Below is a list of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations identified throughout this project and used within this website. Where appropriate, terminology from the Second World War period has been used.

A

AAU

Air Ambulance Unit (RAAF unit type)

ABDA

American-British-Dutch-Australian

AC

Aircraftman (rank; see Wikipedia)

Companion of the Order of Australia (Australian honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

AC1

Aircraftman 1st Class (rank; see Wikipedia)

AC2

Aircraftman 2nd Class (rank; see Wikipedia)

ACW

Aircraftwoman (rank; see Wikipedia)

AD

Aircraft Depot (RAAF unit type)

AFC

Air Force Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

Australian Flying Corps (see Wikipedia)

AFM

Air Force Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

AFRU

Advanced Flying and Refresher Unit (RAAF unit)

AGS

Air Gunnery School (RAAF unit)

AIF

Australian Imperial Force (see Wikipedia)

AM

Member of the Order of Australia (Australian honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

ANA

Australian National Airways (see Wikipedia)

ANS

Air Navigation School (RAAF unit type)

AO

Officer of the Order of Australia (Australian honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

AOP

Air Observation Post (RAAF unit type)

AOS

Air Observers School (RAAF unit type)

AP

Aircraft Park (RAAF unit type)

APU

Air Performance Unit (RAAF unit)

ARD

Aircraft Repair Depot (RAAF unit type)

ARRC

Associate of the Royal Red Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

ASRF

Air-Sea Rescue Flight (RAAF unit type)

AWM

Australian War Memorial

B

BAGS

Bombing and Gunnery School (RAAF unit type)

BEM

British Empire Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

BG

Bombardment Group (USAAF unit type)

BPSO

Base Personnel Staff Office (RAAF unit type)

BS

Bombardment Squadron (USAAF unit type)

BTU

Base Torpedo Unit (RAAF unit)

C

CAC

Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (see Wikipedia)

CB

Companion of the Order of the Bath (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

CBE

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

CFS

Central Flying School (RAAF unit)

CGM

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

CGS

Central Gunnery School (RAAF unit)

CH

Companion of Honour (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

CMU

Care and Maintenance Unit (RAAF unit type)

CN

Construction number

Cpl

Corporal (rank; see Wikipedia)

CRD

Central Recovery Depot (RAAF unit type)

CRTC

Combat Replacement and Training Center (USAAF unit)

CU

Communication Unit (RAAF unit type)

D

DAP

Department of Aircraft Production (see Wikipedia)

DCM

Distinguished Conduct Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

DFC

Distinguished Flying Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

Distinguished Flying Cross (US decoration; see Wikipedia)

DFM

Distinguished Flying Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

DSC

Distinguished Service Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

Distinguished Service Cross (US decoration; see Wikipedia)

DSD

Department of Supply and Development (see Wikipedia)

DSM

Distinguished Service Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

DSO

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

E

EATS

Empire Air Training Scheme (see Wikipedia)

ED

Embarkation Depot (RAAF unit type)

EFTS

Elementary Flying Training School (RAAF unit type)

F

F/Lt

Flight Lieutenant (rank; see Wikipedia)

F/O

Flight Officer (rank; see Wikipedia)

Flying Officer (rank; see Wikipedia)

F/Sgt

Flight Sergeant (rank; see Wikipedia)

FAA

Fleet Air Arm (see Wikipedia)

FBMU

Flying Boat Maintenance Unit (RAAF unit type)

FBRD

Flying Boat Repair Depot (RAAF unit type)

FEAF

Far East Air Force

FG

Fighter Group (USAAF unit type)

FS

Fighter Sector (RAAF unit type)

Fighter Squadron (USAAF unit type)

FTS

Flying Training School (RAAF unit type)

FW

Fighter Wing (RAAF unit type)

G

G/Capt

Group Captain (rank; see Wikipedia)

GC

George Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

GCMG

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

GM

George Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

GRS

General Reconnaissance School (RAAF unit)

H

HBRTU

Heavy Bomber Replacement Training Unit (RAAF unit)

HMAS

His Majesty's Australian Ship (see Wikipedia)

HMS

His Majesty's Ship (see Wikipedia)

I

IAF

Indian Air Force (see Wikipedia)

