H2S Airborne radar navigational and target location aid
H2X - American version of H2S
HAAPC - Heavy antiaircraft Practice Camp
HAD - Home Aircraft Depot
(HB) - Heavy Bomber
(HB)CU - (Heavy Bomber) Conversion Unit
HCCS - Home Command Communications Squadron
HCEU - Home Command Examining Unit
HCF - Helicopter Communications Flight/Home Communications Flight
HCU - Heavy Conversion Unit
HD - Home Defence
Hdlg Sqn - Handling Squadron
HDU - Helicopter Development Unit
HE - (movements) Home Establishment?
HFF - Heavy Freight Flight
HFU - Home Ferry Unit
HGCU - Heavy Glider Conversion Unit
HGMU - Heavy Glider Maintenance Unit
HGSU - Heavy Glider Servicing Unit
HGTU - Heavy Glider Training Unit
HKAAF - Hong KOng Auxiliary Air Force
HKFS - Hong Kong Fighter Squadron
HKVA - Hong Kong Volunteer Air Force
HMS - His/Her Majesty's Ship
HMT - His/Her Majesty's Transport Ship
HOCF = Helicopter Operational Conversion Flight
Hptm - Hauptman
HQ - Headquarters
HQ AC - Headquarters Air Cadets (RAFC Cranwell)
HQ ATA - Head Quarters Air Transport Auxiliary
HQ EFT - Headquarters Elementary Flying Training
HQ FPP - Head Quarters Ferry Pilots Pool
HQ P&SS - Headquarters Provost & Security Services - 'Snowdrops'
HQ PTC - Headquarters Personnel & Training Command (RAF Innsworth)
HQ STC - Headquarters Strike Command
HQ TAF - Head Quarters Tactical Air Force
HS Flt - High Speed Flight
HST - High Speed Telegraphist
HTCU - Heavy Transport Conversion Unit
(HTS)CU - (Heavy Transport Support) Conversion Unit

(I) - India
IAAD - Inland Area Aircraft Depot
IAAS - Inland Area Aircraft School
IAF - Indian Air Force
IAFVR - Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve
IAP - Izvidacki Avijacijcki Puk, (Reconnaissance Aviation Regiment)
IAPF - Inland Area Practice Flight
IAvMed - Institution of Aviation Medical CCF Iraq Command Communication Flight
ICF/S - Italy Communication Flight/Squadron
IDF - Iraq Defence Flight
IE - Initial Establishment
IFDU - Intensive Flying Development Unit
IFIS - Irish Flying Instructors School
IFS - Instrument Flying Squadron
IFTS - Initial Flying Training School
IFTU - Instrument Flying Training Unit/Intensive Flying Trials Unit
IGT - Initial Gliding Training (Air Cadets)
ILF - Independent Liaison Flight
Int - Interned
IoM - Isle of Man
I/O - Intelligence Officer
IR - Immediate Reserve
IRF - In dependant Reconnaissance Flight
IRRU - Instant Readiness Reserve Unit
IR&SU - Immediate Reserve & Support Unit
ISF - Internal Security Flight
ITF/S - Instrument Raining Flight/Squadron
ITS - Initial Training School
ITW - Initial Training Wing (3 ITW. St. Leonards 8 ITW/ Newquay - Cornwall)

JARIC - Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre
JASS - Joint Ani-Submarine School
JATE - Joint Air Transport Establishment
JCU - Jet Conversion Unit (Bomber Command Jet Conversion Unit)
JEFTS - Joint Elementary Flying Training Squadron
JEHU - Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit
JFACT&SU - Joint Forward Air Controllers Training & Standards Unit
JGWTU - Joint Guided Weapons Training Unit
JHDU - Joint Helicopter Development Unit
JPTU - Jet Provost Trials Unit
JTF - Jet Training Flight
JSPI - Joint School of Photographic Interpretation
JSSC - Joint Services Staff College
JSSPT - School for Jungle Self Preservation Training
JSTU - Joint Services Trials Unit
JTU - Joint Trials Unit
JWE - Joint Warfare Establishment

