Military Abbreviations, Nicknames and Slang Terms
Beginning with D
Compiled by Jon Stacy

DAI-
(Acronym) Death from Accidental Injury.

Daisy Cutter-
(Nickname) A 1000 pound bomb dropped from a cargo plane, in Vietnam.

Daisy Mae-
(Nickname) USS Des Moines CA-134, Des Moines Class Heavy Cruiser.

Dak-
(Nickname) Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

Dak Rats-
(Squadron Nickname) 906th Air Refueling Squadron, that flyers the KC-135.

Dakota-
(Nickname) Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain, transport.

Dambusters-
1. (Squadron Nickname) RAF Squadron 617 which flew the Lancaster Bomber on special missions.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VA/VFA-195, that flew the A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder, & the F/A-18 Hornet.

Dart- (Nickname) Convair F-106 Delta Dart.

DASH-
(Acronym) Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter. Was not successful, in the mid 1960’s.

Dave-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Nakajima E8N, in World War II.

DD-
Navy designation for a Destroyer.

DDE-
Navy designation for a Escort Destroyer.

DDG-
Navy designation for a Guided Missile Destroyer.

DDR-
Navy designation for a Radar Picket Destroyer.

DE-
Navy designation for a Destroyer Escort. (Designation was changed to FF, in 1975.)

Deadeye-
The 96th Infantry Division, which saw service in the Pacific during World War II.

Deadhead Crew-
A second crew, usually on an airlift mission.

Deadly Dragon of Patience Bay-
(Nickname) USS Barb SS-220, a Gato Class Submarine.

Death’s Angels-
(Squadron Nickname) VMSB/VMF/VMFA-235, they flew the SBD Dauntless, F4U Corsair, F9F Panther,
FJ Fury, F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II & the F/A-18 Hornet.

Death’s Head-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-124, that served during World War II operating the F4F Wildcat & the F4U Corsair.

Death Valley-
(Nickname, Korea) The Rail Line from Samdong-ni to Kowon. Named so due to the heavy amount of
concentrated anti-aircraft fire.

Death Vipers-
(Squadron Nickname) 131st Fighter Squadron that operates the A-10 Thunderbolt II for the
Massachusetts Air National Guard.

Deathrattlers-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA/VMFA-323, they operated the F4U Corsair, F9F Panther, FJ Fury,
F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II, & the F/A-18 Hornet. The Deathrattlers served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, & Iraq.

Deep Kimchi-
(Slang) In deep trouble, used in Korea.

Dehorn-
(Slang) To defuse a bomb.

Delta-
1. (Codeword) Letter D.
2. The 39th Infantry Division, which saw service in World War I.

Delta Dagger-
The Convair F-102, Interceptor.

Delta Dart-
The Convair F-106, Interceptor.

Deliverance-
(Squadron Nickname) 357th Airlift Squadron, that flyers the C-130 Hercules.

Department of Dirty Tricks-
(Nickname) for the Special Operations Executive created by Winston Churchill and Hugh Dalton in July 1940
to conduct espionage and special operations during World War 2, dissolved in 1946.

Deployed Location-
First used during the Persian Gulf War, for Classified Location.

Der Bingo-
(WWII) Actor/Comedian/Singer Bing Crosby.

DesDiv-
(Navy) Destroyer Division.

DesRon-
(Navy) Destroyer Squadron.

Desert Fox-
(Nickname) German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel.

Desk Pilot-
(Slang) A rated pilot that is assigned to a desk job.

Deuce-
(Nickname) Convair F-102 Delta Dagger.

Deuce Gear-
(Slang) Equipment.

Deuce and a Half-
(Nickname) A two and a half ton truck.

Devil Cats-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA-212; that served during World War II & the Korean War. They operated the F4U Corsair, FJ Fury, A-4 Skyhawk, F-8 Crusader, & the F-4 Phantom II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 97 Flying Training Squadron, flying the T-37 Tweet & the T-38 Talon.

