Warbird Information Exchange

It's even more arcane than that. The PBY-5 was the first version with the big side blisters, and the revised rudder with a straight trailing edge. The straight "dash-five" was a pure flying boat, with no landing gear..when Consolidated added retractable gear it was designated the -5A (I believe it was the first amphibious variant of the Catalina.) Likewise, the PBY-6 was a straight flying boat, while the -6A had retractable gear.

The prototype Skyraider was oringally designated XSB2D-1, since it was Douglas's follow-on to the Dauntless. By the time it got into service, the "Scout Bomber" role had been changed to the more generic "Attack," so the aircraft became the AD, for "Attack, Douglas." When the Air Force and Navy designations were reorganized and combined (in 1962?) the Skyraider became the A-1. Similarly, Vought's F8U Crusader (Fighter, eighth type built by Vought) became the F-8 (fighter, eighth type overall.) The F4D Phantom II also bacame the F-4. I'm not sure if the latter designations were kept similar intentionally or not. The Air Force originally called the Phantom II the F-110, but its number sequences were re-started under the new system (hence the XB-70 being followed by the B-1 and B-2, and the Century Series fighters followed by the F-4 etc.)

One of the things that has always baffled me is why the letter V denotes aviation in Navy nomenclature. Aerial squadron desigations begin with V (or VM for Marines) and Aircraft Carriers are designated CV (followed by E for Escort, L for Light, N for Nuclear, etc.) Perhaps the V denotes "ships" that operate in the "vertical" plane? Or maybe for a-VEE-ation?

SN

"...The F4D Phantom II also bacame the F-4..."

Of course, the F4H became the F-4; the F4D Skyray became the F-6A...

They sure don't make it easy!

I was in VFP-62 Det 33 aboard USS Intrepid CVA-11 (F9F-8Ps and then F8U-1Ps); VF-74 was also aboard (1959-1961 time period) with F4D-1s, VF-33 with F11F-1s.
JJ

"...One of the things that has always baffled me is why the letter V denotes aviation in Navy nomenclature..."

In the Navy scheme of things, LTA lighter-than-air airships were designated with "Z", as in ZPG; heavier-than-air aircraft were given the "V" letter. Why - dang good question! ))

D'oh!! I was thinking "D" for "Douglas." I forgot that the Phantom was a McDonnell design (hence the "H") before the company merged with Douglas. Talk about alphabet soup!!

I can understand the "Z" for lighter than air types..probably for Zeppelin, and then just extended to non-rigid airships as well.

SN