Abbreviations

Definitions of the acronyms and abbreviations used on this site are included in the lists below.


See also: http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/acronyms.htm for a wider list of air-force related acronyms.


Service Ranks

Abbreviation Name
F/L Flight Lieutenant
F/O Flight Officer
F/Sgt Flight Sergeant
N/A Not Available
N/K Not Known
P/O Pilot Officer
S/L Squadron Leader
S/O Section Officer
S/Sgt Staff Sergeant
Sgt Sergeant
W/Cdr Wing Commander
W/O Warrant Officer
W/O2 Warrant Officer (2nd class)

Position / Role / Job

Abbreviation Name Description
A/G Air Gunner -
B/A Bomb Aimer -
F/E Flight Engineer -
F/Eng Flight Engineer -
I Instructor -
MU/AG Mid Upper Air Gunner -
Nav Navigator -
P Pilot -
R/AG Rear Air Gunner -
R/G Rear Gunner -
S/O Special Equipment Operator -
W/Op Wireless Operator -

Decorations

Abbreviation Name
AFC Air Force Cross
AM Air Medal (USA)
CdG Croix de Guerre (France)
CGM Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
DFC Distinguished Flying Cross
DFC* Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross
DFM Distinguished Flying Medal
DSO Distinguished Service Order
MM Military Medal

Miscellaneous

Abbreviation Name Description
ACAC Aircrew Allocation Centre -
ACD Aircrew Despatch -
AGS Air Gunners School/Aircrew Grading School -
ASI Air Speed Indicator -
BCIS Bomber Command Instructors School -
CU Conversion Unit -
EAGS Elementary Air Gunners School -
ED Embarkation Depot -
Evd. Evaded (capture) -
FTR Fail to Return -
GPTD ??? -
HCU Heavy Conversion Unit -
HE High Explosive -
Inj. Injured (crash) -
ITS Initial Training School -
ITW Initial Training Wing -
KIA Killed in Action -
LFS Lancaster Finishing School -
MB Master Bomber -
OTU Operational Training Unit -
PoW Prisoner of War -
PRDC Personnel Reception and Despatch Centre -
PRU Photographic Reconnaissance Unit -
SNCO ??? -
SOC Struck Off Charge -
Surv. Survived (crash) -
TI Target Indicator -
WCAD War Casualty Accounts Department Notified of crew missing with aircraft FTR

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