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

W-
Prefix used in the Joint Service Designation System, for Weather. Used in conjunction with another established aircraft type. (example: WC-130 Hercules)

WAAC-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

WAAF-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.

WAC-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Corps.

WAF-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Force

WAFS-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Ferry Service

WAFU-
(Acronym) Wet And Fucking Useless.

Wake Island Avengers-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA-211, that flew the F2A Buffalo, F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, AD Skyraider, & the A-4 Skyhawk. Served during World War II & the Vietnam War. Currently known as the “Avengers”.

Walk in the Sun-
(Slang) An operation with little or no contact with the enemy.

Walker Bulldog-
The M-41 medium tank, that was used in the Vietnam War.

Wallbangers-
(Squadron Nickname) VAW-117, that operates the E-2 Hawkeye.

Waller Boat-
(Nickname) USS Waller DD-466, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Waltzing Matilda-
(Nickname) USS Yorktown CV-5. A Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier. Nickname was given to her by the Australians during World War II.

WASP-
(Acronym, WWII) Women’s Air Force Service Pilots.

War Dogs-
(Slang) Specially trained dogs for mine and booby trap detecting.

War Eagles-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 77th Bomb Squadron, that flew the B-29 Superfortress, B-52 Stratofortress, & currently the B-1 Lancer.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VP-16, which flies the P-3 Orion.

War Hawks-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VFA-97, that operates the F/A-18 Hornet.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 195th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Arizona Air National Guard.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 314th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.
4. (Squadron Nickname) HS-10, which flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.

War Horses-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VA-55, that flew the A-4 Skyhawk & the A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-465, that flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.

War Lords-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMF-451, that operated the F4U Corsair, FJ Fury, F-8 Crusader, & the F-4 Phantom II. Served in World War II & during Vietnam. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) HSL-51, that flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.

Warriors-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VFA-81, that flies the F/A-18 Hornet. Formerly known as the “Sunliners”.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMLA-167, which operates the UH-1 Iroquois & the AH-1 Cobra.

Warthog-
(Nickname) Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.

Watchdogs-
(Squadron Nickname) VMU-1, that flies the RQ-2 drone.

Waterboo-
(Nickname) A water buffalo in Vietnam.

WAVES-
(WWII, Acronym) Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service

Waxed-
(Slang) Killed.

Weapon Alpha-
The Mk 108, 12.75mm Anti-Submarine Rocket Launcher. Commonly seen on refitted Fletcher Class Destroyers in the 1950’s & 1960’s, mounted in place of the No. 2 turret.

Weatherman-
(British) A pilot who flies weather reconnaissance.

Weary Willie-
(Nickname) A B-17 or B-24, that is loaded with TNT, and piloted by remote control, would be used as flying bombs against German targets in World War II.

Weekend Warriors-
(Nickname) Guard or Reserve members, to Active Duty.

WeeVee-
(Nickname) USS West Virginia BB-48; a Maryland Class Battleship.

Wet and Dry Hook Up-
(Slang) A psychrometer.

Whale-
1. (Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando.
2. (Nickname) Douglas A-3 Skywarrior.

Whale Killer-
(Nickname) USS Blue DD-744, an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.

When your out of FRAM’s, your out of Cans-
(Navy saying) Gun Destroyers of World War II vintage, that were updated, and slowly removed from service, & being replaced with Guided Missile Destroyers. It was believed that they couldn't fill the gap, of the old
greyhounds.

Whirlibird-
(Slang) A helicopter

Whiskey-
1. (Codeword) Letter W.
2. (Nickname) Bell AH-1W Super Cobra.

Whistling Death-
1. (Japanese) The Vought F4U Corsair.
2. (Vietnamese) The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.

Whistling Devils-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-113, that flew the F4U Corsair, F4D Skyray & the F-8 Crusader. (Disestablished)

White Knights-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMMT-204, that flies the MV-22 Osprey.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMM-165, which operates the CH-46 Sea Knight.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 70th Fighter Squadron, that flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II. (Disestablished)

White Raid-
(Slang) A Propaganda Mission.

White Rocket-
(Nickname) The Northrop T-38 Talon.

White Shadow-
(Nickname) The Boeing E-4B, NEACP.

Whiz Kids-
(Nickname) Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s advisors from 1961-1969.

Why Not Minot?-
(Slang) Minot AFB, North Dakota. Received the Nickname, because it is in the middle of nowhere.

WIA-
(Short) Wounded in Action.

Widow Maker-
(Nickname) Martin B-26 Marauder, medium bomber of World War II.

Wilco-
(Codeword) “I will Comply” used in radio communication.

Wild Boars-
(Squadron Nickname) 390th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-15 Eagle.