KAAU - Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit
KAF - Kenya Air Force
KF - King's Flight
KLFS - Kula Lumpur Fighter Squadron
KUAS - Kent University Air Squadron

LAAGS - Light Anti-Aircraft Gunnery School
LAAPC - Light Anti-Aircraft Practice Camp
LAC - Leading Aircraftman
LACW - Leading Aircraft woman
LAS - Light Aircraft School
LCF - Lincoln Conversion Flight
LFS - Lancaster Finishing School (1 LFS RAF Hemswell)
LG - Landing Ground
LLF - Light Liaison Flight
LLTU - Leigh Light Training Unit
LNSF - Light Night Striking Force, of Mosquitoes of 8 Group
LRFG - Long Rang Desert Group
:RFU - Long Rang Ferry Unit
LRDF - Long Range Development Flight
LRDU - Long Range Development Unit
LRWRE - Long Range Weapons Research Establishment
LTW - Lyneham Transport Wing
LRWE - Long Range Weapons Research Establishment

MAAF - Mediterranean Allied Forces/Malayan Auxiliary Air Force
MAC - Mediterranean Air Command
MACAF - Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force
MACP - Medic Air Command Post { Tedders's H.Q. La Marsa, Tunis ]
MAD - Marine Acceptance Depot
MAED - Marine Aircraft Experimental Depot
MAEE - Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment
MAEU - Marine Aircraft Experimental Unit
MAFIS - Midlands Area Flying Instructors School
MAP - Ministry of Aircraft Production
MAREL - Moveable Air Reconnaissance Exploitation Unit
MASFS - Midlands area School of Special Flying
MASR&CF - Malta Air Sea Rescue & Communications Flight
MATAF - Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Forces
MC - Military Cross
MCA - Ministry of Civil Aviation
MCC&FF - Maintenance Command Communication and Ferry Flight
MCJTF - Maintenance Command Jet Training Flight
MCS - Metropolitan Communication Squadron
MC&TTS - Malta Communication & Target Towing Flight
MCU - Mosquito Conversion Unit/ Meteorological Conversion Unit
Me - Messerschmitt
ME - Middle East
MEAC - Middle East Air Command
MEAF - Middle East Air Force
MEAFITF - Middle East Air Force Instrument Training Flight
MEAFTTU - Middle East Air Force Target Towing Unit
MEAS - Middle East Armament School
MECGS - Middle East Central Gunnery School
MedMe - Mediterranean and Middle East
MEF - Middle East Forces
MEFC - Middle East Ferry Control
MENVTS - Middle East Night Vision Training School
MEP&AP - Middle East Pilot & Aircrew Pool
Met Res - Meteorological Research
METS - Middle East Training School
MFNU - Malta Night Fighter Unit
MFPU - Mobile Field Photographic Unit
MGSP - Mobile Glider Servicing Party
Min Tech - Ministry of Technology
MID - Mentioned in Dispatches
Mk - Mark
MMESTF/S - Mediterranean& Middle East Special Transport Flight/Squadron
MO - Medical Officer
MOA - Ministry of Aviation
MOD - Ministry of Defence
MOD(PE) Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive)
MORU - Mobile Operations Room Unit
MOS - Marine Observation School
MoS - Ministry of Supply
MOTU - Marine Operational Training Unit
MRES - Missing Research and Enquiry Service
MRF - Meteorological Research Flight
MRS - Maritime Recognisance School
MR squadron - Medium Reconnaissance squadron
MSFU - Merchant Ship Fighter Unit
MSR -- Morse Slip Reader
MSU - Maintenance Sub Unit
MT - Mechanical Transport
MTD - Mechanical Transport Driver
MTLRU - Mechanical Transport Light Repair Unit
MTU - Mosquito Training Unit
MU - Maintenance Unit
MUG - Mid Upper Gunner

