Air Force Tail Codes

Air Force Tail Codes

This is not the same as the Air Force Serial Number, Navy Bureau Number, aircraft registration number, or Buzz Number.

Since 1993, all Air Force units, including Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, utilize this system.

Two large letters identify the home base, or in some organizations, an historic legacy. Air National Guard units usually use the two-letter state abbreviation as a tail code.

The Air Force aircraft Serial Number is also usually marked on the tail.

The first two digits of the serial number indicate the year in which the aircraft was ordered, the remaining digits being a sequential number within that year.

List of Commonly Used U.S. Air Force Base Tail Codes

Tail CodeU.S. Air Force Base
AFUSAF Academy, CO
AKElmendorf AFB, AK
AKEielson AFB, AK
AUMaxwell AFB, AL
BBBeale AFB, CA
BDBarksdale AFB, LA
CBColumbus AFB, MS
CCCannon AFB, NM
COBuckley ANGB, CO
CR or CSPeterson AFB, CO
DBDobbins ARB, GA
DCAndrews AFB, MD
DM or DRDavis-Monthan AFB, AZ
DYDyess AFB, TX
EDEdwards AFB, CA
EGEglin AFB, FL
ELEllsworth AFB, SD
ENSheppard AFB, TX
ETEglin AFB, FL
Tail CodeU.S. Air Force Base
FCFairchild Republic AFB, WA
FFLangley AFB, VA
FF or FLPatrick AFB, FL
FMHomestead ARB, FL
FTPope AFB, NC
GARobins AFB, GA
GFGrand Forks AFB, ND
HI or HLHill AFB, UT
HO or HTHolloman AFB, NM
HVVandenberg AFB, CA
JSRobins AFB, GA
KCWhiteman AFB, MO
KS or KTKeesler AFB, MS
LABarksdale AFB, LA
LF or LRLuke AFB, AZ
LKLittle Rock AFB, AR
MMMalmstrom AFB, MT
MOMountain Home AFB, ID
Tail CodeU.S. Air Force Base
MTMinot AFB, ND
MXMaxwell AFB, AL
MYMoody AFB, GA
NJMcGuire AFB, NJ
NMKirtland AFB, NM
OFOffutt AFB, NE
OKTinker AFB, OK
OTEglin AFB, FL
OTCannon AFB, NM
PFPeterson AFB, CO
SAKelly AFB, TX
SHTinker AFB, OK
SJSeymour Johnson AFB, NC
SMMcClellan AFB, CA
SWShaw AFB, SC
TFNAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
TYTyndall AFB, FL
VNVance AFB, OK
WANellis AFB, NV
WETyndall AFB, FL
WMWhiteman AFB, MO
XLLaughlin AFB, TX