AA-
(Abbv.) Short for Anti-Aircraft.
AAA-
(Abbv.) Short for Anti-Aircraft Artillery.
AAA Moving-
(Squadron nickname) 17th Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-141 Starlifter & C-17 Globemaster III.
AAF-
(Short) Army Air Field
Aardvark-
The General Dynamics F-111; Fighter-Bomber of the Vietnam & Persian Gulf Wars.
Aardvarks-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-114, that flew the F-4 Phantom II & F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)
AW-
(Short) Airlift Wing
Abbeyville Kids-
(Nickname, WWII) German Yellow Nosed FW-190s’ & Me-109.
AB-
1. (Short) Air Base
2. (Short) Airman Basic (E-1)
ABC-
(Short) Atomic, Biological & Chemical
Abe-
(Nickname) USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72. A Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier.
ABG-
(Short) Air Base Group
ABL-
(Short) Air Borne Laser. The AL-1, is a highly modified B-747-400F
Able-
Former codeword for the Letter A.
Able Dog-
(Nickname) The Douglas AD (A-1) Skyraider.
Above My Paygrade-
Another way to say “Don’t ask me.”
Abrams-
The M-1 Main Battle Tank, used during the Persian Gulf War, & the Iraqi War.
ABW-
(Short) Air Base Wing
ACC-
Air Force Designation for the Air Combat Command. The ACC replaced
Strategic Air Command & Tactical Air Command in 1992.
Ace-
A pilot with five or more air to air kills.
Ace in the Hole-
(Squadron Nickname) 111th Fighter Squadron. The 111th FS, operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Texas Air National Guard.
Ace of Spades-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMSB-231/VMF-231/VMA-231. They operated the SBD Dauntless, F4U Corsair & the AV-8 Harrier II; and saw extensive service in World War II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 116th Air Refueling Squadron. They operated the KC-135 Stratotanker, for the Washington State Air National Guard.
Ace Maker-
(Nickname) The Grumman F6F Hellcat.
Ack Ack Gun-
(Nickname) An Anti-Aircraft Gun.
Acrid-
(NATO Codename) Soviet AA-6, air to air missile.
Adder-
(NATO Codename) Russian AA-12 (R-77) Air to Air missile.
AE-
Navy designation for an Ammunition Ship.
Aero Commander-
Name for the Aero L-26.
AES-
Air Force Designation for an Air Evacuation Squadron. Prior to 1992.
AEW-
(Short) Airborne Early Warning.
AFI-
(Short) Awaiting Further Instruction. Used by Air Force Airman in Techical Training.
AFB-
(Short) Air Force Base
AFMC-
Air Force Designation for Air Force Material Command.
AFRC-
Air Force Designation for Air Force Reserve Command. 1992-Present
AFRES-
Air Force designation for Air Force Reserve. Prior to 1992.
AFS-
(Short) Air Force Station.
AFT-
(Short) “Another Fucking Tanker”, inter-army humor.
After 5 & Weekends-
(Squadron Nickname) 711th Special Operations Squadron, flying the C-130 Hercules. (Disestablished)
Ageless Warrior-
(Nickname) USS Coral Sea, CV-43; a Midway Class Aircraft Carrier.
Aggie-
(Nickname) USS Agerholm DD-826, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
Ahpid-
NATO Codename for the Soviet AA-8, air to air missile.
Airacobra-
The Bell P-39, fighter of World War II.
Airacomet-
The Bell XP-59, experimental jet fighter of World War II.
Airacuda-
The Bell FM-1, multi-place fighter of the late 1930’s. Not put into production.
Airadale-
(WWII) A pilot.
Airadale Navy-
(Slang) Carriers and Carrier based aircraft.
Air Apaches-
(Group Nickname) 345th Bomb Group (Medium), flying the B-25D Mitchell; in the Southwest Pacific, during World War II. The Air Apaches consisted of the 498 BS, 499 BS, 500 BS & 501 BS. They were easily recognized by the Yellow Eagle painted on the nose of the Mitchell Bomber.
