It must be recognized that there is no definitive listing of abbreviations used amongst WWI aviation historians. Even in official publications there are differences in commonly used abbreviations--both among official publications and within official publications. The partial listing of World War I abbreviations is based on a listing of abbreviations commonly used by authors of various WWI aviation journals, as well as in official publications and is provided with the objective of achieving a sense of uniformity and consistency in the material presented in the Journal.
| Abbreviation | German/Austro-Hungarian | English Translation or Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Abt. | Abteilung | section, unit |
| Ad | Adler-Werke vorm. H. Kleyer AG, Frankfurt | Adler works [as in Adler Ad.IV] |
| a.D. | ausser Dienst | not on military status, retired |
| AEG | Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft, Hennigsdorf | general electric company |
| AFP | Armee-Flugpark | army aviation park |
| AFS | Artillerie-Flieger-Schule | artillery flying school |
| AG | Aktien-Gesellschaft | stock company |
| Ago | Ago Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Johannisthal | Ago aircraft works |
| A-H | Österreich-Ungarn | Austro-Hungarian/Austria-Hungary |
| AK | Armeekorps | army corps |
| Alb | Albatros Gesellschaft für Flugzeugunternehmungen mbH, Johannisthal | Albatros company for aviation enterprises |
| AOK | Armee-Oberkommando | army high command |
| As | Argus Motoren-Gesellschaft mbH, Berlin | Argus engine company [as in Argus As.III] |
| Av | Automobil und Aviatik AG, Leipzig | Aviatik company |
| B | bayerische | Bavarian (following or preceding an aviation section) |
| Bak | Ballon-Abwehr-Kanone | anti-balloon cannon (early war term for flak) |
| Batl | Bataillon | battalion |
| Battr | Batterie | battery |
| Bayru | Bayerische Rumpler-Werke AG, Augsburg | Bavarian Rumpler works [as in Rumpler C.IV (Bayru)] |
| Bay | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, München | Bavarian aircraft works [as in Albatros C.Ia (Bay)] |
| Be | Seebacher Maschinenbau AG, (Becker) Seebach-Zürich | Seebacher machine company [as in Argus As.III (Be)] |
| Beob | Beobachter | observer |
| Bus | Basse & Selve, Altena | Basse & Selve company [as in Basse & Selve Bus.IVa] |
| B-Zug | Ballonzug | balloon train |
| BAM | Brieftauben-Abteilung Metz | carrier pigeon section, Metz (code name for bombing section) |
| BAO | Brieftauben-Abteilung Ostend | carrier pigeon section, Ostend (code name for bombing section) |
| BFW | Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG, München | Bavarian aircraft works [as in BFW Cl.I] |
| BMW | Bayerische Motoren-Werke AG, München | Bavarian engine works [as in BMW.IIIa] |
| Bogohl, BG | Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung | bombing squadron of the high command |
| Brand | Hansa und Brandenburgische Flugzeugwerke AG, Briest | Hansa-Brandenburg aircraft works |
| Bz | Benz & Cie., Rheinische Automobil- und Motoren-Fabrik AG, Mannheim | Benz automobile and engine factory [as in Benz Bz.IV] |
| Bzg | Ballonzug | balloon train |
| C | Deutsche Motorenbau-Gesellschaft mbH, (Conrad), Berlin | German engine company [as in Conrad C.III (Nag)] |
| D | Daimler Motoren-Gesellschaft mbH, Stuttgart-Untertürkheim | Daimler engine company [as in Mercedes D.IIIa] |
| DFW | Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke GmbH, Leipzig | German aircraft works |
| Dipl.-Ing. | Diplom-Ingenieur | graduate engineer |
| Div | Division | Division |
| DL, d.L. | der Landwehr | of the territorial reserve |
| Do | Dornier | Dornier [as in Zep D.I (Do)] |
| DR,d.R. | der Reserve | of the reserve |
