In the work of raising profiles for unprofiled images, I encountered a lack of consistency with USAF registrations among early listings regarding the number of numerics for those below 1000. In other words should it be 53-272 or 53-0272.

Joe Baugher uses the former but many websites favour the latter.

I contacted Joe and this is his response.

My presentation is based on a couple of Air Force regulations. Prior to 1947, there was no requirement on the minimum number of digits in the serial number. For example the first plane ordered in FY 1940 would be 40-1. In 1947, at about the same time that the USAF was officially formed, DoD regulation 5304.9003 was promulgated which required that the sequence number now have at least 3 digits. This means that fiscal year serials with individual sequence numbers less than 100 are filled up with zeroes to bring them up to 3 digits in length. So 48-1 is written as 48-001 in official documentation.

Sequence numbers greater than 9999 are written with 5 digits. In 1958, the minimum number of digits in the sequence number was raised to four, so that the 1958 aircraft series started at 58-0001.

So in summary

To 1946 - no minimum, e.g. 46-1

1947 to 1957 - 3 digits minimum, e.g. 57-001

1958 to date - 4 digits minimum, e.g. 58-0001

I believe that in the interests of accuracy, we should follow Joe's listings.

Any comments please?

Malcolm

Admin Team