| Designation | Official, Popular Name(s) | Manufacturer | 1st Flight or Appearance | Role(s)/Notes |
PB Boeing 1925 patrol flying boat
PB (B-17) Flying Fortress Boeing 1945 USN AEW B-17F/G (-1W); USCG rescue B-17H (-1G)
P2B (B-29) Superfortress Boeing 1947 USN B-29 anti-submarine testbed, launched
D-558-II high-speed research aircraft
PD Douglas 1929 Douglas-built reengined PN
P2D Douglas 1930 USN biplane torpedo bomber, attack flying boat-
redes. T2D
P3D (B-11) Douglas 1935 USN patrol bomber flying boat
PF Albatross Grumman 1948 temporary redesignation JR2F patrol amphibian-
redes. to UF
PH Hall 1927 USN/USCG Hall-built PN-11/P4N
P2H Hall 1932 last USN biplane patrol flying boat
PJ Flying Lifeboat Gen. Aircr. 1932 USCG SAR/patrol - redes. FLB
PK Keystone 1930 Keystone-built reengined PN
PM Martin 1929 Martin-built reengined PN
P2M Martin 1931 USN patrol flying boat - modified PY
P3M Martin 1931 production P2M - reengined
P4M Mercator Martin 1946 USN ocean patrol, ECM/ELINT
P5M (P-5) Marlin Martin 1951 USN maritime patrol, ASW, trainer flying boat-
redes. to P-5 in 1962
P6M (P-6) Seamaster Martin 1955 USN jet minelayer flying boat
PN N.A.F. 1922 USN patrol flying boat - redes./modified F-5L-
PN-7 would have been F-7L
P2N N.A.F. 1929 USN temporary des. for PN-11 - later P4N
P4N N.A.F. 1930 redes. P2N - development PN-11
PO (C-69/ Warning Star Lockheed 1949 USN patrol, AEW C-69 (PO-1W), C-121 (PO-2W) -
C-121) later WV-1/2
PS (C-6) Sikorsky 1927 USN patrol flying boat - redes. to RS?
P2S Sikorsky 1932 USN 3-place patrol flying boat
PV-1 Lexington, Lockheed 1942 USN/USMC patrol bomber, photographic recon.,
(B-34/37) Vega Ventura night fighter B-34/37
PV-2 Harpoon Lockheed 1942 modified PV-1 - larger span, new tail, larger
(B-34/37) bomb bay, greater armament payload
P2V Neptune, Snake Lockheed 1945 USN/USMC maritime patrol
(P-2,B-69)
P3V (P-3) Orion Lockheed 1959 USN prototype P-3 - converted civilian L-188
PY Consolid. 1927 USN patrol - 1st monoplane flying boat -
civilian Consol. 16 Commodore
P2Y Consolid. 1932 USN development PY - long-range patrol flying
boat - sesquiplane
P3Y Consolid. 1935 USN maritime patrol flying boat - prototype
PBY
P4Y-1 Corregidor Consolid. 1941 USN patrol bomber flying boat
P4Y-2 Privateer Convair 1951 SAR, weather recon., later drone - redes.
PB4Y-2
P5Y Convair 1948 USN patrol flying boat
P6Y Convair 1956 proposed three-engine flying boat
P-1 Hawk Curtiss 1924 pursuit - prod./redes. PW-8B
P-127 1962 designation not assigned in 1962 renumbering
P-2 Hawk Curtiss 1925 reengined P-1
P-2 (P2V) Neptune, Snake Lockheed 1962 USN/USMC maritime patrol/ASW - redes. P2V
P-3 Hawk Curtiss 1928 reengined P-1
P-3 (P3V) Orion Lockheed 1962 USN maritime patrol/ASW-redes. P3V
P-3 Blue Sentinel, AEW&C Lockheed 1983 Update III P-3 - AEW & C
P-4 Boeing 1925 high-altitude fighter - mod./redes. PW-9
P-4 Privateer Convair 1962 drone - redes. P4Y-2K
(P4Y-2)
P-5 Super Hawk, Hawk Curtiss 1928 turbosupercharged, high-alt. mod. P-1
P-5 (P5M) Marlin Martin 1962 USN maritime patrol - redes. P5M
P-6 Hawk Curtiss 1927 mod./reengined P-1 variants; redes. [Y1]P-22, P-20 (P-6E and F)
P-6 (P6M) Seamaster Martin 1962 redes. P6M; some sources claim designation not assigned
P-7 Boeing 1928 fighter - reengined/mod. PW-9E
P-7 Lockheed 1989 LRAACA (Long Range Air-Asw Capable) contract winner - cancelled -
Update IV P-3C
P-8 (F2B) Boeing 1927 single-seat fighter
P-8?