Air Commandos-
(Squadron Nickname) 7th Special Operations Squadron, that flies the MC-130 Hercules.
Air Wolves-
(Squadron Nickname) HSL-40, flying the SH-60 Seahawk.
AJ-
(Nickname) USS Arnold J. Isbell DD-869, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
AK-
Navy designation for a Cargo Ship.
AKA-
Navy designation for an Amphibious Attack Cargo Ship.
ALCAN-
The Alaskan-Canadian Highway; built during World War II.
Alert-
Pulling Missile, Bomber, or Fighter Alert Duty.
Alfred A.-
(Nickname) USS Alfred A. Cunningham DD-752, an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.
All American-
The 82nd Infantry Airborne Division, that served in World War I, in Europe during World War II, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the War with Afghanistan.
All Three Dead-
(Nickname) The Douglas A3D/A-3 Skywarrior.
Allergic To Combat-
(WWII, Nickname) The Air Transportation Command.
Alley Cats-
(Squadron Nickname) 48th Flying Training Squadron, operating the T-38 Talon.
Alley Oop-
(Squadron Nickname) 325th Bomb Squadron, flew the B-29 Superfortress, B-36 Peacemaker, B-52
Stratofortress & the B-2 Spirit.
Alpha-
Codeword for the Letter A.
ALS-
Air Force designation for an Air Lift Squadron. Prior to 1992.
Aluminum Cloud-
(Nickname) The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.
Aluminum Overcast-
1. (Nickname) The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy.
2. (Nickname) The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
AMC-
1. Air Force Designation for the Air Mobility Command. AMC replaced the Military Air Command & the Strategic Air Command.
2. Air Force designation for the Air Material Command, forerunner to AFMC.
America’s Flagship-
1. (Nickname) USS Constellation, CV-64. A Kitty Hawk Class Aircraft Carrier.
2.(Nickname) USS America, CV-66. A Kitty Hawk Class Aircraft Carrier.
Americal-
The 23rd Infantry Division, that saw service in World War II in the Pacific, and during the Vietnam War.
American Beagle Squadron-
(Squadron Nickname) 2nd Fighter Squadron, flying the F-15 Eagle.
AMF-
Short for Adios, Mother Fucker.
Amos-
(NATO Codename) Russian AA-9 Air to Air Missile.
Amp Tramp-
(Navy) Ships Electrician
Anab-
(NATO Codeword) Soviet AA-3; Air to Air Missile.
ANG-
Air Force Designation for Air National Guard.
ANG’s Oldest Unit-
(Squadron Nickname) Assigned to the New York Air National Guard, the unit operated the C-97A Stratofreighter (102nd ALS), the KC-97L Stratotanker (102nd AREFS), the F-102 Delta Dart (102nd FIS) & the HC-130 & HH-60 (102nd RQS).
Angels-
The 11th Infantry Airborne Division, which served in the Pacific in World War II.
Angels XX-
Code Phrase, meaning the relationship with a number denoting altitude. (example: “Angels 30” = 30,000 feet)
Ann-
(Allied Codename) Mitsubishi Army Ki-30, Light Bomber.
Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere-
(Squadron Nickname) 351st Air Refueling Squadron, operating the KC-135. (Disestablished)
Anytime, Anywhere-
(Squadron Nickname) 305th Rescue Squadron, operating the HH-60 Blackhawk. (Disestablished)
Anzio Annie-
A large rail mounted German gun, used during the Anzio Landings, in World War II.
AP-
1. Short for Associated Press.
2. Navy designation for a Troop Ship.
APA-
Navy designation for an Amphibious Attack Troop Ship.
APD-
Navy designation for a High Speed Transport (a converted Destroyer or Escort Destroyer)
Apache-
1. The McDonnell-Douglas (Boeing) AH-64, attack helicopter used during the Persian Gulf War, the War with Afghanistan and the War with Iraq.
