Aircraft
      by Nation
      United States
      Army (1956-1962)
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      From 1956 to 1962, the U.S. Army procured its own
      aircraft outside of the U.S. Air Force using its own designation
      system.
      The system used a two character alphabetic code followed
      by a model number.  The first character designated aircraft (A) or
      helicopter (H).  The second character denoted the mission...Cargo
      (C), Observation (O), or Utility (U).
      In 1962, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force agreed to
      consolidate their designation systems.