P-9 Boeing 1930 Boeing's 1st monoplane fighter
P-9 McDD 1988 ASW - LRAACA competitor - modified civilian
UHB MD-91
P-10 Curtiss 1930 biplane gull-wing (upper) high-altitude fighter
P-11 Hawk Curtiss 1927 proposed reengined P-6
P-12 (F4B) Boeing 1929 fighter - modified F4B-1
P-13 Viper Thom.-Mor. 1929 fighter - only 1 built
P-14 Curtiss 1931 proposed Curtiss-built production P-13
P-15 (F5B) Boeing 1930 fighter - single-wing development P-12
P-16 (F2J) Ber.-Joyce 1930 fighter - later PB-1
P-17 Hawk Curtiss 1930 modified P-1, testbed for new engine
P-18 Curtiss 1930 proposed biplane fighter
P-19 Curtiss 1930 proposed monoplane fighter using same engine as P-18
P-20 Hawk Curtiss 1930 reengined P-11; mod. with P-22 fuselage and
redes. to P-6E; cockpit enclosed and redes. to P-6F
P-21 Hawk Curtiss 1930 reengined P-3A
P-22 Hawk Curtiss 1931 mod. P-6A; fuselage added to P-20, redes. to P-6E
P-23 Hawk Curtiss 1932 reengined P-22, last pursuit biplane for USAAC
P-24 Lockheed 1931 exper. low-wing pursuit fighter
P-25 Consolid. 1932 pursuit/fighter - modified P-24
P-26 Peashooter Boeing 1932 1st all-metal, monoplane USAAC fighter
P-27 Consolid. 1932 proposed reengined P-25
P-28 Consolid. 1932 proposed reengined P-25
P-29 (F7B) Boeing 1934 fighter-bomber - modified F7B
P-30 Consolid. 1934 modified P-25 - later PB-2
P-31 Swift Curtiss 1932 1st Curtiss monoplane fighter, competitor P-26
P-32 Boeing 1934 proposed modified/reengined P-29
P-33 Consolid. 1935 proposed reengined P-30A
P-34 Wed.-Will. 1935 proposed lightweight fighter based on Model 44 Racer
P-35 Guardsman Seversky 1937 fighter
(later Republic)
P-36 Hawk Curtiss 1937 single-seat fighter
P-37 Curtiss 1939 fighter - reengined/mod. P-36
P-38 Lightning, Atlanta Lockheed 1939 long-range twin boom fighter - later F-38
P-38 Lightning, Pathfinder,Lockheed 1940 radar bombsight-equipped P-38
Droop Snoot
P-39 (FL) Airacobra Bell 1938 fighter, attack
P-40 Warhawk, Tomahawk Curtiss 1938 fighter-bomber, modified/reengined P-36 -
later F-40
P-40L Warhawk, Curtiss 1940 stripped-down lighter P-40
Gypsy Rose Lee with reduced armor
P-41 Seversky 1939 fighter - modified/reengined P-35
P-42 Hawk Curtiss 1939 P-36A with mod. engine cowling
P-43 Lancer Republic 1940 fighter - development P-35/P-41
P-44 Rocket Republic 1941 proposed reengined P-43
P-45 Bell 1938 original designation P-39C
P-46 Warhawk Curtiss 1941 smaller/reengined P-40
P-47 Thunderbolt, The Jug, Republic 1941 air superiority fighter, bomber - later F-47
Big Ugly, Bucket of Bolts, Cast Iron Beast, Repulsive Scatterbolt,
Seven-Ton Milk Bottle, T-bolt, Thunder Mug, Juggernaut
P-48 Douglas 1939 prop. high-altitude lightweight fighter - similar to
P-77
P-49 $ Lockheed 1942 reengined/modified P-38
P-50 (F5F) Skyrocket Grumman 1941 proposed modified F5F for USAAF
with tricycle landing gear
P-51 Mustang, Apache, North Amer. 1942 air superiority fighter, attack - later F-51
Peter-Dash-Flash, Spam Can, Stang
P-51 Enforcer North Amer. 1967 proposed FAC/light attack P-51
P-52 Bell 1940 proposed exper. contra-rotating pusher-propellor
twin boom fighter
P-53 Curtiss 1940 experimental fighter w/laminar wing - modified
P-40, later P-60
P-54 Swoose Goose Vultee 1943 experimental twin boom pusher-propellor
interceptor
P-55 Ascender, Ass-Ender Curt.-Wri. 1943 exper. tailless pusher-propellor fighter with canards
P-56 Black Bullet Northrop 1944 experimental tailless contra-rotating pusher-
propellor interceptor
P-57 Tucker Av. 1940 proposed exper. lightweight fighter
