9th AF Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Acronyms, Abbreviations,

Codes and Descriptions

 

 

 WWII-Medal

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Descriptions for some common WWII Acronyms, Abbreviations
and Codes used by the 416th BG during WWII

(Expanded from the Frank Basford (669th Gunner) Papers at the 416th Archive and other sources)
Note: Many Acronyms, Abbreviations and Codes may include periods after letters (e.g. M.P.I. vs. MPI), but this list excludes periods for consistency

AbbreviationDescription   AbbreviationDescription
(H)Heavy bomb group, such as B-29s   HUMINTHuman Intelligence
(L)Light bomb group, such as A-20s and A-26s   IDPFIndividual Deceased Personnel File
(M)Medium bomb group, such as B-26s   IEOIntelligence Officer
2AFuselage Code of the 669th Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group   IGNIS AURUM PROBATTranslates to English as "FIRE TESTS GOLD". Informal Motto of the 416th Bomb Group.
5CFuselage Code of the 671st Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group   INPInspector Propellers
5HFuselage Code of the 668th Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group   INSInstrument Specialist
A4First ballistic missle, developed by Germany. German name "Aggragat 4", later renamed "Vergeltungswaffe 2" (Vengence Weapon Two, V2),   IPInitial Point - The beginning of a bomb run
A-55USAF Station Code for Airfield at Melun/Villaroche, France, Occupied by 416th Bomb Group 24 Sep 1944 to 12 Feb 1945   JICJoint Intelligence Committee
A-59USAF Station Code for Airfield at Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France, Occupied by 416th Bomb Group 25 May 1945 to c. 15 Jul 1945   JNDJoined
A-69USAF Station Code for Airfield at Laon/Athies, France, Occupied by 416th Bomb Group 13 Feb 1945 to 25 May 1945   JPRCJoint Photographic Reconnaissance Committee
A-74USAF Station Code for Airfield at Cambrai, France, Occupied by 416th Bomb Group c. 15 Jul 1945 to 27 Jul 1945   LCLine Chief
AACArmy Air Corps   LOCLetter of Commendation
AAFArmy Air Force   LTILink Trainer Instructor
AAF-170USAF Station Code for Airfield at Wethersfield RAF Station, England, Occupied by 416th Bomb Group 1 Feb 1944 to 23 Sep 1944   MACRMissing Air Crew Report
AAFldArmy Air Field   Mae WestNickname for yellow inflatable, vest-like life preserver jackets used during WWII by Allied aircrews. Abbreviated "M.W."
AARAircraft Accident Report   MIMilitary Intelligence, British War Office
AC or A/CAircraft or Air Corps, depending on context   MI5British Home Intelligence Arm
ACIUAllied Central Interpretation Unit - Centralized Photo Interpretaton group stationed at Medmenham, England. Renamed from CIU 1-May-1944   MI6British Secret Intelligence Service
ADJAdjutant   Milk RunTerm used to describe a mission which did (or was expected to) not encounter enemy resistance, particularly FLAK.
AEAFAllied Expeditionary Air Force   MO, M/OMovement Orders
AFAir Force   MPMilitary Police
AFHRAAir Force Historical Research Agency   MPIMean or Main Point of Impact
AGOAdjutant General Office   MSOMess Officer
APAiming Point   MSPMiscellaneous Support Personnel
APNBAiming Point Not Bombed (post-mission analysis)   MSSMess Sergeant
APOArmy Post Office   MTPMotor Pool
ARCArmorer Chief   MTUMobile Training Unit
ARMArmorer or Armament   MY, M/YMarshalling Yards, used to separate railway cars onto one of several tracks.
AROArmament Officer   NAONot Able to Observe (?). Abbreviation used during post-mission analysis when the crews were unable to observe the bombing results for reasons such as cloud cover, obscuring smoke, etc.
ASCAir Service Command   NMINo Middle Initial
ASNArmy (Personnel) Serial Number   NOBALLCodeword for German V1 Rocket Launch site targets. Also called "Bois Carre" or "Ski Site".
AUSArmy of the United States   OboeA British aerial blind bombing/navigation system in World War II, based on radio transponder technology.
BCOBase Custody Officer   OFMOfficers Mess
BGBombardment Group or Bomb Group   Operation CrossbowThe code word "Crossbow" was used throughout the period of planning and operations as a convenient term for any matters relating to the attack on England by long range weapons, including all counter-measures against such attacks.
BN, B/N, B-NBombardier/Navigator   OPOOperations Officer
Bois Carre siteOne of the names of German V1 Rocket Launch sites because Bois Carre was the first V1 Launch site location identified by Photographic Reconnaissance/Interpretation. Also called "NOBALL" and "Ski Site".   OROOrdnance Officer
BSBombardment Squadron or Bomb Squadron   PPilot (Throttle Jockey)
BSSBomb Sight Specialist   PCRParachute Rigger (Geronimo)
CBWCombat Bombardment Wing or Combat Bomb Wing   PEOPersonnel Equipment Officer