Devil’s Disciples-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-301, that operated the F-8 Crusaders, F-4 Phantom II & the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)

Devil Dogs-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMF-111, that served during World War II, flying the F4F Wildcat & F4U Corsair.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMA-324, that flew the AD Skyraider, & the A-4 Skyhawk. (Disestablished)

DEW-
(Acronym) Distant Early Warning.

Diamondbacks-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMSB/VMF/VMA-131 that served during World War II, flying the SB2U Vindicator, F4U Corsair, FJ Fury, & the A-4 Skyhawk. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) 466th Fighter Squadron, flying the F-16 Falcon.
3. (Squadron Nickname) VF/VFA-102, flying the F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat and currently the
F/A-18 Hornet.

Diamondcutters-
(Squadron Nickname) VS-30 that flies the S-3 Viking.

Dick Skinners-
(Slang) Hands.

Dicksmith-
(Slang) Hospital Corpsman.

DILLIGAF-
(Acronym) Does It Look Like I Give A Fuck.

Dilly-
(Nickname) USS LaVallette DD-448; a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Dinah-
1. (Allied Codename) Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-46.
2. (Codeword) German Navigation system for Daylight bombing.

Dinky Toy-
(Nickname) Northrop F-5 Tiger.

Dirty B-
(Nickname) USS Bennett DD-473, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Dirty Bill-
(Nickname) Admiral William D. Porter, during the Civil War.

Dirty Dozen-
(Squadron Nickname) 12th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-15 Eagle.

Dirty Ernie-
(Nickname) USS Ernest G. Small DD-838, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Dirty O-
(Nickname) USS Ozbourn DD-846, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Dirty Tom-
(Nickname) USS Lloyd Thomas DD-764, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Dirty Weather-
(Slang) Bad Weather.

Ditch-
(Slang) To land an aircraft in water, then abandon it.

Ditch Digger-
(Slang) Any US Army personnel. Used by other branches of the military.

Dixie-
The 31st Infantry Division, which saw service in WWI and WWII in the Pacific.

Dixie Cup-
(Slang) The US Navy’s famous white sailors hat.

Dixie Division-
(Nickname) DesDiv 112, that was homeported at New Orleans, during the Cold War.

Dixie Station-
US Ships assigned to the 7th Fleet off South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Dizzy Three-
(Nickname) Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain.

DL-
Navy designation for a Destroyer Leader.

DLG-
Navy designation for a Guided Missile Destroyer Leader. (Some redesignated CG and some redesignated DDG, in 1975).

DM-
Navy designation for a Destroyer Mine Layer.

DMS-
Navy designation for a Destroyer Mine Sweeper.

Dodo-
(WWII, Slang) A cadet pilot who hasn’t flown solo yet.

Doer Birds-
(Squadron Nickname) VT-2, that flies the T-34 Mentor.

Dogcatchers-
(Squadron Nickname) 47th Fighter Squadron, that operated the A-10 Warthog.

Dog Dish-
(Nickname) white navy “Dixie Cup” hat.

Dog Tags-
Identification tags worn around the neck, and on boots.

Dog Whistle-
1. (Nickname) Cessna T-37 Tweet.
2. A Jet Engine.

Doggie Dicks-
(Slang) Breakfast Sausages.

Dollar 19-
(Nickname) Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar.

Dolphin-
1. The Eurocoptor HH-65, used by the US Coast Guard.
2. The Douglas OA-4/RD Amphibian of the 1930’s.

Dominator-
The unsuccessful Consolidated B-32 heavy bomber. Basically an upgraded B-24, which lost out in competition to the Boeing B-29.

Donkey Dick-
(Slang) Refueling probe on the Grumman A-6 Intruder.

Doodlebug-
(British) The German V-1 cruise missile of World War II.

Doolie-
(Slang) A first year cadet, at the Air Force Academy.

Doomsday Plane-
(Nickname) Boeing E-4B, airborne command post.

