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Aviator call signs: The history & naming rituals

HR DiRectoRs anD RecRuitment specialists
By same throughout the aviation community,
KATie LAnGe no matter the branch.
Most current call signs are still based
DOD News
on the same sources as in the early days Aerotech News and its group of Each of our publications is supported by a robust
If you’ve been a fully trained military of aviation — a derivative of a last name, aerospace and military base print and digital presence with engaged readership.
pilot for more than a few months, chances physical features, personalities or pop cul- digital publications and services can
are that you’ve scored yourself a call sign ture. Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Anderson said deliver your recruitment message to:
by now. The call sign tradition is celebrated some call signs are intentional misspellings
by aviation communities across all mili- of common words to create an acronym ref- • Digital edition of print publication
tary branches. These pilot nicknames can erencing a story about the pilot. According • Transitioning military (Ads include a live link to your web site or email).
quickly identify an aircraft or individual, to Anderson and Navy Cmdr. Chris Papa- personnel Include any or all of these options in your plan to
and they also help to confuse the enemy, ioanu, most are based on the pilot screwing • Veterans reach this very special market.
who might be listening in on your com- something up. • Military and aerospace • Web site advertising
munications. “Quite often, a call sign will be based Aerotech News can give your recruitment efforts a powerful industry professionals • Social media sponsored advertising
Nowadays, call sign naming rituals on a retelling of a mistake a young pilot and effective boost in reaching a large market of highly • Military Spouses • Newsletter advertising
for fighter, bomber and other pilots are a made, with the rule being that the story skilled and disciplined candidates.
pretty formal process amongst the services,
which will be detailed later in this article. websites
But those rituals developed slowly over Aerotech News and Review - www.aerotechnews.com
time, and the origins of the tradition are High Desert Warrior - www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin/
a bit murky. Several military historians Desert Lightning News - www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb/
were interviewed for this story, and no one Thunderbolt -www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/
could definitively say how pilot call signs Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee Desert Lightning News - www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb/
got their start. The Columbine II, a Lock- facebook
An Unclear Origin heed Constellation, was Aerotech News and Review - @ AerotechNewsandReview
Some historians believe aircraft call the first aircraft to bear High Desert Warrior - @ HighDesertWarrior Phone: 661-945-5634 • Toll free: 877-247-9288
signs were first used when radio became the call sign “Air Force Desert Lightning News - @ NellisDesertLightningNews www.thinkmilitaryads.com • www.aerotechnews.com
a commodity around 1930. As radio com- One” and flew the 34th Thunderbolt - @ LukeThunderbolt
munications grew in prominence into World president, President Desert Lightning News - @ DesertLightningNews www.facebook.com/AerotechNewsandReview
War II, so did call signs for planes, ships Dwight D. Eisenhower,
and occasionally geographic points, said from 1953 to 1954. The
National Naval Aviation Museum historian aircraft, officially retired
Hill Goodspeed. He said aircraft call signs in 1968, was named by
became common in the 1970s because they First Lady Mamie Eisen-
were short and added an extra level of hower after the state
FLOAT
SAUNA
identification, “particularly during times flower of Colorado, which FLOAT SAUNA
of intense, fast-paced operations.” is painted on the nose of
According to several historians, a lot of the aircraft.
individual aviators in the early days of
flight had nicknames, too, but they weren’t LEFT: Marine Corps Capt. 3350 N 137 Ave
classified as call signs – they were generally John Beattie, a pilot as- 623-703-2203
given early in a pilot’s career and revolved signed to Marine Attack Litchfield Park, AZ celestialfloatcenter.com
around his physical traits, personality or Squadron 214, disembarks
something pop culture-related. For ex- an AV-8B Harrier II after
ample, when nicknaming became popular conducting a flyover above
during World War II, Army Brig. Gen. David Pappy Boyington Field in Borrow up to 133%
Lee Hill was from Texas, so his nickname Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, as
was “Tex.” Marine Corps Col. Gergory Boy- part of a cross-country of your home’s value.
