etc. in relation to French military aircraft? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. What abbreviation on a British aircraft indicated that it had been modified for desert or jungle conditions?

Answer: (Four letters, begins with T)
Question 11 of 20
11. If a Japanese Army aircraft had a -KAI suffix after its designation, (e.g. Ki-45 KAI) this signified that it was a modified version.


Question 12 of 20
12. Later Focke-Wulf designs, such as the Ta.152 and Ta.154, carried the abbreviation of their chief designer. His first name was Kurt - but what was his second name that the Ta. stood for?

Answer: (Sounds like an armoured vehicle.)
Question 13 of 20
13. What was the designation of the Bell Airacobra fighters that were rejected for RAF service and diverted to the USAAF instead? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. An important Russian aircraft in the early part of the conflict on the Eastern Front was the Polikarpov I-16. The I- prefix indicated 'Istrebetl'. What does this word translate as? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. The Romanians' only modern fighter of indigenous design was the IAR 80. The initials IAR were an abbreviation of the words describing its role.


Question 16 of 20
16. In US Navy nomenclature, what letter was used to identify Grumman as the aircraft's manufacturer? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Which part of the name of the PBY Catalina told you its manufacturer? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. On Dutch Fokker designs, what letter prefix indicated that it was a single-seat fighter type? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Everyone's heard of the famous P-51 Mustang. But what did the P- prefix indicate about the role of the US Army aircraft it described?

Answer: (One Word)
Question 20 of 20
20. There was confusion for years after the war about whether Yugoslavia's only wartime indigenous fighter of modern design was designated the IK-3 or the IK-Z.



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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The Messerschmitt Bf.109 was one of many earlier Messerschmitt designs that did not employ the abbreviation Me. as a prefix in its name. What did Bf. stand for?

Answer: Bayerische Flugzeugwerke

Named after the factory from which Willi Messerschmitt designed and built his early designs - Bavarian Aircraft Factory.
2. The Allies devised a system of code names to aid recognition of Japanese aircraft. Masculine names were given to fighters, feminine names to bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. What types of names were given to training aircraft?

Answer: trees

Examples were the K5Y 'Willow' and the K3M 'Pine' training types. Names of birds were employed - but only for gliders.
3. All Japanese Army aircraft were designated with a Ki- prefix followed by a number (e.g. Ki-46). What did Ki- stand for?

Answer: Kitai

'Kitai' = production number. Variants and sub-series were indicated by the use of Roman numerals and letters(e.g. Ki-46-IIa)
4. Italian aircraft also had an abbreviation as a prefix before their production number (e.g. Macchi C.200). Generally, what did this prefix identify?

Answer: The initial(s) of the designer

e.g. the Fiat CR.32 and CR.42 were designed by Celestino Rosatelli; The Macchi C.200, C.202 and C.205 were designed by (Mario) Costoldi; the CRDA Cant Z.501, Z.506 and Z.1007 were designed by (Filippo) Zapata.
5. As an example of Japanese Naval aircraft nomenclature, which digit of the famous A6M2 'Zero' aircraft indicated that it was a carrier-based fighter aircraft?

Answer: A

A(Carrier-based Fighter)
6(6th of this type to enter production)
M(Mitsubishi was the designer/manufacturer)
2(2nd version of the A6M)
6. At the beginning of what year did the Soviet Air Force change its designations for aircraft from initials indicating its role (e.g SB-2 and DB-3) to the initials of the design bureau from which it came(e.g. Yak-9 and Tu-2)?

Answer: 1941

Confusingly, some older types were referred to by both their old and new designations, such as the Polikarpov U-2 which was latterly re-designated Polikarpov Po-2.
7. With the proliferation of sub-series of many German types, some were given an additional suffix, particularly later in the war. In the Messerschmitt Bf.109F-4/R1, for example, the R was an abbreviation of 'Rustsatz'. What did this word indicate?

