The Battle of Midway
June 3 - 6, 1942
APPENDIX ONE:
GLOSSARY

Glossary

General Terms and
Abbreviations
 
AA Anti-aircraft
AAF Army Air Force
AVCDT Aviation Cadet
A-V(N) Naval Aviator, Reserve
A-V(S) Naval Aviator, Special Service, Reserve
BatDiv Battleship Division
BuNo Bureau Number
Buntaicho Japanese division officer
CAP Combat Air Patrol
CarDiv Carrier Division
CEAG Commander, Enterprise Air Group
CHAG Commander, Hornet Air Group
Chutai Japanese aviation unit (rough equivalent of a USN division)
Chutaicho Commander of a Chutai
CinC Commander in Chief
CinCPac Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet
CO Commanding Officer
Com Commander- i.e. ComBatDiv 2, Commander, Battleship Division 2
ComAirBatFor Commander, Aircraft, Battle Force
CominCh Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
ComO Communications Officer
CruDiv Cruiser Division
CYAG Commander, Yorktown Air Group
D-V(G) USNR Officer
DesDiv Destroyer Division
DesRon Destroyer Squadron
Division Aircraft- US aviation unit of four to nine planes
EO Engineering Officer
FO Flight Officer
GO Gunnery Officer
Hikokitai Japanese Carrier Air Group
Hikotaicho Japanese Carrier Air Group Officer
Kanbaku Japanese abbreviation for Carrier Bomber
Kanko Japanese abbreviation for Carrier Attack Plane
Kansen Japanese abbreviation for Carrier Fighter
Kido Butai Carrier Striking Force (Japanese Navy)
Koku Bokan Japanese aircraft carrier
Koku Butai Japanese naval air force
Koku Sentai Japanese carrier division
LSO Landing Signal Officer
MAD Marine Air Detachment
MAG Marine Air Group
NAP Naval Aviation Pilot
NAS Naval Air Station
OO Ordnance Officer
PO Photographic Officer
Section Aircraft- US aviation unit of two to four planes
Shotai Japanese aviation unit of two to four planes
Shotaicho Commander of a Shotai
Special Service Japanese officer promoted from enlisted man
Squadron Aircraft- aviation unit of 18 to 36 planes
SubDiv Submarine Division
SubRon Submarine Squadron
TF Task Force
TG Task Group
USAAC United States Army Air Corps
USMC United States Marine Corps
USMCR United States Marine Corps Reserve
USN United States Navy
USNA United States Naval Academy
USNR United States Naval Reserve
XO Executive Officer
YE Homing Signal Transmitter
ZB (Zed Baker) Homing Signal Receiver
   
Ranks  
ADM Admiral
Aviation Machinist's Mate Chief, Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st/2nd/3rd Class
ACMM, AMM1/c/2c/3c
Aviation Ordnance Man Chief, Aviation Ordanceman 1st/2nd/3rd Class
ACOM, AOM1c/2c/3c
  Chief, Aviation Pilot 1st/2nd Class
CAP, AP1c, AP2c
Aviation Pilot Chief, Aviation Pilot 1st/2nd Class
CAP, AP1c/2c
Aviation Radioman Chief, Aviation Radioman 1st/2nd/3rd Class
ACRM, ARM1c/2c/3s
BGEN Brigadier General
CAPT Captain
CDR Commander
Chief Photographer CP
CPL Corporal
ENS Ensign
Japanese Aviation Petty Officer Japanese Aviation Petty Officer 1st/2nd/3rd Class
PO1c/2c/3c
Japanese Flight Petty Officer Japanese Flight Petty Officer 1st/2nd/3rd Class
FPO1c/2c/3c
LCDR Lieutenant Commander
LGEN Lieutenant General
LT Lieutenant
LTCL Lieutenant Colonel
LT(jg) Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
Machinist Chief, Machinist
CHMACH, MACH
MARGUN Marine Gunner
MGEN Major General
PhM1c Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class
PVT Private
RADM Rear Admiral
SEA1c/2c/3c Seaman 1st/2nd/3rd Class
Aviation Seaman, 1st Class/2nd Class (Japanese)
SGT Sergeant
TM2c Torpedoman 2nd Class
VADM Vice Admiral
WO Japanese Warrant Office (Aviation Rate)
   
Ship Types  
AK Cargo Ship
AM Minesweeper
AO Fleet Oiler
AOG Gasoline Tanker
APV Transport and Aircraft Ferry
AS Submarine Tender
AT Fleet Tug
AV (or CVS) Seaplane Tender
BB Battleship
CA Heavy Cruiser
CL Light Cruiser
CV Aircraft Carrier
CVL Light Aircraft Carriers
DD Destroyer
PT Motor Torpedo Boat
SS Submarine
YP Patrol Vessel
   
US Squadron Designations  
VB USN Bombing Squadron
VCS USN Cruiser Scouting Squadron
VF USN Fighter Squadron
VMF US Marine Fighter Squadron
VMSB US Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron
VO USN Observation Squadron
VP USN Patrol Squadron
VS USN Scouting Squadron
VT USN Torpedo Squadron
  NOTE: This is usually followed by the hull number of the carrier to which they are attached (i.e. VF-6 is CV-6 USS Enterprise fighter squadron). However, during this battle, CV-5 USS Yorktown carried planes from CV-3 USS Saratoga, which did not participate the battle.
   
USN and USMC Aircraft  
  Brewster F2A-3 "Buffalo"
  Consolidated PB2Y-2 "Coronado"
  Consolidated PBY-5/-5A/-5B "Catalina"
  Curtiss SOC-3 "Seagull"
  Douglas R4D-1 "Skytrain"
  Douglas SBD-2/-3 "Dauntless"
  Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator"
  Grumman F4F-3/-4 "Wildcat"
  Grumman TBF-1 "Avenger"
  Vought SB2U-3 "Vindicator"
   
USAAC Aircraft  
  Boeing B-17D/E "Flying Fortress"
  Curtiss P-40E "Warhawk"
  Martin B-26B "Marauder"
   
Japanese Squadron
Designations
 
Kanjo Bakugekikitai IJN Carrier Bomber Unit (USN equivalent- VB)
Kanjo Sentokitai IJN Carrier Fighter Unit (USN equivalent- VF)
Kanjo Kogekikitai IJN Carrier Attack Unit (USN equivalent- VT)
  NOTE: Japanese carrier squadrons were named after the ship on which they served. Therefore, Hiryu's fighter squadron was Hiryu Kanjo Sentokitai.
   
Japanese Naval Aircraft  
  Aichi D3A1 Type 99 "Val" Carrier Bomber
  Aichi E13A1 Type 00 "Jake" Reconnaissance Floatplane
  Kawanishi E7K2 Type 94 "Alf" Reconnaissance Floatplane
  Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 00 "Zeke" (Zero) Carrier Fighter
  Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 "Betty" Land Bomber
  Nakajima B5N2 Type 97 "Kate" Carrier Attack Plane
  Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 "Dave" Reconnaissance Floatplane
  Yokosuka D4Y1 Type 2 "Judy" Experimental Carrier Bomber
  NOTE: The use of Allied codenames did not begin until late 1942, after the Battle of Midway was fought.

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