F.A.A. aircraft were allocated to the R.A.F.
until late May, of 1939. Due to this the damage category codes used were the same as the
R.A.F., up to 1941, they were as follows :-
| Pre 1941 |
|
| Cat.U |
Undamaged |
| Cat.M(u) |
Capable of being repaired on site
by the operating unit |
| Cat.M(c) |
The repair is beyond unit
capacity. |
| Cat.R(B) |
Repair on site is not possible;
the aircraft must be dismantled and sent to a repair facility. |
| Cat.W |
Write-Off |
The Royal Navy at a latter date produced its own system of
categories for the subsequent classification of accidents to F.A.A. aircraft. This initial
system followed the same lines as the R.A.F., but used different code letters. An
Admiralty Fleet Order (No.2725/42) was issued in June of 1942, with the following codes.
| S |
Serviceable |
| X |
Serviceable by using local
resources |
| Y |
Considered worth repairing, but
not locally |
| Z |
W/O, to be S.O.C. |
As the war continued the Admiralty increased the number of
sub-categories, with the issue of Admiralty Fleet Order (No. 4362/43) issued in September,
1943, this system was introduce to more fully show the extent of damage to airframes.
| S |
Serviceable, within 48 Hours |
| X.1 |
Unserviceable, but repairable
within 14 days |
| X.2 |
Unserviceable, but repairable
locally, but owing to (a) lack of spare parts, (b) need of modification, (c) extent of the
repair will not make the a/c serviceable within 14 days |
| X/C |
Unserviceable, and needs a repair
party from contractor |
| Y.1 |
Major damage requiring repair in
a Naval Yard or Contractors Site |
| Y.2 |
A badly damaged airframe which
requires major work for serviceability. These airframes were recommended for disposal to a
repair yard or contractor’s for a "Category B" overhaul. |
| Z |
W/O, to be S.O.C. |
| Z.1 |
Beyond economical repair, to be
S.O.C, and to be reduced to spares |
| Z.2 |
Beyond economical repair, to be
S.O.C, and disposed of as scrap |
In November, 1944 the Admiralty again changed the system by
the issue of Admiralty Fleet Order (No. 6125/44), which applied to any accident including
forced landing and/or engine failure.
| SS |
No damage |
| LQ |
Light damage, repairable with
local resources |
| LX |
Light damage, repairable by
station or ship |
| LC |
Light damage, repairable by
station or ship, but with contractor’s party |
| LY |
Light damage, not repairable
locally |
| HX |
Heavy damage, repairable by
station or ship |
| HC |
Heavy damage, repairable by
station or ship, but with contractor’s party |
| HY |
Heavy damage, not repairable
locally |
| ZZ |
Lost, not repairable, or beyond
economic repair. |
|