Answer: Field Conversion Kit

In the case of the above, the Rustsatz 1 was the addition of two underwing 20mm MG 151 cannons for the bomber-destroyer role. These Rustsatz conversions could be carried out in the field by a unit's groundcrew, unlike the Umrust-Bausatz conversions (identified by the U suffix) which were more permanent conversions installed at the factory (e.g. Bf.109G-6/U4).
8. In the US Army Air Force, the A-prefix indicated that the type was a light bomber or attack aircraft (e.g. A-20 Havoc). This designation was the same for US Navy aircraft.

Answer: false

Any US Navy aircraft designated with an A-prefix was an Air Ambulance.
9. What were SNCAO, SECM, SNCASCO, SNCAC, SNCAN, SNCASO, etc. in relation to French military aircraft?

Answer: Initials of regional manufacturing groups

The French aircraft industry was nationalised and re-organised in 1936. Aircraft companies were merged into regionally-based conglomerates (e.g. SNCASO = Société Nationale de Constructions Aeronautiques du Sud-Ouest).
10. What abbreviation on a British aircraft indicated that it had been modified for desert or jungle conditions?

Answer: Trop.

Abbreviation for 'Tropicalised', e.g. Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VB Trop.
11. If a Japanese Army aircraft had a -KAI suffix after its designation, (e.g. Ki-45 KAI) this signified that it was a modified version.

Answer: true

KAI was an abbreviation for 'Kaizo', which means 'modified'.
12. Later Focke-Wulf designs, such as the Ta.152 and Ta.154, carried the abbreviation of their chief designer. His first name was Kurt - but what was his second name that the Ta. stood for?

Answer: Tank

Kurt Tank was Focke-Wulf's chief designer associated with many of their most famous aircraft, such as the formidable Fw.190 fighter.
13. What was the designation of the Bell Airacobra fighters that were rejected for RAF service and diverted to the USAAF instead?

Answer: P-400

The P-400 was based on the P-39D. The British called it the Caribou Mk.I and equipped one squadron with the type before quickly deciding that it was unsuited to combat conditions in western Europe. Most were diverted to the Soviet Union but 179 were accepted into USAAF service as the P-400.
14. An important Russian aircraft in the early part of the conflict on the Eastern Front was the Polikarpov I-16. The I- prefix indicated 'Istrebetl'. What does this word translate as?

Answer: Fighter

Until the beginning of 1941, all Soviet-designed fighters were indicated by the abbreviation for 'Istrebetl'.
15. The Romanians' only modern fighter of indigenous design was the IAR 80. The initials IAR were an abbreviation of the words describing its role.

Answer: False

IAR = Industria Aeronautica Romania, the nationalised company that designed and built it.
16. In US Navy nomenclature, what letter was used to identify Grumman as the aircraft's manufacturer?

Answer: F

Hence types like the F4F (Fighter/4th production design/Grumman). Perhaps surprisingly, G identified Goodyear as the manufacturer, such as the F2G Corsair.
17. Which part of the name of the PBY Catalina told you its manufacturer?

Answer: Y

PBY = Patrol/Bomber/Consolidated. Y was the identification letter for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. Officially, the US Navy didn't adopt the name Catalina, which was its British name.
18. On Dutch Fokker designs, what letter prefix indicated that it was a single-seat fighter type?

Answer: D

For example, the Fokker D.XXI, the main Dutch fighter in service with the LVA on 10th May 1940. The others indicated the following: T= Bomber; G = multi-seat heavy fighter; C = army co-operation.
19. Everyone's heard of the famous P-51 Mustang. But what did the P- prefix indicate about the role of the US Army aircraft it described?

Answer: Pursuit

The USAAF revised its fighter nomenclature after the war, from P (Pursuit) to F (Fighter). Consequently, the P-80 Shooting Star became re-designated F-80.
20. There was confusion for years after the war about whether Yugoslavia's only wartime indigenous fighter of modern design was designated the IK-3 or the IK-Z.

Answer: True

The confusion arises because Z in the Cyrillic alphabet looks like a number 3 (and it was, coincidentally, the third fighter design). In fact, the Rogozarski IK-Z was named after the initials of its designers: Ilic, Kosta(Sivcev) and Zrnic.
Source: Author Plumbus

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