NA - North Africa
NAAFI - Navy, Army, Air Force Institute
NARD - Northern Aircraft Repair Depot
NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Nav - Navigator
Navex - Navigation Exercise
NAWW - Night All-weather Wing
NCS - Northern Communication Squadron
NCU - Night Conversion Unit
NCO - Non Commissioned Officer
NEA - Non effective Airframe
NEAR - Near East Air Force
NEAFIS - North Eastern Air Flying Instructors School
NEI - Netherlands East Indies
NFD - No further Data
NFDS/W/U - Night Fighter development Squadron/Wing/Unit
NFF - Night Fighter Flight
NFLS - Night Fighter Leaders School
NFT - No further trace
NFT - Night Flying Test
NFTS - Night Fighter Training Squadron
NI CF - Night Conversion Flight
NORAD - North American Air Defence (Command)
NSDU - Navigation synthetic Development Unit
NSPTF - Navigators Staff Pilot Training Flight
NT - No Trace
NTB - Norwegian Training Base
NTS - (Night) Training Squadron
NTU - Navigation Training Unit, Pathfinder Force
NTU - No take up
NVITS - Night Vision Instructors Training School
NVTS - Night Vision Training School
NwAAF - North West African Air Forces
NwAASC - North West African Air Service Command
NwACAF - North West African Coastal Air Force
NwASAF - North West African Strategic Air Forces
NwATAF - North West African Tactical air Force
NwATBF - North West African Training Bomber Force
NwATC - North West African Training Command
NZF - New Zealand Flight

OADF/U - Overseas Aircraft Delivery Flight/Unit
(O)AFU - Observers Advanced Flying Unit
OANS - Observers Air Navigation School
OAPU - Overseas Aircraft Preparation Unit
OAR - Obusna Aeroplansva Radionica, (District Aviation Workshop)
OATS - Officers Advanced Training School
Oblt - Oberleutnant
Obs - Observation (USAAF)
OBS - Observer School
OC - Officer Commanding (or CO)
OCTU - Officer Cadet Training Unit
OCU - Operational Conversion Unit
OEU - Operational Evaluation Unit
OIC - Officer's Initial Course (for RAFVR (T) officers, conducted at ACTC)
OP: -Operation
OFU - Overseas Ferry Unit
Opl - Operational
ORB - Operations Record Book (Form 540), monthly summaries: Form 541 for accompanying Appendices containing important details of specific events
ORTU - Operational & Refresher Training Unit
OS - Observers School
(O)SoAG - Observers School of Reconnaissance& Ariel Gunnery
OSC - Officers Senior Course (for RAFVR (T) officers, conducted at ACTC)
OSC - Overseas Staff College
OSR&AP - Observers School of Reconnaissance& Ariel Gunnery
OTSCU - Officer Training School Conversion Unit
OTU - Operational and Refresher Training Unit
OTW - Operational Training Wing
OUAS - Oxford University Air Squadron

PAF - Polish Air Force
(P)AFU - Pilots Advanced Flying Unit
PAS/U - Pilotless Aircraft Section Unit
PATP - Packed Aircraft Transit Pool
PCCS - Protectorate Communication & Support Unit
PD - Packing Depot
PDC - Personnel Despatch Centre
PDRC - Personnel Dispatch and Reception Centre
PDU - Photographic Development Unit
PEE - Proof & Experimental Establishment Shoeburyness
PEFTS - Polish Elementary Flying Training School
PES - Parachute Exercise Squadron
PF - Practice Flight
PFF - Pathfinder Force
PFFNTU - Pathfinder Force Navigational Training Unit
PFS - Parachute Flying Section/Primary Flying School
PFTS - Polish Flying Training School
PFU - Practice Flying Unit
PGTF - Polish Grading & Testing Flight
PGTS - Parachute& Glider Training School
PHU - Personnel Holding Unit
PIU - Photographic Intelligence Unit
P/O - Pilot Officer
POTU - Polish Operational Training Unit
POW - Prisoner of War
PPF - Parachute Practice Flight
PPP - Pupils Pilots Pool
PR - Photographic Reconnaissance
PRC - Personnel Reception Centre
PRDU/E - Photographic Reconnaissance Development Unit/ Establishment
PRFU/S - Pilots Refresher Flying Unit/School
PRTU - Pilot Refresher Training Unit
PRRP - Pilots Reserve & Reinforcement Poll (Middle East)
PRU - Photographic Reconnaissance Unit/Pilot Replacement Unit
PS - Parachute School
PTC - Parachute Training Centre/Personnel Transit Camp
PTF - Parachute Test Flight
PTS - Parachute Training school/Squadron/ Section
PTU - Parachute Test Unit/ Parachute Training Unit
PTURP - Pilots Training Unit & Reinforcement Pool (see also TURP)
PWF - Psychological Warefare Unit

