See also:

Abbreviations Used Within Aircrew Remembered Website

43 Grp D/A:- 43 Group Deposit Account - a list of aircraft awaiting - or undergoing - repair or modification.

AACU:- Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit

AAP:- Aircraft Acceptance Park

A/C:- Aircraft

ADU:- Aircraft Delivery Unit

AEF:- Air Experience Flight

AFS:- Advanced Flying School

AGS Air Gunnery School

ANS:- Air Navigation School

ASS:- Air Signals School

ASU:- Aircraft Storage Unit

ATFERO:- Atlantic Ferry Organisation

AW/CN:- Awaiting Collection

AGT:- Airwork and General Trading - a firm undertaking work as part of the Civilian Repair Organisation

AST:- Air Service Training

BATF:- Beam/Blind Approach Training Flight

BCBS:- Bomber Command Bombing School

BDTF:- Bomber Defence Training Flight

BFTS:- Basic Flying Training School

BGS:- Bombing and Gunnery School

CF:- Communication Flight / Conversion Flight

CFS:- Central Flying School

CGS:- Central Gliding School / Central Gunnery School

(C) OTU:- (Coastal) Operational Training Unit

CRO:- Civilian Repair Organisation

CRP:- Contractor’s Repair Party

CS(A):- Controller of Supply (Aircraft)

DBF:- Destroyed by Fire

DBR:- Damaged Beyond Repair

E/F:- Engine Failure

EAAS:- Empire Air Armament School

ECFS:- Empire Central Flying School

EFTS:- Elementary Flying Training School

EandRFTS:- Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School

FA:- Flying Accident

FB:- Flying Battle

FBSU:- Flying Boat Servicing Unit

FEAF:- Far East Air Force

FIS:- Fighter Instructors School

F/L:- Forced Landing

FTFlt:- Ferry Training Flight

FTS:- Flying Training School

FTU:- Ferry Training Unit

FRU:- Fleet Requirements Unit

GAL:- General Aircraft Limited - part of the CRO

GR:- General Reconnaissance

GSU:- Group (or Ground) Support Unit

HCU:- Heavy Conversion Unit

HGCU:- Heavy Glider Conversion Unit

HTCU:- Heavy Transport Conversion Unit

IFTS:- Initial Flying Training School

MCU:- Mosquito Conversion Unit / Meteorological Conversion Unit

MEAF:- Middle East Air Force

MSFU:- Merchant Ship Fighter Unit

MU:- Maintenance Unit

NEA:- Non-Effective Airframe

OADF/U:- Overseas Aircraft Delivery Flight/Unit

(O)AFU:- (Observer) Advanced Flying Unit

OCU:- Operational Conversion Unit

OTU:- Operational Training Unit

(P)AFU:- (Pilot) Advanced Flying Unit

PATP:- Packed Aircraft Transit Pool

RAAA:- Repaired and Awaiting Allocation

RFS:- Reserve flying School

RIW:- Repaired in works

ROS:- Repaired on site

RS:- Radio School

RSU:- Repair and Salvage Unit

SFTS:- Service Flying Training School

SOC:- Struck Off Charge

SoT:- TSchool of Technical Training

Sqd:- Squadron

Sqn:- Squadron

UAS:- University Air Squadron

U/S:- Unserviceable

VGS:- Volunteer Gliding School

WFU:- Withdrawn from use

WS:- Wireless School

Damage Categories (Before 1941)

Cat. U:- Undamaged

Cat. M(u):- Capable of being repaired on site by the operating unit

Cat. M(c):- Beyond the unit’s capacity to repair

Cat. R(B):- Repair on site is not possible; the aircraft must be dismantled and sent to a repair facility

Cat. W:- Write-off

Damage Categories (1941 - 1952)

Cat. U:- Undamaged

Cat. A:- Aircraft can be repaired on site

Cat. Ac:- Repair is beyond the unit capacity, but can be repaired on site by another unit or a contractor)

Cat. B:- Beyond repair on site, but repairable at a Maintenance Unit or at a contractor’s works

Cat. C:- Allocated to Instructional Airframe duties (for ground training)

Cat E:- Write-off

Cat. E1:- Write-off, but considered suitable for component recovery

Cat. E2:- Write-off and suitable only for scrap

Cat. E3:- Burnt out

Cat. Em:- Missing from an operational sortie (Missing aircraft were categorised ‘Em’ after 28 days)

Damage Categories (1952 - 1961)

Cat. 1:- Undamaged and can remain in service.

Cat. 2:- Aircraft can be repaired within second line servicing capability of the parent or nearest unit.

Cat. 3:- The repair is beyond the capabilities of the parent or nearest unit, and will be carried out as indicated by the following suffixes:

Cat. 3 (Rep)C:- The aircraft is repairable on site by a contractor’s working party.

Cat. 3 (Rep)S:- The aircraft is repairable on site by a suitably qualified Service unit.

Cat. 3 (Rep)C:- FlyThe aircraft can be flown to the contractor’s works after temporary repair, if necessary, under restricted flight conditions.

Cat. 3 (Rep)C:- Deferred The aircraft may be flown under limiting conditions specified by the holding unit until a suitable repair date is agreed with the controlling authority. Cat. 3 (Rep)C Deferred Aircraft will ultimately be repaired by a contractor, while a Cat. 3 (Rep)S Fly Deferred aircraft will be handled by a suitable Service unit.

Cat. 4 (Rep):- Not repairable on site because special facilities and/or equipment is required. Aircraft in this category will be repaired at a contractor’s works after temporary repair, in necessary, and under restricted flight conditions.

Cat. 4 (Rogue):- The parent unit and/or controlling authority have conducted technical investigations and air tests and are satisfied that the aircraft has unsatisfactory flying characteristics.

Cat. 5(c):- Beyond economical repair or surplus, but is recoverable for breakdown to components, spares and scrap.

Cat. 5(s):- Beyond economical repair or surplus, and fit only for disposal for scrap.

Cat. 5(gi):- Beyond economical repair or surplus, but suitable for ground instructional use.

Cat. 5(m):- Missing.

Damage Categories (1961 - present)

Cat. 1:- Repairable on site by first line maintenance personnel.

Cat. 2:- Repairable on site by second line maintenance personnel.

Cat. 3:- Repairable on site but beyond the technical resources of the unit. Repairs will be done by a Service repair party (Cat.3(SER)), or civilian contractor’s working party (Cat. 3(CWP)). A Cat. 3(FLY) aircraft may be flown under limitations until repaired.

Cat.4:- The damage sustained requires special equipment not available on site and the aircraft must be moved for repair at an established Service repair depot. (Cat.4(SER)) or to a contractor’s works (Cat. 4(WKS)). A Cat. 4(FLY) aircraft may be flown from a site, after temporary repairs have been carried out, to the repair agency for full repairs.

Cat. 5:- The aircraft is damaged beyond economic repair.

Cat. 5(GI):- Damaged or surplus, but suitable for ground instructional use.

Cat. 5(COMP):- Beyond economical repair or surplus, but is salvage of components or spare parts is possible.

Cat. 5(SCRAP):- Beyond economical repair or surplus, and suitable for scrap only.

Cat. 5(MISSING):- Missing - presumed lost.

Any other abbreviations you feel we have missed are welcomed