RAF Dakota Codes

thanks for your responses – that’s really helpful

There are two different making schemes here.

The 233 Sqadron Dak has it’s squadron code 5T and the last two of it’s radio callsign (aka the Transport Command Four Letter Code) which will have been OFUK. In this, O=Transport Command, F=Dakota, U=233 Sqn and K is the individual aircraft letter.

The 512 Squadron aircraft is simply part of a unit with more than 26 aircraft (nominally) on strength, so there’s an extra ‘A’ added to differentiate it from the other ‘O’.

There’s a list of the Transport Command codes in ‘Combat Codes by Vic Flintham & Andrew Thomas.

Can someone explain how the RAF 4 letter codes for Dakota squadrons worked?

Presumably the first two letters related to the Squadron but how did the “last two” relate to an individual aircraft.

For instance the BBMF Dakota’s (a 233 Squadron aircraft) last two is “UK” (5T-UK prior to application of invasion stripes)whilst KG348 of 512 Squadron carried HC-AO. However KG437 another 233 Squadron aircraft carried 5T-B

Thanks

5T and HC were the Squadron codes. The other codes were the individual codes – usually this was a single letter, but on larger squadrons, or for internal administration, two codes were used. The code was that allocated to the aircraft at that time. It could change