CCCrew Chief   PFFPathFinder Force (PFF) Aircraft used to lead missions over targets not expected to be able to be bombed visually; Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft from the 1st Pathfinder Squadron (Provisional), 9th Bombardment Division specially equipped with early radar navigation systems "Oboe" and later "SHORAN". Note, also sometimes abbreviated "PPF".
CCAChemical Company (Aviation)   PHOPhotographer
CCAMChemical Company (Aviation Maintenance)   PIPhotographic Interpretation or Photograph Interpreter, depending on context
CCAOChemical Company (Air operations)   PIUPhotographic Interpretation Unit
CCDAChemical Company Depots (Aviation)   PNBPrimary Not Bombed (post-mission analysis)
CCUCombat Camera Unit   POMPreparation for Overseas Movement
CHPChaplain   PPFAbbreviation sometimes used instead of PFF (PathFinder Force)
CIUCentral Interpretation Unit - Centralized Photo Interpretaton group stationed at Medmenham, England. Renamed to ACIU 1-May-1944   PRPhotographic Reconnaissance
CMCommunications   PRJProject Officer
CMOCommunications Officer   PROPublic Relations Officer
CMWCharge of Materiel and Weapons   PRUPhotographic Reconnaissance Unit
COCommanding Officer   PTOPhysical Training Officer
CRPCrypt Section Officer   QMSQuartermaster Supply
CWSChemical Warfare Service   RADRadar Specialist
DCODeputy Commanding Officer   RAFRoyal Air Force (British Air Force)
D-Day, DDJune 6, 1944 - Date of the Allied invasion of Europe to defeat Germany during WWII   RAORadio Operator
DDSDental Surgeon   RPRally Point - position where Aircraft re-formed their formation after a bomb run
DECDeceased   SAJSquadron Adjutant
DFCDistinguished Flying Cross award   SAOSquadron Armament Officer
DISDispatcher   SCOSquadron Commanding Officer
DMPIDesignated (or Desired) Mean/Main Point of Impact   SEOSquadron Executive Officer
DSDetached Service   SHAEFSupreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
DUCDistinguished Unit Citation award   SHORANAn acronym for SHOrt RAnge Navigation, a type of electronic navigation and bombing system using a precision radar beacon, initially developed during World War II.
EAMEEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Theater   SIGINTSignal Intelligence
EDSEducation Specialist   SISBritish Secret Intelligence Service (see also MI6)
effEffective   SKI SiteOne of the names of German V1 Rocket Launch sites because some of the buildings had a curved end with the appearance of a ski on it's side. Also called "NOBALL" and "Bois Carre" sites.
EMEnlisted Man / Enlisted Men   SN, S/NSerial Number (Aircraft or Personnel)
ENOEngineering Officer   SO, S/OSpecial Orders
ETOEuropean Theatre of Operations   SPAREAircraft which took off with the formation and would fly part of the distance to the target to fill-in for an aircraft that encountered a problem and had to return early.
EXOExecutive Officer   SPOSupply Officer
F6Fuselage Code of the 670th Bomb Squadron, 416th Bomb Group   Sq, SqdSquadron
FCFlight Chief   TACTactical Air Command
FCWFrench Civilian Worker   TD, T/DTable of Distribution
FO, F/OField Order   TOTable of Organization
FRFrom   TOETable of Organization and Equipment
FRTFront Line   trfdTransferred
FRTLNTFront Line Tour   TRSTransferred
FTRFail To Return - Date a Soldier Failed to Return from a Mission   TSOTechnical Supply Officer
GGunner (God Bless Em)   TTYTeleType
GAJGroup Adjutant   TWXTeletypewriter Exchange Service
GCGround Crew   UltraDesignation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by breaking high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park. Ultra eventually became the standard designation among the western Allies for all such intelligence.
GCOGroup Commanding Officer   USAAFUnites States Army Air Force
GDSGroup Dental Surgeon   V1Jet-propelled flying bomb, developed by Germany. German names "Vergeltungswaffe Eins" (Vengence Weapon One, V1), "Fieseler Fi 103 (Fi-103) flying bomb", "FZG-76", "Kirschkern (CherryStone)", "Maikafer (JuneBug)", and "Krahe (Crow)". Also nick-named "Buzz Bomb", "Doodlebug", "Hellhound" and "Diver" by the Allies.
GEEEarly navigational system used by Allied Aircraft, originally termed code letter G (for grid), changed to GEE in July, 1940, for security reasons.   V2First ballistic missle, developed by Germany. German name "Aggragat 4" (A4), later renamed "Vergeltungswaffe 2" (Vengence Weapon Two, V2),
GO, G/OGeneral Orders   WDWar Department
GP bombsGeneral Purpose bombs   WEOWeather Officer
Gp, GrpGroup   WEPWeapons Officer
H-HourOn June 6, 1944, H-hour was 0630 (6:30 AM) on most beaches, one hour after first light, an hour after low tide.   WINDOWAluminium stips released ahead of the main bombing formation, which would flutter downward, generating a cloud of false echoes disrupting the enemy radar signal, reducing the effectiveness of the German FLAK and anti-aircraft automated radar controls. Also, Aircraft assigned to carry and release the WINDOW strips.
HQHeadquarters   WWII, WW2World War Two