P-58 Chain Lightning Curtiss 1944 long-range twin boom escort fighter based on P-38
P-59 Bell 1941 contra-rotating pusher twin-boom fighter
based on P-52 - des. used to hide P-59A jet
P-59A/B Airacomet Bell 1942 1st American jet fighter-reused designation to
conceal project - later F-59
P-60 Curtiss 1941 experimental contra-rotating
propellors/laminar flow
fighter - modified/reengined P-53
P-61 (F2T) Black Widow Northrop 1942 night fighter, strategic recon. - later F-61
P-62 Curtiss 1943 experimental contrarotating propellors fighter
P-63 (F2L) Kingcobra Bell 1942 fighter-bomber - based on P-39E - later F-63
P-64 North Amer. 1940 to be exported to Siam but absorbed by USAAF -
fighter - modified trainer
P-65 (F7F) Tigercat Grumman 1942 cancelled USAAF fighter developed in parallel with USN
F7F
P-66 Vanguard Vultee 1941 export fighter absorbed by USAAF as trainer
P-67 Bat, Moonbat, McDonnell 1944 experimental fighter with semimonocoque-shaped
Bomber Destroyer fuselage - high altitude
P-68 Tornado Vultee 1941 proposed reengined P-54
P-69 Republic 1942 experimental high-altitude fighter
P-70 Night Havoc, Havoc Douglas 1941 night fighter, interceptor - mod. A-20
P-71 Curtiss 1943 experimental fighter with 2 contrarotating
pusher-propellors - bomber killer
P-72 Republic 1944 mod./reengined P-47 - buzz bomber/interceptor
P-73 and P-7415
P-75 Fisher Eagle Gen. Mot. 1943 exper. interceptor with contrarotating props.
P-76 Kingcobra Bell 1942 reengined/mod. P-63/P-39E
P-77 Bell 1944 experimental all-wood ultralight fighter
P-78 Mustang North Amer. 1942 original des. "Merlin"-engined P-51B
P-79 Flying Ram Northrop 1945 experimental flying wing - designed to slice
tails off bombers by ramming with reinforced wings
P-80 Shooting Star, Lead Lockheed 1944 fighter-bomber, interceptor - later F-80
(TO/TV) Sled, Lockheed Racer, T-Bird, T-Bag
P-81 Silver Bullet Convair 1945 jet + turboprop long-range escort fighter -
later F-81
P-82 Twin Mustang North Amer. 1945 escort/night fighter-2 P-51H fuselages joined
by 1 wing - later F-82
P-83 Bell 1945 experimental long-range jet escort fighter -
development P-59A - later F-83
P-84 Thunderjet, Hog, Republic 1946 fighter, attack - later F-84
Ground-Loving Whore, Lead Sled, Lieutenant Eater, Mechanic's Nightmare
P-85 Goblin McDonnell 1946 parasite fighter - later F-85
P-86 (FJ) Sabre North Amer. 1947 fighter - modified FJ - later F-86
P-87 Blackhawk Curtiss 1948 1st dedicated all-weather fighter; modified,
4-jet A-43 - later F-87
P-88 Voodoo McDonnell 1948? long-range escort fighter - competitor F-90 &
F-93 - redes. to F-88 - developed into F-101
P-89 Scorpion, FOD Vacuum, Northrop 1947 all-weather/night interdictor - later F-89
World's Largest Vacuum Cleaner, Stanley Steamer
P-90 Lockheed 1947 experimental long-range penetration fighter -
later F-90
P-91 Thunderceptor Republic 1947 experimental rocket-assisted swept wing with
inverse taper & variable incidence
wings - based on P-84 - later F-91
P-92 Dart Convair 1948 experimental - 1st delta-wing jet - later
F-92
PA-1 Loening 1922 pursuit-air cooled
PA-48 Enforcer Piper 1983 CAS/ground attack fighter loosely based on P-51 -
Congress directed USAF to evaluate in
1984, but not given official designation
PBB Sea Ranger Boeing 1942 USN patrol flying boat
PB2B Catalina Boeing 1943 Boeing-built modified PBY
PBJ (B-25) Mitchell North Amer. 1944 USMC/USN B-25
PBM Mariner Martin 1939 USN maritime patrol/ASW flying boat
PB2M Mars Martin 1942 USN large patrol flying boat - later JRM
