Forum: F-35 Lightning II

spazsinbad wrote:

...I'll investigate. V=Jet, M=USMC?
....

In Navy/ Marine parlance V is "fixed wing squadron" as VMA/ VMF/ VMG/ VMM/ VMR/ VMU;

vs H is "rotating wing squadron" (helicopters) HMH/ HML/ HMM/ HMT/ HMX

note: CH-46 HMM squardons are converting to MV-22 VMM squadrons. Smile

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fang wrote:

TNX guys, and what the marking VM and 01 stand for?
(btw, I don't see Eglin marking yet...)

V = heavier than air (Z = lighter than air, H = helicopter)

M = Marine

Last edited by maus92 on Oct 29, 2011 - 02:17 PM; edited 1 time in total

neptune wrote:

spazsinbad wrote:

...I'll investigate. V=Jet, M=USMC?
....

note: CH-46 HMM squardons are converting to MV-22 VMM squadrons. Smile

MV-22 = M (multimission) V (V/STOVL)

VMM = V (heavier than air) M (Marine) M (medium)

fang wrote:

TNX guys, and what the marking VM and 01 stand for?
(btw, I don't see Eglin marking yet...)

VMFAT-501, Warlords, April 1, 2010, MAG-31, 2nd MAW, Eglin AFB, FL

EG is for the Air Force a/c, VM is for the Marines; 01 is this squadron's first a/c.

168057 is the bureau no. it will carry while in service. The squadron no. "01" will change during it's service with different squadrons. Wink

neptune wrote:

fang wrote:

TNX guys, and what the marking VM and 01 stand for?
(btw, I don't see Eglin marking yet...)

VMFAT-501, Warlords, April 1, 2010, MAG-31, 2nd MAW, Eglin AFB, FL

EG is for the Air Force a/c, VM is for the Marines; 01 is this squadron's first a/c.

168057 is the bureau no. it will carry while in service. The squadron no. "01" will change during it's service with different squadrons. Wink

According to wiki, the sqdrn no' call MODEX
"Marine aircraft use three-digit modexes only when assigned to a carrier air wing. When land-based, they use two-digit modexes that do not include squadron information....."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modex

thanks everyone for the explanations

F-35 arrives at Eglin:

fang wrote:

neptune wrote:

fang wrote:

TNX guys, and what the marking VM and 01 stand for?
(btw, I don't see Eglin marking yet...)

VMFAT-501, Warlords, April 1, 2010, MAG-31, 2nd MAW, Eglin AFB, FL

EG is for the Air Force a/c, VM is for the Marines; 01 is this squadron's first a/c.

168057 is the bureau no. it will carry while in service. The squadron no. "01" will change during it's service with different squadrons. Wink

According to wiki, the sqdrn no' call MODEX
"Marine aircraft use three-digit modexes only when assigned to a carrier air wing. When land-based, they use two-digit modexes that do not include squadron information....."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modex

thanks everyone for the explanations

VM as a tail marking in the Marine Corps is unique to the squadron. In this usage it is not about 'fixed wing' or 'Marines' -- it is that particular squadron's tail marking and remains with the squadron unless it is assigned to a CVW. Other squadrons will have other tail markings -- e.g. WF, EA, CG, BH, WE, ES and many, many others. Now if we are talking about types of squadrons, V is for fixed wing, M is for Marines, F is for fighter, A is for attack, and T is for training. Verbally, Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 (five-oh-one). The first operational Marine squadron will be VMFA-332, which has the tail letters EA -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332 (three thirty-two).

Modex numbering is simply a way to differentiate aircraft in squadron service and for maintenance tracking. Every squadron that has aircraft will have a modex 01, although many squadrons start the numbering with 00.

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

BF-06 in the air, AF-13 to Eglin