Double Breasted Cub-
(Nickname) Cessna UC-78 Bobcat.

Double Dipper-
(Slang) A retired service member, working in civil service.

Double Digit Midget-
Less than 100 days on station.

Double Lucky-
(Nickname) USS Biloxi CL-80, a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser.

Double Nickle-
(Squadron Nickname) 55th Airlift Flight, that flies the C-12 Huron.

Double Ugly-
(Nickname) McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

Doughboys-
(Nickname) US Soldiers during World War I.

Doughnut Dollies-
(WWII, Europe) Civilian females from the United States, sent to entertain troops.

Dowager Dutchess-
(Nickname) Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

Downed-
(Slang) To shoot down an enemy aircraft.

Down Stairs-
(Slang) The lower atmosphere.

Dragon-
1. The Douglas B-23, light bomber of World War II.
2. The M-47 Medium Anti-Tank Missile.

Dragon Flies-
(Squadron Nickname) VS-29 that flies the S-3 Viking.

Dragon Lady- (Nickname) Lockheed TR-1/U-2 Spy plane.
Dragons-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMA-133, that flew the A-4 Skyhawk. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) 33rd Flying Training Squadron, flying the T-37 Tweet.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 357th Fighter Squadron, flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
4. (Squadron Nickname) HMM-265, flying the CH-46 Sky Knight.
5. (Squadron Nickname) 69th Fighter Squadron, that flew the F-16 Falcon. (Disestablished)

Dragon Slayers-
(Squadron Nickname) HS-11 that operates the SH-60 Sea Hawk.

Dragon Wagon-
(Nickname) USS Hamner DD-718, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Dream Sheet-
An Air Force form used to volunteer for assignments.

Drink-
(Slang) To swim in any body of water.

Droop Snoot-
A P-38 modified with a plexi glass encased nose, for horizontal bombing (WWII).

Dry Run-
(Slang) A practice run.

Drut-
(Nickname) Douglas F3D/F-10 Skyknight. Spelled backwards means “Turd”.

Dubya-
1. (Nickname) USS Waller DD/DDE-466; A Fletcher Class Destroyer.
2. (Nickname) President George W. Bush. 2001-2009.

Duck-
1. Grumman J2F seaplane of World War II.
2. (Nickname) Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
3. (Nickname) Cessna O-2 Skymaster.

Duckbutt-
(Nickname) Grumman SA-16/HU-16 Albatross.

Ducimus-
(Squadron Nickname) 154th Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-130 Hercules (Disestablished), for the Arkansas Air National Guard.

DUFF-
(Acronym) Double Ugly Fat Fucker. The F-4 Phantom II.

Duke-
(Nickname) USS Toledo CA-133, a Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser.

Duke of Wonsan-
(Nickname) USS Hopewell DD-681, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Dumbo-
1. (Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando, transport.
2. An Air-Sea Rescue plane. (Korean/Vietnam War)

Dump-
(Slang) To drop or throw supplies from an aircraft.

Duplex-
The Convair XF-81 fighter.

Dust Bin-
(Nickname) A gun turret on the underside of an airplane.

Dust Devils-
(Squadron Nickname) 21st Special Operations Squadron, that operates the MH-53 Super Stallion.

Dust Off-
(Acronym) Dedicated Unhesitating Service To Our Fighting Forces. Associated with Medical helicopters, like the UH-1 Huey and the UH-60 Blackhawk.

Duster-
1. The M-19 Anti-Aircraft Tank, of the Korean War.
2. The M-42 Anti-Aircraft Tank, of the Vietnam War.

Dusting Off Attack-
(Slang) An attack made to keep a target damaged.

DV-
(Short) Distinguished Visitor. O-6 & Above Officer, or an elected Government Official.



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This list was created by Jon Stacy and is displayed on MaritimeQuest with his permission.
This information may not be duplicated, displayed or published without the express written consent of the author.

© 2006 John Stacy All Rights Reserved.