MACR and AAR Crewmember Status
(Primary Sources: FOLD3 MACR Status Description and AAIR Action Codes)

StatusDescription   StatusDescription
ALWAlive And Well   KLACoGKilled in a Landing Accident out of Gas
Bailed outBailed out   KMACKilled, Mid Air Collision
CAPCaptured (?)   LWALightly Wounded In Action
DEDDeclared Dead (Public Law 490)   LWIALightly Wounded In Action
DLDead List   LWSLightly Wounded In Service(?)
DLDDied in the Line of Duty   Major injuriesMajor injuries
DNBDied Non-Battle   MIAMissing In Action
DOWDied Of Wounds   Minor injuriesMinor injuries
DOWRIADied Of Wounds Received In Action   NOKNext Of Kin
EUSEvacuated To The United States   Not injuredNot injured
FatalFatal   POWPrisoner Of War
FODFinding of Death   RETReturned (?)
InjuredInjured   RMBReturned To Military Control (hospitalized for Battle wounds)
ITTInjured in Training   RMCReturned To Military Control
KBOKilled, Bail Out   RMNReturned To Military Control (hospitalized for Non-battle injuries)
KCRKilled in a CRash   RTDReturned To Duty
KCRGCKilled in Crash Ground Collision   RZI Returned to Zone of Interior
KCRTKilled, CRashed on Take off   Seriously InjuredSeriously Injured
KCRTEFKilled CRash on Take off Eng Failure   SIASeverely Injured in Action
KIAKilled In Action   Slightly InjuredSlightly Injured
KilledKilled   SWASeriously Wounded In Action
Killed on impactKilled on impact   WIAWounded In Action
KITKilled In Training   WLDWounded in the Line of Duty


Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) Codes
assigned to 416th BG Enlisted men during WWII
See more complete MOS lists at:
(134th Infantry Regiment list of MOS codes )
(TM 12-427 Military Occupational Classification of Enlisted Personnel, 12-Jul-1944 (PDF))

MOSDescription   MOSDescription
014Automotive Mechanic (Second Echelon)   675Messenger
050Carpenter, General   678Power Turret and Gunsight Mechanic
055Clerk, General   683Bombsight Mechanic
056Postal Clerk   685Airplane Electrical Mechanic
058Conductor, Railway   686Airplane Instrument Mechanic
060Cook   687Airplane Propeller Mechanic
123Medical Technician   695Duty Soldier III
225Surgical Technician   699Truck Driver, Light
237Teletype Operator   747Airplane and Engine Mechanic
238Lineman, Telephone and Telegraph   748Airplane Mechanic-Gunner
239Teletype Mechanic   750Airplane Maintenance Technician
256Welder, Combination   751Airplane Flight Chief
267Translator   752Airplane Maintenance Technician
275Classification Specialist   754Radio Mechanic, AAF
283Athletic Instructor   755Radio Operator, AAF
309Telephone Operator   756Radio Operator, AAF
345Truck Driver, Light   757Radio Operator - Mechanic-Gunner, AAF
355File Clerk   766Radio Operator, High Speed, Manual
378Motorcyclist   807Cryptographic Code Compiler
409Medical Technician   809Decontaminating Equipment Operator
475Longshoreman   813Transportation NCOs
501Administrative and Technical Clerk   821Quartermaster Supply Technician
502Administrative NCO   824Mess Sergeant
504Munitions Worker   826AAF Supply Technician
505Ammunition NCO   835Supply Clerk
511Armorer   855Dental Technician
513Airplane Inspector   861Surgical Technician
521Basic   862Radar Mechanic (IFF)
534Chaplain's Assistant   868Radio-Teletype Mechanic
540Chief Switchboard Operator, Common Battery   870Chemical NCO
542Communications Chief   888Radio Mechanic F
552Control Tower Operator   890Photo Interpreter
555Aircraft Sheet Metal Worker   898Radio Repairman
585First Sergeant   901Munitions Worker
611Aerial Gunner   903Small Arms Weapons Mechanic
612Airplane Armorer-Gunner   909Mechanic, Engine, Track Vehicle
613Computer (Calculations)   911Airplane Armorer
620Parachute Rigger and Repairman   925Aircraft Engineering Technician
650Telephone Switchboard Operator   928Automotive Equipment Mechanic
652Section Leader   929Automotive Equipment Operator
663Airplane Armorer   931Truck Driver, Heavy
664Armament Inspector   932Special Vehicle Operator
673Medical NCO   3160Soils Analyst
674Message Center Chief     


Enlisted and Officer Rank
(Primary Sources: United States Army enlisted rank insignia of World War II and United States Army officer rank insignia)

AbbreviationEnlisted Full Title   AbbreviationOfficer Full Title
Pvt / PVTPrivate   Cadet / OTOfficer candidate
Pfc / PFCPrivate First Class   CDT / OCOfficer candidate
Cpl / CPLCorporal   CWOChief Warrant Officer
T/5Technician Fifth Grade   F/O / Flt OFlight Officer
Sgt / SGTSergeant   2d Lt / 2LTSecond Lieutenant
T/4Technician Fourth Grade   1st Lt / 1LTFirst Lieutenant
S/Sgt / SSGStaff Sergeant   Capt / CPTCaptain
T/3Technician Third Grade   Maj / MAJMajor
T/Sgt / TSGTechnical Sergeant   Lt Col / LTCLieutenant Colonel
M/Sgt / MSGMaster Sergeant   Col / COLColonel
1st Sgt / 1SGFirst Sergeant   Brig Gen / BGBrigadier General
SMJSergeant Major   Maj Gen / MGMajor General
     Lt Gen / LTGLieutenant General
     Gen / GENGeneral
     GAFGeneral of the Air Force
     GAGeneral of the Army
     GASGeneral of the Armies


POW / Escape & Evasion Terms and Acronyms