IAFD

Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot (RAAF unit type)

IJN

Imperial Japanese Navy (see Wikipedia)

ITS

Initial Training School (RAAF unit type)

K

KBE

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

KCB

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

KCMG

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

KCVO

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

KNILM

Royal Netherlands East Indies Airways (Dutch: Koninklijke Nederlandsch-Indische Luchtvaart Maatschappij; see Wikipedia)

L

LAC

Leading Aircraftman (rank; see Wikipedia)

LACW

Leading Aircraftwoman (rank; see Wikipedia)

M

MBE

Member of the Order of the British Empire (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

MC

Military Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

MCS

Medical Clearing Station (RAAF unit type)

MCU

Malaria Control Unit (RAAF unit type)

MID

Mentioned in Despatches (British award; see Wikipedia)

MLD

Netherlands Naval Aviation Service (Dutch: Marineluchtvaartdienst; see Wikipedia)

ML-KNIL

Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (Dutch: Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger; see Wikipedia)

MM

Military Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

MRS

Medical Receiving Station (RAAF unit type)

MSM

Meritorious Service Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

MSN

Manufacturer's serial number

MTU

Medical Training Unit (RAAF unit)

N

NAA

National Archives of Australia

NEA

North Eastern Area

NEI

Netherlands East Indies

NLA

National Library of Australia

NWA

North Western Area

O

OAM

Medal of the Order of Australia (Australian decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

OBE

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (British honour; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

OBU

Operational Base Unit (RAAF unit type)

OG

Operational Group (RAAF unit type)

OTU

Operational Training Unit (RAAF unit type)

P

P/O

Pilot Officer (rank; see Wikipedia)

PD

Personnel Depot (RAAF unit type)

PG

Pursuit Group (USAAF unit type)

POW

Prisoner of war

PRU

Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (RAAF unit)

PS

Pursuit Squadron (USAAF unit type)

PTU

Paratroop Training Unit (RAAF unit)

Q

QANTAS

Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (see Wikipedia)

QEA

Qantas Empire Airways

R

RAAF

Royal Australian Air Force (see Wikipedia)

RAF

Royal Air Force (see Wikipedia)

RAFVR

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (see Wikipedia)

RAN

Royal Australian Navy (see Wikipedia)

RANVR

Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (see Wikipedia)

RC

Recruit Centre (RAAF unit type)

RCAF

Royal Canadian Air Force (see Wikipedia)

RD

Recruit Depot (RAAF unit type)

RIMU

Radio Installation and Maintenance Unit (RAAF unit type)

RNZAF

Royal New Zealand Air Force (see Wikipedia)

RPP

Reserve Personnel Pool (RAAF unit type)

RRC

Member of the Royal Red Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

RS

Radar Station (RAAF unit type)

Reconnaissance Squadron (USAAF unit type)

RSU

Repair and Salvage Unit (RAAF unit type)

RVM

Royal Victorian Medal (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

S

S/Ldr

Squadron Leader (rank; see Wikipedia)

SAAF

South African Air Force (see Wikipedia)

SD

Stores Depot (RAAF unit type)

SDF

Special Duties Flight (RAAF unit)

SFTS

Service Flying Training School (RAAF unit type)

Sgt

Sergeant (rank; see Wikipedia)

STF

Seaplane Training Flight (RAAF unit)

STT

School of Technical Training (RAAF unit type)

SWPA

South West Pacific Area

T

TAF

Tactical Air Force

U

USAAC

United States Army Air Corps (see Wikipedia)

USAAF

United States Army Air Forces (see Wikipedia)

USMC

United States Marine Corps (see Wikipedia)

USN

United States Navy (see Wikipedia)

USNR

United States Naval Reserve (see Wikipedia)

V

VAOC

Volunteer Air Observers Corps (see Wikipedia)

VC

Victoria Cross (British decoration; post-nominal; see Wikipedia)

VDC

Volunteer Defence Corps (see Wikipedia)

W

W/AG

Wireless Operator / Air Gunner

W/Cdr

Wing Commander (rank; see Wikipedia)

W/O

Warrant Officer (rank; see Wikipedia)

WAAAF

Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (see Wikipedia)

WAGS

Wireless Air Gunners School (RAAF unit type)