| Dz | Gasmotoren Fabrik Deutz, Köln-Deutz | Gas engine factory [as in Argus As.III(Dz)] |
| EFP | Etappen-Flug-Park | rear area aviation park (1914) |
| Ers. | Ersatz | Replacement |
| Eul | Euler Werke, Frankfurt/M | Euler works |
| FB Sch | Flieger Beobachter Schule | flying observer school |
| Fdh | Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen GmbH, Friedrichshafen | Friedrichshafen aircraft company |
| FdL | Führer der Luftschiffe | leader of airships |
| FEA | Flieger Ersatz Abteilung | aviation replacement unit |
| Feflish | Feld-Fliegerschule (A-H) | field flying school |
| Feldflugchef | Chef des Feldflugwesens | commander of the air service (until the fall of 1916) |
| FFA | Feld-Flieger-Abteilung | field aviation section |
| FLA | Feld-Luftschiffer-Abteilung | field lighter than air section |
| FlAbt | Flieger-Abteilung | aviation section |
| FlAbt (A) | Flieger-Abteilung (A) | aviation section equipped for artillery spotting |
| FlAbt (Lb) | Flieger-Abteilung (Lb) | aviation section equipped for taking strip photographs |
| Flak | Fliegerabwehrkanone | anti-aircraft cannon, flak |
| Flak | Flugabwehrkanone | anti-aircraft cannon |
| Flars | Fliegerarsenal (A-H) | aviation arsenal |
| Flek | Fliegerersatzkompagnie (A-H) | aviation replacement company |
| Flep | Fliegeretappenpark (A-H) | rear area aviation park |
| Flik | Fliegerkompagnie (A-H) | aviation company |
| Flip | Fliegerpark (A-H) | rear area aviation park |
| Flosch | Fliegeroffizierschule (A-H) | flying officer school |
| Flz | Flugzeug | Aircraft |
| FMF | Freiwilliges Marine-Fliegerkorps | volunteer naval fliers corps (1914) |
| FP | Flugpark | aviation park |
| Fp | Feldpilot | field pilot |
| Fok | Fokker Flugzeugwerke, GmbH, Schwerin | Fokker aircraft works |
| Frhr, Frh | Freiherr | Baron |
| FS | Fliegerschule | flying school |
| Gef | Gefallen | died in combat |
| Germ | Germania Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Leipzig | Germania aircraft works |
| GmbH | Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung | limited liability stock company |
| Go | Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG, Gotha | Gotha wagon factory |
| Goe | Gandenbergische Maschinenfabrik, Inh. Georg Goebel, Darmstadt | Gandenbergische machine factory (owner George Goebel) [as in Goebel Goe.II] |
| Grufl | Gruppenführer der Flieger | group leader of aviation |
| Gruja | Gruppenführer der Jagdstaffeln | group leader of Jastas |
| Gü | Güldner Motoren Gesellschaft, Aschaffenburg | Güldner engine company [as in Argus As.III(Gü)] |
| Halb | Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Halberstadt | Halberstadt aircraft works |
| Han | Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG, Hannover | Hannover wagon factory |
| Hansa | Hanseatische Flugzeugwerke, Karl Caspar AG, Hamburg | Hanseatic aircraft works Karl Caspar |
| HAWA | Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG, Hannover | Hannover wagon factory |
| Idflieg | Inspektion der Fliegertruppen | Inspectorate of aviation troops |
| Ifl | Infanterie Flieger | infantry flier (i.e., aircraft or pilot) |
| Idluft | Inspektion der Luftschiffertruppen | Inspectorate of lighter-than-air troops |
| ILUK | Interallierte Luftfahrt-Kontroll- Kommission | Inter-Allied Aeronautical Control Commission (IAACC) |
| Ing | Ingenieur | Engineer |
| Insp | Inspektion | Inspectorate |
| Ja | Jaray | Jaray [as in Zep C.I (Ja)] |
| Jage | Jagdgeschwader | fighter squadron, later fighter wing |
| Jasta | Jagdstaffel | single-seat fighter section |
| Jasta (b) | Jasta (bayerische) | Bavarian Jasta |
| Jasta (s) | Jasta (sächsische) | Saxonian Jasta |