Wildcat-
1. The Grumman F4F, naval fighter.
2. The 81st Infantry Division, which served in World War I and in the Pacific in World War II.

Wildcats-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VF/VFA-131, that flew the F-4 Phantom II, & currently the F/A-18 Hornet. Served during the Operation: Iraqi Freedom.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VT-10, that operates the T-34 Mentor & T-1 Jayhawk.

Wild Ducks-
(Squadron Nickname) 309th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Falcon.

Wild Hares-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-217, that flew the F4U Corsair, during World War II.

Wild Weasel-
(Nickname) Air Force Anti-SAM suppression squadrons.

Wild West-
The 91st Infantry Division, that served in World War I, and in Europe during World War II.

Willie C-
(Nickname) USS William C. Lawe DD-763, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Willie D-
(Nickname) USS William D. Porter DD-579, a Fletcher Class Destroyer. Perhaps the Navy’s most jinxed ship of World War II.

Willie Fudd-
(Nickname) Grumman WF-2 (later E-1) Tracker.

Willie Pete-
(Slang) White Phosphorus.

Willie the Whip-
(Nickname) General William Tunner, USAF; who was instrumental in the organizing of the Berlin Airlift.

Willing & Able-
(Squadron Nickname) 7th Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-141 Starlifter & currently the
C-17 Globemaster III.

Willy Lovers-
(Nickname) Pilots of VMF-311, in 1948, their aircraft carried the tail code of “WL”. The nickname was given to them by pilots of VMF-225.

Willy R-
(Nickname) USS William R. Rush DD-714, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Willy Wood-
(Nickname) USS William M. Wood DD-715, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Wimpy-
(British) The Wellington bomber of World War II.

Winco-
(British) Wing Commander

Wind Indicators-
(Nickname) Vought SB2U Vindicator, obsolete dive bomber that was replaced by the Douglas SBD Dauntless in the early phases of World War II.

Wind Walkers-
(Squadron Nickname) HMT-301, that flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Windy Bay-
(Nickname) USS Windham Bay CVE-92, a Casablanca Class Escort Carrier.

Wing Weenie-
(Slang) An Air Force Member who does not fly.

Winged Victory-
The 43rd Infantry Division, that served in World War II, in the Pacific.

Wings of the Deep South-
(Squadron Nickname) 183rd Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-141 Starlifter & currently the
C-17 Globemaster III.

Wilson Pickett-
(Nickname) White Phosphorus air to ground rockets, launched from helicopters during the Vietnam War.

Wire Chaser-
(Nickname) A person who works on electronics and avionics of an aircraft.

Wise Owls-
(Squadron Nickname) VT-31, which operates the T-44.

Wichita-
The Beech AT-10, advanced trainer of World War II.

Wichita Wobbler-
1. (British) The Beech C-45 Voyager, transport.
2. (Nickname) The Cessna UC-78 Bobcat.

Wizards-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VAQ-133, that operates the EA-6 Prowler.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VPU-2, which flies the P-3 Orion.

WMD-
(Short) Weapons of Mass Destruction. (Nuclear, Chemical or Biological)

Wobbly Goblin-
(Nickname) Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk.

Wolf Raiders-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA-121, that operated the F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, & the AD Skyraider. Served in World War II & in Korea. Now known as the “Green Knights”.

Wolfpack-
1. (Nickname) A concentration of German U-Boats, too attack Allied Shipping in the North Atlantic, during World War II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMF-112, that flew the F4F Wildcat & F4U Corsair during World War II. The squadron is now known as the “Cowboys”.
3. (Squadron Nickname) VF-1, that operated the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)
4. (Squadron Nickname) 550th Special Operations Squadron, that flies the MC-130 Hercules.
5. (Squadron Nickname) HSL-45, who flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.
6. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-466, which operates the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Wolves-
(Squadron Nickname) 107th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon, for the Michigan Air National Guard.

Woody-
(Nickname) USS Worcester CA-144, a Worcester Class Heavy Cruiser.

Woolworth Carrier-
(Nickname) Escort Carriers, of World War II.

World, The-
(Nickname) United States, by overseas troops.

World Watchers-
(Squadron Nickname) VQ-1, who flies the EP-3 Orion.

Wrap-
1. (Nickname) To smash or damage an aircraft.
2. (Nickname) To end an undertaking.

WSO-
(Short) Weapons Systems Officer, onboard a F-4 Phantom II.

WX-
(Short) Weather.

Wyoming Line-
An unplanned “hump” in the Kansas Line, east of the Iron Triangle, during the Korean War, 10-16 June, 1951.




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.


If you have an addition, correction or clarification please
email John Stacy.