QF - Queens Flight
QFI - Qualified Flying Instructor

(R) Reserve
RAAF - Royal Australian Air Force / Royal Auxiliary Air Force
RAuxAF - Royal Auxiliary Air Force
R&D - Research & Development
RAE - Royal Aircraft/Aerospace Establishment
RAF - Royal Air Force
RAF(B)ITS - Royal air Force (Belgium) Initial Training School
RAFASU - RAF Armament Support Unit (formerly BCAS)
RAFC - Royal Air Force College
RAFD - RAF Depot - No.1 Uxbridge 1939
RAFFC - Royal Air Force Flying College
RAFG - Royal Air Force Germany
RAFM - RAF Mission
RAFNI - Royal Air Force Northern Ireland
RAFRS - Royal Air Force Regiment School
RAFSC - Royal Air Force Staff College
RAFSCOCF - Royal Air Force Staff College Overseas Communication Flight
RAFTC - Royal Air Force Technical College
RAFVR - Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
RAP - Reserve Aircraft Pool
RAS - Reserve Aeroplane School
RAT Flight - Radio Aids Training Flight
RATG - Rhodesian Air Training Group
RATW - Rhodesian Air Training Wing
RC - Recruiting Centre
RCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force
RCASU - Radar Controlled Air Survey Unit
RCFS - Rhodesian Central Flying School
RCGIS - Reserve Command Gliding Instructors School
RCIFF - Reserve Command Intensive Flying Flight
RCITF - Reserve Command Instrument Training Flight
RCTF - Reserve Command Training Flight
RCM Squadron Flight - Radio Counter Measures Squadron Flight
RDAF - Royal Danish Air Force
RDF - Radio Direction Finder
RDFCF - Radio Direction Finding Calibration Flight
RDFS - Radio Direction Finding School
REAF - Royal Egyptian Air Force
Recce - Reconnaissance
Revd - Reverend
RFC - Royal Flying Corpse
RFF - Refresher Flying Flight
RFS - Reserve Flying School
RFTS - Refresher Flying Training School
RFU - Refresher Flying Unit
R/G - Rear Gunner
RHAF - Royal Hellenic Air Force
RIAF - Royal Indian Air Force
RLF - Rapid Landing Flight
RLG - Relief Landing Ground
RM - Royal Marine
RMAF - Royal Malaysian Air Force
RMF - Radar (Radio) Meteorological Flight
RMS - Royal Mail Ship
RMU - Radio Maintainance Unit
RN - Royal Navy
RNAF - Royal Norwegian Air Force
RNAS - Royal Naval Air Station/Service
RNAW - Radar Navigation Aids Wing
RNCU - Radar Navigation Conversion Unit
RNEFTS - Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School
RNethAF - Royal Netherlands Air Force
RNFS - (Royal Naval Fighter Squadron
RNZAF - Royal New Zealand Air Force
ROC - Royal Observer Corps
ROS - Repairable on Site
RPAF - Royal Pakistan Air Force
RRAF - Royal Rhodesian Air Force
RRE - Radar Research Establishment
RRF(U) - Radio Reconnaissance Flight (Unit)
RRFU - Radar Research Flight
RS - Radio School (No.10 Carew Cheriton)/Reserve School/Reserve Squadron
RS&RE - Royal Signals & Radar Establishment
R&SS - Repair & Salvage Section
R&SU - Repair & Salvage Unit
RSS - Radion Servicing Section
RSU - Repair & Servicing Unit /Repair and Salvage Unit
R/T radio telegraphy
RTP - Recruit Training Pool
RU - Repair Unit
RWE - Radio Warfare Establishment
RYAFTU - Royal Yugoslav Air Force Technical Unit

