US Navy Carrier Air Group Identification Symbols, 27 January-27 July 1945

A U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat of fighter squadron VF-12, Carrier Air Group 12 (CVG-12), painted in glossy sea blue scheme on the port catapult of the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CV-15), March 1945. Note the "G-symbol" identification of Randolph´s air group on the tail. A Fletcher-class destroyer is visible in the background.

 

A collection of the geometric identification symbols ("G" symbols) for U.S. Navy Carrier Air Groups (CVG) in use in 1945. These symbols were ordered by COMAIRPAC on 27 January 1945 to standardize the variety of CVG markings. The symbols identified the parent carrier, not the air group (as today). A similar system for escort carriers was ordered on 2 June 1945. However, these markings proved to be hard to remember and difficult to describe on the radio. Therefore a new identification system consisting of one or two letters was ordered on 27 July 1945.

USS Saratoga CV-3.

USS Enterprise CV-6.

 

USS Essex CV-9.

USS Yorktown CV-10.

USS Intrepid CV-11.

USS Hornet CV-12.

USS Franklin CV-13.

USS Ticonderoga CV-14.

USS Randolph CV-15.

USS Lexington CV-16.

USS Bunker Hill CV-17.

USS Wasp CV-18.

USS Hancock CV-19.

USS Bennington CV-20.

USS Independence CVL-22.

USS Belleau Wood CVL-24.

USS Cowpens CVL-25.

USS Monterey CVL-26.

USS Langley CVL-27.

USS Cabot CVL-28.

USS Bataan CVL-29.

USS San Jacinto CVL-30.

USS Antietam CV-36.

USS Shangri-La CV-38.

USS Lake Champlain CV-39.

A U.S. Navy Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17) "Jolly Rogers" on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12). VF-17 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17) aboard the Hornet from March to June 1945. Note the "G-symbol" identification of Hornet´s air group on the tail and wing tips.

U.S. Navy General Motors FM-2 Wildcat of Composite Squadron VC-84 makes the last catapult launching from the escort carrier USS Makin Island (CVE-93), off Honolulu, Hawaii, in October 1945. Note the catapult bridle dropping away below the plane's wheels. The Wildcat still displays the "G-Symbol" air group identification used in the first half of 1945.

FM-2 Wildcat of VC-79 is on the deck of USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83) at Okinawa, 1945.