PBN Nomad N.A.F. 1941 N.A.F.-built modified PBY
PBO Hudson Lockheed 1940 USN A-28/29
(A-28/29)
PBS-1 Flying Dreadnaught Sikorsky 1937 USN patrol bomber flying boat
PBS-2 Sikorsky 1929 USN patrol flying boat
PB2S Catalina Boe. Can. 1939 Boeing Canada-built PBY
PBV Catalina Vickers 1941 Candian-built PBY
PBY (OA-10/A-10) Catalina, Cat Consolid. 1936 USN/USMC/USCG maritime patrol flying boat -
later amphibian (-5) - production P3Y
PB2Y Coronado Consolid. 1937 USN 4-engine ocean patrol/ transport flying
boat
PB3Y Consolid. 1942 USN large patrol flying boat
PB4Y-1 Liberator Cons. Vul. 1942 USN/USMC/USCG B-24D antiship patrol bomber
(B-24)
PB4Y-2 Privateer Cons. Vul. 1943 USN/USMC maritime patrol bomber, ELINT -
(P4Y-2) converted PB4Y-1 (single tail)
PB-1 Ber.-Joy. 1935 Pursuit Biplace - redes. P-16
PB-2 Consolid. 1935 Pursuit Biplace - redes. P-30
PC-121 Constellation Douglas 1949 personnel transport C-121
PG-1 Aeromarine 1920 pursuit-ground attack
PG-1 Northwest 1943 powered CG-4
PG-2 Ridge/Ford/ 1943 powered glider
Northwestern
PG-3 Hadrian Waco 1946 powered CG-15 assault glider
PN-1 Curtiss 1921 pursuit-night/fighter
PQ-8 (TDC) Culver 1941 manned aerial target - converted A-8
PQ-9 Culver 1941 reengined PQ-8
PQ-10 Culver 1941 aerial target
PQ-11 Fletcher 1941 aerial target - mod. civilian FBT-2
PQ-12 Fleetwings 1941 aerial target
PQ-13 Eng. Res. 1941 aerial target
PQ-14 (TD2C) Culver 1941 modified PQ-8 - larger
PQ-15 Culver 1945 reengined PQ-14
(TD3C)
PS-1 Dayton-Wr. 1923 parasol wing alert Pursuit Special
PT N.A.F. 1922 USN biplane torpedo bomber - R-6L fuselage &
HS wing
PT-1 Trusty Consolid. 1924 biplane primary trainer - modified TW-3
PT-2 Trusty Consolid. 1928 reengined PT-1
PT-3 (NY) Trusty Consolid. 1928 uncowled engine PT-1 - new Clark Y airfoil
PT-4 Trusty Consolid. 1928 proposed reengined PT-3
PT-5 Trusty Consolid. 1929 reengined PT-3
PT-6 (N2Y) Husky Junior Fleet 1930 primary trainer
PT-7 Pinto Mohawk 1930 monoplane trainer
PT-8 Courier Consolid. 1931 modified O-17/PT-3
PT-9 Cloudboy Stearman 1931 primary trainer; converted to BT-3
PT-10 Sportsman Verville 1931 commercial pilot trainer
PT-11 Consolid. 1932 primary trainer; converted to BT-6
PT-12 Consolid. 1932 modified PT-11; converted to BT-7
PT-13 (NS) Kaydet, Stearman Stear.-Boe. 1936 primary trainer-production model
PT-14 Waco 1940 basic trainer biplane
PT-15 St. Louis 1940 primary trainer
PT-16 Maytag Messerchmitt Ryan 1939 1st all-metal monoplane primary trainer
PT-17 Kaydet, Stearman Stear.-Boe. 1938 reengined PT-13
(N2S)
PT-18 Kaydet, Stearman Stear.-Boe. 1938 reengined PT-17
PT-19 Cornell, Cradle Fairchild 1940 primary trainer
PT-20 Ryan 1940 primary trainer - modified PT-16
PT-21 Recruit Ryan 1940 modified PT-20
PT-22 (NR) Recruit Ryan 1940 primary trainer
PT-23 Cornell Fairchild 1941 reengined PT-19
PT-24 D.H.C. 1942 Canadian Reverse Lend/Lease trainer
PT-25 Ryan 1942 primary trainer
PT-26 Cornell Fairchild 1942 enclosed cockpit PT-19
PT-27 Kaydet, Stearman Boeing 1942 Lend-Lease (RCAF) reengined PT-13
20
PTBH Hall 1935 all-metal patrol, torpedo bomber flying boat
PW-1 Eng. Div. 1921 pursuit-water cooled/fighter
PW-2 Loening 1921 fighter
PW-3 ORENCO 1921 fighter
PW-4 Gallaudet 1921 fighter
PW-5 Fokker 1921 fighter
PW-6 Fokker 1921 fighter
PW-7 Fokker 1921 fighter
PW-8 (F6C) Curtiss 1923 fighter - development R-6 - later P-1 Hawk;
won fly-off against PW-9
PW-9 (FB) Boeing 1923 fighter - competitor PW-8
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