2. The North American A-36 dive bomber. It was a P-51A with dive brakes.
Apex-
(NATO Codename) Soviet AA-7, air to air missile.
AO-
Navy designation for a Fleet Oiler.
AR-
Navy designation for a Repair Ship.
ARAB-
(British, Acronym) for Arrogant Regular Army Bastard.
Arabs-
(Squadron Nickname) VA-115, flying the AD/A-1 Skyraider & the A-6 Intruder. The Arabs were renamed the “Eagles”, and continued to operate with the fleet.
AREFS-
Air Force designation for an Air Refueling Squadron. Prior to 1992.
Argonauts-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-147, operates the F/A-18 Hornet.
ARS-
Air Force designation for an Air Refueling Squadron. 1992-Present.
Ark-
(Nickname) USS Arkansas DLGN/CGN-40, a Virginia Class Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser.
Arky-
(Nickname) USS Arkansas; BB-33; a New York Class Battleship.
Army Mule-
(Nickname) Piasecki UH-25 Retriever.
Arrowhead Ridge-
A ridge WSW of Pyongyang, North Korea.
Arse Bandit-
(British) A Homosexual.
Artic Smoke-
(WWII & Korea) Stream Fog.
Arty-
(WWII) Artillery.
AS-
1. Air Force designation for an Attack Squadron.
2. Air Force designation for an Airlift Squadron. 1992-Present.
Ascender-
The Curtiss XP-55 experimental fighter.
Ash Can-
(Nickname) Mk 6 & Mk 8 Depth Charge.
ASROC-
(Acronym) Anti-Submarine Rocket.
Assam Dragons-
(Squadron Nickname) 25th FIS/25th AS operated the F-86 Sabre during the Korean War and currently the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Assam Trucking Company-
(WWII, Nickname) The Air Transportation Command.
Assembly Ship-
The lead ship or plane in a formation.
Astra-
The Tracor Aerospace C-38A, light transport.
ASW-
Navy Designation for Anti-Submarine Weapon or Warfare.
At Zero-
Having an enemy fighter on your tail.
Ate Up-
(Slang) 8th US Infantry Division.
Atlas-
1. (Squadron Nickname) HMT-303, flying the UH-1 Iroquois & AH-1 Cobra.
2. The Martin XB-65/SM-65 ICBM. Was later used as a booster rocket for the Project Mercury space program.
ATOC-
(Acronym) Air Terminal Operations Center. The main control center for Air Terminal Operations on any Air Force Installation that handles cargo or cargo aircraft.
Atomic Pile-
(1950s’ Slang) A Nuclear Reactor.
Atoll-
(NATO Codeword) Soviet AA-2, air to air missile.
ATS-
1. Air Force Designation for an Air Training Squadron
2. Navy designation for a Salvage & Rescue Ship
3. (Slang) Attack Tug, Slow.
Attack Guppy-
(Nickname) Rockwell T-2 Buckeye.
Auger In-
Euphemism for crashing an airplane.
Augie-
(Nickname) USS Augusta CA-31. New Orleans Class Heavy Cruiser.
Augie Maru-
(Nickname) USS Augusta CA-31, during World War II.
Augsburg Eagle-
(Nickname) The German Bf-109.
Avenger-
The Grumman/General Motors TBF/TBM Naval Torpedo Bomber of World War II.
Avengers-
(Squadron Nickname) VMA-211 operating the AV-8 Harrier II. Formerly known as the ‘Wake Island Avengers’ & the ‘Wake Avengers’.
AVG-
(Short) American Volunteer Group. Operated in China in the early phases of World War II, as the “Flying Tigers”.
Avitruc-
The Chase YC-122, a light transport aircraft.
AVT-
1. Navy Designation for an Auxiliary Aircraft Transport. 1959-1970. All were former aircraft carriers, none served in commission as such, all served in reserve.
2. Navy designation for an Auxiliary Training Carrier. 1978-1993.
AWACS-
(Acronym) Air Warning And Command System.
Axe-
(Squadron Nickname) 42nd ACCS; flying