| Jasta (w) | Jasta (württembergische) | Württembergian Jasta |
| Jco | Junkers & Co., Dessau | Junkers & company |
| Jfa | Junkers-Fokker Werke AG, Dessau | Junkers-Fokker works |
| JG | Jagdgeschwader | fighter squadron, later fighter wing |
| JGr | Jagdgruppe | fighter group |
| Kagohl | Kampfgeschwader der OHL | fighting (bombing) squadron of the OHL |
| KdoRfa | Kommando der Riesenflugzeug Abteilung | Commander of the giant aircraft units |
| KeK | Kampfeinsitzer Kommando | single-seat fighter command |
| Kesta | Kampfeinsitzerstaffel | single-seat fighter section |
| Kg | Gebrüder Körting AG, Hannover | Körting company [as in Körting Kg.III] |
| KG | Kampfgeschwader | fighting (bombing) squadron |
| KM | Kriegs-Ministerium | war ministry |
| Kodofea | Kommandeur der Flieger Ersatz Abteilungen | Commander of aviation replacement units |
| Kofl | Kommandeur der Fliegertruppe | Commander of aviation troops of an army |
| Koflak | Kommandeur der Flugabwehrkanonen | Commander of anti-aircraft cannons of an army |
| Kogenluft | Kommandierende General der Luftstreitkräfte | commanding general of the air services |
| Koluft | Kommandeur der Luftschiffertruppen | Commander of lighter-than-air troops of an army |
| Kon | Kondor Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Essen | Kondor aircraft works |
| KS, Ks | Kampfstaffel | fighting section |
| KuK | Kaiserlich und Königlich (A-H) | royal and imperial |
| Ldst | Landsturm | territorial reserve |
| Ldw | Landwehr | Army reserves (age group 35-45) |
| LF | Landflugzeug | Land plane (navy) |
| LFG | Luft-Fahrzeug-Gesellschaft mbH, Berlin | aircraft company (tradename Roland) |
| LFT | Luftfahrtruppen (A-H) | aviation troops |
| Li | Linke-HofmannWerke AG, Breslau | Linke-Hofmann works |
| LMG | leichtes Maschinengewehr | light machine gun |
| LSA | Luftschifferabteilung (A-H) | airship section |
| LSB | Luftschiffer-Bataillon | airship (balloon) battalion |
| Luftfriko | Luftfahrt Friedenskommission | German counterpart to the IAACC |
| LVG | Luft-Verkehrs-Gesellschaft mbH, Johannisthal | air transport company |
| MAA | Militär-Aeronautische Anstalt (A-H) | military aeronautical establishment |
| MAG | Ungarische Allgemeine Maschinenfabrik AG (A-H) | Hungarian general machine factory |
| MAN | Machinenfabrik Ausburg-Nürnberg AG, Augsburg | Machine factory Augsburg-Nürnberg [as in MAN Mana.III] |
| Mana | Machinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG, Augsburg & Nürnberg | Machine factory Augsburg-Nürnberg [as in MAN Mana.III] |
| Mark | Märkische Flugzeugwerft GmbH, Golm/M | Märkische aircraft company |
| Mb | Motorenbau-GmbH (Maybach), Friedrichshafen | Maybach engine factory [as in Maybach Mb.IVa] |
| Mer | Mercur Flugzeugbau GmbH, Berlin | Mercur aircraft company |
| MFFA | Marine-Feldflieger-Abteilung | naval field flying squadron |
| MG | Maschinengewehr | machine gun |
| MLFA | Marine-Landflieger-Abteilung | naval landplane squadron |
| m/n | Marine Nummer | marine serial number for aircraft |
| Nag | Nationale Automobil-Gesellschaft, Berlin | National automobile company [as in Conrad C.III(Nag)] |
| NFW | Norddeutsche Flugzeugwerke, Teltow/M | North German aircraft works |
| O | Adam Opel, Rüsselsheim | Opel company [as in BMW.IIIa(O)] |
| OAW | Ostdeutsche Albatros-Werke GmbH, Schneidemühl | East German Albatros works |
| OB | Oberbefehlshaber | supreme commander |
| Ob-Ing | Oberingenieur | chief engineer |
| OEFFAG | Osterreischische Flugzeugfabrik AG (A-H) | Austrian aircraft factory |
| Offz | Offizier | Officer |
| OHL | Oberste Heeresleitung | supreme command |
| Öst-ung | österreichisch-ungarisch | Austrian-Hungarian or Austro-Hungarian |
| Ot | Otto-Werke GmbH, Munich | Otto works [as in LVG B.II (Ot)] |