ington was nearly a decade older than the Photo by Marine Corps lance Cpl. Christian oliver Cachola flight, Aug. 12, 2017.
men serving in his command, so he was
known as “Pappy.” has to be at least 10% true,” Anderson said. embellished stories he told that reminded “When we make pilot in command, we
Some historians say that pilot call signs Across the branches, most pilots earn his squadron of the old military history TV get a choice of our local call sign,” said
may have originated from ground control- their call signs at their first operational program “War Stories with Oliver North.” Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle Pearl, Cash is hidden in your new home and it’s not under the
lers wanting a quick way to reference squadron as a junior officer, if they didn’t Call signs can be embarrassing for the a Black Hawk pilot with the Idaho Army cushion. Unlock your home’s value even without the equity
those aviators over the radio, but that’s receive one earlier. A few call sign ideas are pilot, which many aviators said helps build National Guard. “Some of our guys have with a Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan from Credit Union West.
still hearsay. usually thrown around within a squadron a humility-based culture. For example, Pat- other call signs like nicknames that you
Call signs were sometimes even given before a pilot’s peers vote on their favorite. terson said he knows a few guys with the typically see in the Air Force and Navy.” So, even NO EQUITY means
to the enemy. Air Force Academy historian That name is then approved by the squad- call sign “BamBam,” likely because they blew Changes Are Rare high potential.
Brian Laslie said one famous case was that ron’s commanding officer. out their aircraft’s tires when they forgot to Another general naming practice: while HOME • Put in a pool
of World War I German ace Manfred von “The skipper’s there to veto it just in case take off their parking brake as they launched more than one pilot can have the same call EQUITY LOANS • Make a major purchase
Richthofen, who painted his fighter aircraft it’s crossing any lines or getting too aggres- from their aircraft carrier’s catapult. sign, it’s rare to be renamed. Renata Mills
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Rote Kampfflieger” — a mouthful for any “I have seen a number of call signs get plained. “A heat-seeking missile has a highlight yourself after you’ve been given DRE# SA693279000 %
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to Americans by its loose translation, “The funny enough, it wasn’t silly enough, it went in order to follow the heat source before the Papaioanu said.
Red Baron.” from the PG-13 range and beyond and it missile can be fired. The button to make Anderson said that, at least in the Air m 602.756.0991 TERMS UP TO 240 MONTHS
Like aircraft, call signs for pilots became kind of needed to be toned down a little this happen is on the control stick, but I Force, there’s one exception: if a pilot has o 623.889.7100
more widespread by Vietnam; however, of- bit,” said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Christopher have cartoonishly small hands and I can’t flown a combat mission with their call sign,
ficial naming ceremonies for them weren’t Demars. reach that button, so I’m ‘Cage’ because I it can never be changed. e rmillshs@gmail.com
institutionalized until the 1980s, National If a rejection happens, usually there are can never ‘uncage.’” No matter how a call sign came about, Apply online today. Visit cuwest.org/equity
Air and Space Museum curator Michael backup names at the ready. Regardless of the story behind the name, they all come with a sense of pride. Not
Hankins said. What’s In a Name? it’s all good-natured. only are they useful for communications HomeSmart * Annual Percentage Rate. Actual APR based on borrower’s credit history and loan terms. Rate is
Current Naming Rituals “Everybody wants something that sounds “There’s supposed to be an aspect of fun and identification purposes, but they can 13166 W McDowell Rd., Ste B current as of April 1, 2021. New Credit Union West membership accounts require a $5 minimum
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While naming rituals vary from service to awesome, that sounds cool. But it’s just in it,” Demars said. also be a term of endearment, a rite of Goodyear, AZ 85395 www.cuwest.org.
service and squadron to squadron, a lot of never going to work out that way,” said While the Army doesn’t have fixed-wing air- passage and a way of bonding an aircrew Each brokerage independently owned and operated.
the main components of the process are the Demars, whose call sign “Ollie” came from craft, its helicopter pilots also have call signs. together.