FighterControl

So the square D is the insignia of 'The darn Hundredth' and currently the 100th ARW, but that does not appear on the list of USAF tail-codes. Anyone know the reason behind that please?

Some gismo keeps converting 'darn' into 'Darn'!

Exactly as you describe it "square D" is more like a squadron badge rather than airbase tail code. I doubt the USAF system would allow a single letter either.

Snoop 95 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 14, 2023 5:06 pm

So the square D is the insignia of 'The darn Hundredth' and currently the 100th ARW, but that does not appear on the list of USAF tail-codes. Anyone know the reason behind that please?

Some gismo keeps converting 'darn' into 'Darn'!

Historical dispensation.

The Square D marking on the 100th ARW KC135's at Mildenhall relate to the time when the darn 100th operated B17's out of Thorpe Abbots. The US ARMY AF used a symbol on the fin to indicate the DIVISION that the Bomb Group was assigned. The Ist Division used a Triangle, the 2nd Division used a Circle and the Third Division a Square. Each of the Squadrons in the various Bomb Groups used Squadron Codes as per the RAF practice of which the USAAF codes were an extension.
The term 'darn 100th' comes about not because the Group lost the most aircraft during the war but because it lost the most aircraft during one mission when only ONE B17 returned to Thorpe Abbots.
Above the Square D on the KC135's is a British Crown which I believe is the only unit in the, now USAF, to display a Crown.
The Square D symbol also adorns the New Control Tower at Mildenhall.
Hope this is of interest and clarifies things.

It must confuse people expecting to see a C on the tower!

So is it Darn or darn Hundredth? I've always heard darn Hundredth.....?

Just type it as blooody and it's good

The 100th BG was called the darn Hundredth.

Darn autocorrect

Hematic Hundredth