SAAF - South African air Force
SAC - Senior Aircraftman
SACEUR - Supreme Allied Commander Europe
SAOEU - Strike Aircraft Operational Evaluation Unit
SAN - School of Air? Navigation
SAP - School of Air Pilotage
SAR - Search & Rescue
SAR - Sanostacna Aeroplansva Radionica, (Independent Aviation Workshop)
SARD - Southern Aircraft Repair Depot
SARTU/S - Search and Rescue Training Unit/Squadron
SAS - Servicing Aircraft Section
SASO - Senior Air Staff Officer
Satt - Satellite
SBA - Standard Beam Approach
S/C Sergeant Chef
SC - Salvage Centre
SC - Strike Command
SCBS - Strike Command Bombing School
SCCS - Strike Command Communication Squadron
SCDU - Strike Command Development Unit
SCF - Sqadron Conversion Flight
SCR - School of Control & Reporting
SCS - Southern Communication Squadron/Special Communication Squadron
SD - Special Duty/Special Duties/Stores Depot
SD155. - Operational Memorandum
SDF - Special Duties Flight
SD(R)DU - Special Duties (Radio) Development Unit
SDU - Signals Development Unit
SEAAC - South East asia Air Command
SEAC - South East Asia Command
SEACF - South Eastern Area Communication Flight
SEAFIS - South Eastern Area Flying Instructors School
SEASI - South Eastern Area School of Instruction
SEF - Special Experimental Flight
SEP - Special Erection Party (Gibraltar)
SF - Station Flight
SFC - School of Flying Control
SFCS - Squadron & Flight Commanders School
SFF - Service Ferry Flight/Special Forces Flight
(S)FPP - (Service) Ferry Pilots Pool
SFT - School of Flying Training
SFTS - Service Flying Training School
SFU - Signal Flying Unit
Sgt - Sergeant
SGR - School of General Reconnaissance
SGR&AN - School of General Reconnaissance & Air Navigation (India)
SHAEF - Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
SHQ - Station Head Quarters
SIF - Special Instruction Flight
SIF/U - Special Installation Flight/Unit
Sigs - Signals
SITF - Station Instrument Training Flight
SIU - Signals Intelligence Unit
SIS - Secret Intelligence Service
S/L or S/Ldr - Squadron Leader
SLAIS - Specialised Low Attack Instructors School
SLAW - School of Land/Air Warfare
SMR - School of Maritime Reconnaissance
SN-2 - German night fighter radar
SNC - School of Naval Cooperation
S of TT - or STT -School of Technical Training (1 S of TT = RAF Halton 4S of TT = RAF St. Athan 5 Sof TT =RAF Locking)
SoAC - School of Army Co-operation
SoAF - School of Air Fighting
SoAF&G - School of Air Fighting and Gunnery
SOAF&BD - School of Air Fighting & Bomb Dropping
SoAFTT(1) - School of Air Force Technical Training (India)
SoAG - School of Air Gunnery
SoAN&BD - School of Aerial Navigation & Bomb Dropping
SoASR - School of Air Sea Rescue
SoAS - School of Air Navigation
SoAT - School of Air Transport
SoATC - School of Air Traffic Control
SOC - Struck off Charge
SOE - Special Operations executive
SOF - Special Operations Flight
SoFP - School of Fighter Plotting
SofP - School of Photography
Soi - School of Instruction
SoN&BD - School of Navigation & Bomb Dropping
SoNC&AN - School of Naval Cooperation & Aerial Navigation
SoMA - School of Military Aeronautics
SoPT - School of Parachute Training
SoSF - School of Special Flying
SoWT - School of Wireless Telephony
SP - Staging Post
SP - Service Police
SPTU - Staff Pilots Training Unit
Sq/Sqn/Sqd - Squadron
SRAF - Southern Rhodesian Air Force
SRCU - Short Range Conversion Unit
SRF - School of Refresher Flying/Sea Rescue Flight/Search& Rescue Flight
SRTS - Short Range Transport Squadron
SRTU - Survival& Rescue Training Unit
SRU - Strategic Reconnaissance Unit
SRW - Strategic Reconnaissance Wing
S/S - Staff Sergeant
SS - Signals School/Salvage Section
SSC - Senior Supervisor's Course (for senior QGI's, conducted at
ACCGS - similar to regular Flying Supervisors Course)
SSF - Special Service Flight/Special Survey Flight
SSQ - Station Sick Quarters
SSTT - Supplementary School of Technical Training
SSU - Sentry Standards Unit
SSVAF - Straight Settlment Volunteer Air Force
STDU - Synthetic Training development Unit
STF - Seaplane Training Flight/Special Training Flight
STS - Seaplane Training Squadron/Special Transport Flight
S&TT - Station & Target Towing
SU - Support Unit/Servicing Unit
SWAFIS - South Western Areas Flying Instructors School
SWTS - Supplementary Wireless Telegraphy School
SWO - Station Warrant Officer
SWUAS - South Wales University Air Squadron