| Pfal | Pfalz Flugzeugwerke GmbH, Speyer | Pfalz aircraft works |
| Ph | Phönix Flugzeugwerke AG (A-H) | Phönix aircraft works |
| PuW | Prüfanstalt und Werft | test establishment and workshops |
| Rb-Zug,Rbz | Reihenbildzug | Strip photography train |
| Rea | Riesenflugzeug Ersatz Abteilung | giant aircraft replacement section |
| Refla | Albatros Militär Werkstätten, Warsaw | Albatros military workshops [as in Albatros Alb B.II (Refla)] |
| Rfa | Riesenflugzeug Abteilung | giant aircraft section |
| RFlgz | Riesenflugzeug | giant aircraft |
| Rgt | Regiment | Regiment |
| Rh | Rhemag Rhenania Motoren Fabrik AG, Mannheim | Rhemag Rhenania engine factory [as in Siemens-Halske Sh.III(Rh)] |
| Rie | L.A. Riedinger, Augsburg | Riedinger company [as in Mercedes D.IIIav(Rie)] |
| Rin | Albert Rinne Flugzeugwerke, Rummelsburg | Rinne aircraft works |
| RMA | Reichsmarineamt | Reichs Marine Office |
| Rol | Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft mbH, Berlin | aircraft company (tradename Roland) |
| Rp | Rapp Motoren Werke GmbH, München | Rapp engine works [as in Rapp Rp.III] |
| __ | Regiebau | Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract |
| Ru | Rumpler Werke AG, Johannisthal | Rumpler company |
| (s) | sächsische | Saxonian, following an aviation section |
| S | Schulflugzeug | training aircraft (Navy) |
| Sab | Sablatnig Flugzeugbau GmbH, Berlin | Sablatnig aircraft company |
| Schlasta | Schlachtstaffel | aviation battle section |
| Schül | Luftschiffbau Schütte-Lanz, Rheinau | Schütte-Lanz lighter-than-air company |
| Schül | Luftfahrzeugbau Schütte-Lanz, Zeesen | Schütte-Lanz aircraft company |
| Schusta | Schutzstaffel | aviation protection section |
| SflAbt | Seeflieger-Abteilung | naval aircraft section |
| Sh | Siemens & Halske AG, Berlin | Siemens & Halske company [as in Siemens-Halske Sh.II] |
| s/n | Serien-Nummer (plural Serien Nummern) | serial or series number for aircraft (e.g., D.1234/17) |
| SSW | Siemens-Schuckert-Werke GmbH, Berlin | Siemens-Schuckert works |
| St | Stab | army staff |
| St | Stoewer-Werke AG, Stettin | Stower works [as in Argus As.II(St)] |
| Staak | Zeppelin-Werke Staaken GmbH, Staaken | Zeppelin works Staaken |
| Stofl | Stabsoffizier der Flieger | staff officer for aviation |
| Stoflak | Stabsoffizier der Flugabwehrkanonen | staff officer for anti-aircraft cannons |
| Stoluft | Stabsoffizier der Luftschiffertruppen | staff officer for lighter-than-air troops |
| SVK | Seeflugzeug-Versuchs-Kommando | seaplane testing command |
| Sw | Otto Schwade & Co., Erfurt | Otto Schwade & company [as in Basse & SelveBus.IVa(Sw)] |
| Th | Thöne & Fiala (A-H) | Thöne & Fiala company |
| TTCHECK! | Typenprüfung NOT TP? | type-test |
| U | Motorenfabrik Oberursel, Oberursel | Oberursel engine fctory [as in Oberursel U.I] |
| UFAG | Ungarische Flugzeugwerke A.G. (A-H) | Hungarian aircraft works |
| Ur | Motorenfabrik Oberursel, Oberursel | Oberursel engine factory [as in Oberursel Ur.II] (Le Rhône copy) |
| verm | vermisst | missing in combat |
| VPK | Verkehrstechnische
Prüfungskommission |
technical transport test commission |
| (w) | württembergische | Württembergian (following an aviation section) |
| WKF | Wiener Karosserie und Flugzeugfabrik (A-H) | Viennese coach body and aircraft factory |
| W/n | Werk-Nummer (plural is Werk- Nummern) | work number (Werke Nummer is incorrect in any case) |
| ZAK | Zentral Abnahme-Kommission | central acceptance commission |
| zbV | zur besonderen Verwendung | for special assignment |
| Zep | Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH, Lindau | Zeppelin airship company |
| zV | zur Verfügung | at disposal |
