'Pet' names for aircraft types?

[Warbirdnerd]

CH-47 - Flying Winnebago and/or 2 Palm trees f-ing a dumpster...

[Dan Jones]

All BOAC/BA flights - Call sign was 'Speed-bird' but everyone else called them 'Flintstones' (no doubt due to being a bit behind the times).

and all this time I've been call them bird seed

Emirates air + golden burugie

Some years ago my f/o relayed a position report for "Speedbird 007" when we were wandering around the eastern arctic somewhere. He relayed the message from memory back to Edmonton Center, but when he identified who the relay was for he hesitated, as he'd forgotten. But when he suddenly remembered and passed on that the relay was for "Birdseed Double O Seven" the boys were not amused, and a very proper British voice came over the radio with a crisp "That was for Speedbird Zero Zero Seven!"

(I laughed for half an hour!)

SBD - Slow But Deadly or "Speedy D!"

Last edited by Dan Jones on Fri Aug 28, 2015 3:41 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[dirtysidedown430]

I don't get it

[Noha307]

This is actually super helpful! I have been trying to write up something related to this. I have a bunch of notes and some snippets, but nothing else.

You're in luck, I actually happen to have a link to an article on just this topic: Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads by Captain G. G. O'Rourke

What I would like to know about are the nicknames that were supposedly bestowed by the enemy. The two examples I currently am aware of are "fork tailed devil" for the P-38 and "whistling death" for the Corsair. I am highly skeptical that the enemy ever actually referred to them by that name. Does anyone know of either any primary sources for this information or, if not, any books that provide citations for their use?

There's one aspect of aircraft nicknames that I have never seen mentioned before - or at least that the trend has been explicitly recognized as such. That trend is naming variants of aircraft after a specific design feature they have. For example, the early model "shark tail" B-17s, or the "birdcage" F4U-1 Corsairs, or the A through D variant "razorback" P-47s, or the prototype "Roman nose" C-130s.

F111-"Ardvark" USAF

FYI, the F-111 actually wasn't officially named that until it's retirement ceremony.

[SaxMan]

My understanding of "Fork-tailed Devil" was that it was an invention of author Martin Caidin and his book of the same title. I don't know if the supposed Japanese nickname "Two planes, one pilot" was accurate or an invention.

If you look at what American's called enemy planes, the terms used were often one of derision as opposed to admiration or fear:

Betty: "Flying Zippo" because of their propensity to burn easily

Me262: "Blow Job" (at least according to Yeager)

Perhaps the most famous acknowledgement of an enemy's plane was when Goering asked Adolph Galland what he needed to defeat the RAF and Galland answers "A staffel of Spitfires".

[shrike]

Two of the more interesting cases are when the pilots accepted the enemy's name for their aircraft.
IJN pilots, many of whom had gone to school in the US or England, embraced "Zero" or "Zero-sen" for the Mistubishi A6M series.

Even better is the MiG-29. Mikoyan not only embraced, but actually trademarked the randomly assigned NATO code "Fulcrum"

[Noha307]

My understanding of "Fork-tailed Devil" was that it was an invention of author Martin Caidin and his book of the same title.

That's exactly what I expected. If you don't mind, do you know any more? Where did you hear that? I'd love to look it up myself.

IJN pilots, many of whom had gone to school in the US or England, embraced "Zero" or "Zero-sen" for the Mistubishi A6M series.

I always kind of wondered about that, but never really gave it much thought. Thanks!

Even better is the MiG-29. Mikoyan not only embraced, but actually trademarked the randomly assigned NATO code "Fulcrum"

I remember reading that one about the MiG-29 before somewhere before.

BTW, here's a brief article on the topic of enemy-coined nicknames I considered, but forgot to include in my previous post: ‘The Monster Is Here:’ Or How The Taliban Gave Apache a New Name by Richard Whittle

[stryper]

Hawker Typhoon - "Tiffy"

[JohnB]

For example, the early model "shark tail" B-17s, or the "birdcage" F4U-1 Corsairs, or the A through D variant "razorback" P-47s,.

I'll bet the early B-17 were never called that in period.
Scott Thompson might be able to tell us, but I think that name is of post-war origin.

And obviously. the "razorback" name would have cone into use only after the later P-47Ds with then bubble canopy.

[JohnB]

My understanding of "Fork-tailed Devil" was that it was an invention of author Martin Caidin and his book of the same title.

That seems to be a popular opinion, but I don't buy it.
That book was published in 1971, the nickname was in use long before that. (Check Bookfinders or see this on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... 15&sr=1-14 if you don't believe me) .

I remember seeing it in books as a kid, which sadly, predates 1971.
Any other older guys out there agree with me...that they heard of the nickname before 1971?

[Tom Moungovan]

When I was stationed @ Edwards AFB in the mid-60s, we had a single TF-102. It was called
"Dumbo" and the story went that it wouldn't do Mach 1 in level flight, only in a dive.

True or not, the name stuck.

[SaxMan]

As far as the origin of "Fork Tailed Devil" being an invention of Martin Caidin, that was something that was brought up repeatedly here on WIX over the years, either in conjunction with a P-38 thread, or a discussion of any other of Caidin's books, or Caidin, in general. Those on WIX who spoke with various P-38 veterans, would almost universally indicate that none of the vets ever remember hearing that moniker during their service.

Caidin's books do make for some good reading, as I've read "Flying Forts", "Black Thursday" and "Thunderbolt" and enjoyed all of them. I've learned you have to take some of the facts and anecdotes from those books with a grain of salt.

Regarding the Zero, my understanding was that the A6M was the Mitsubishi Type 00, as a reference to the Japanese Imperial Calendar of the year the plane was developed. For instance, the Val was the Type 99, developed previous year.

[JohnB]

Those on WIX who spoke with various P-38 veterans, would almost universally indicate that none of the vets ever remember hearing that moniker during their service.

That I expected, but does anyone recall the phrase used before 1971..or am I nuts in remembering it earlier?

[shrike]

Regarding the Zero, my understanding was that the A6M was the Mitsubishi Type 00, as a reference to the Japanese Imperial Calendar of the year the plane was developed. For instance, the Val was the Type 99, developed previous year.

True, which would also have been Showa 11 or 12. The point was that it was used as "Zero-sen" rather than the more proper "Rei-sen"

[John Dupre]

"Beechcraft Bonanza - So why the 'Forked-Tailed Doctor-Killer'?"

Doctors could afford them, but usually lacked the skills to fly them well.
IOW - JFK Jr.

Phil

JFK Jr. died in a Piper Saratoga not a Bonanza but the concept is the same. He wasn't experienced enough for the conditions.