TADU - Target Aircraft Development Unit/Training Aids Development Unit
TAF - Tactical Air Force
TAFSU - Tactical Air Force Support Unit
TAG - Telegraphist Air Gunner (Fleet Air Arm)
TAMU - Transport Aircraft Maintenance/Modification Unit
TARU - Transport Aircraft Repair Unit
TB - Torpedo Bomber
TBF - Torpedo Bomber Fighter
TBS - Torpedo & Bombing School
TC - Training Command (Later Transport Command)
TCAEU - Transport Command Aircrew Examining Unit
TCASF - Transport Command Air Support Flight
TCBU - Transport Command Base Unit
TCDU/F - Transport Command Development Unit
TCEU - Transport Command Examining Unit
TCFCS - Transport Command Flight Commanders School
TCICU - Transport Command Initial Conversion Unit
TCMF - Transport Command Meteorological Flight
TCNVTS - Transport Command Night Vision Training School
TCPS - Transport Command Practice Flight
TCU - Transport Conversion Unit
TDS - Training Depot Station
TDU/F/S - Torpedo Development Unit/Flight/Section
TDU - Tactical Development Unit
TEE - Test & Evaluation Establishment
TEU - Tactical Exercise Unit
TF - Training Flight/Task Force
TFF - Target Facilities Flight
TFPP - Temporary Ferry Pilots School/ Training Ferry Pilots Pool
TFP - Training Ferry Pool
TFS/F - Target Facilities Squadron
TFU - Telecommunications Flying Unit - Defford 1941-57
TPS - Test Pilots School
TI - Target Indicator
T/O - Take off
TRE - Telecommunications Research Establishment
Trg - Training
TRS - Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron/Torpedo Refresher School
TS - Training School/Training Squadron
YSCU - Transport Support Conversion Unit
TSPC - Transport Support Practice Camp
TSR - Torpedo Spotter reconnaissance
TSTU - Transport Support Training Unit
TT - Target Towing
TTC - Technical Training Command
TTF - Target Towing Flight/Towed Target Flight/Tanker Training Flight/Torpedo Training Flight/Transport Training Flight
TT&G - Target Towing & Gunnery
TTS = Torpedo Training School/Squadron
TTU - Torpedo Training Unit/ Target Towing Unit
TURP - Training Unit & Reserve School
TWDU - Tactical weapons Development Unit
TWU - Tactical Weapons Unit

U/C Undercarriage
USAAC - United States Army Air Corps
USAAF - United States Army Air Force
UAS - University Air Squadron
UED - Universal Equipment Depot
USAAC/F United States Army Air Corpse/Flight