Rodger Pettichord Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Hi all. I recently read a delightful article about how military pilots get their call signs (https://taskandpurpose.com › News › Branch). It turns out that pilots don't get to choose their call signs but rather have them imposed by their peers. Thus, almost all calls signs actually are insulting and embarrassing in ways known only to the pilot and peers. Some of my favorite are "Farts" for the guy whose bowels loudly adjust to altitude changes; "Moto" for Master of the Obvious; "Vigit" for The Village Idiot"; and "Terpid" for Terminally Stupid." Hard to keep up a big ego when your peers have worked so hard to humble you. And that leads to this week's topic. THIS WEEK'S MEANINGLESS TOPIC: What call sign would they give you if you were a new fighter pilot? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Heaton Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Once upon a time when I was a very young apprentice Fitter -- chewing gum for the English was rather a new sweet. I loved it and was always with a wad of gum in my mouth - and the nickname that was given to me would serve as a call sign. They said that because of the gum chewing I looked like a COW chewing it's cudd 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Pettichord Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 I hate to admit it, but for the first thirty years of my life, my most recommended call sign would have been *sshole. After I sobered up and began life as a religious man, the consensus would probably be Preacher. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 (edited) "Bassman" self explanatory I should think😉 and nothing to do with fish! Edited February 3, 2023 by Bassman 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigeaglefire Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 natural Maverick only joking! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Abernathy Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Only nickname I've ever had is due to my interest in American History (1820-1840) Fur Trade and my use of muzzle loading rifles. BLACK HANDS Rodger, what would your nickname be? 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wain71 Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 well I am not sure if mine would be a callsign to be honest, when I was in the military I did a few years as an Infantry Signalman, this usually involved a lot of climbing, up trees, on top of buildings etc...anyway I never ever needed any special gear or footwear, I just had the ability to cling on and climb, we even had a race up two telegraph poles and the other guy had special spiked footwear attachments on and before he'd got to the top I was up and back down.....so I earned the name Monkey and it stuck, I got called it all the time, even answering to it when someone would shout out across a crowded cookhouse....I suppose it could have been worse, one guy was named Dragonsbreath..😁 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gumbypickett Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Well as you know Rodger mine would have to be Gumby. Think of it. Gumby Romeo Papa 1968. cheers Gumby 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodger Pettichord Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 2 hours ago, Rob Abernathy said: Rodger, what would your nickname be? Thanks for asking, Rob. See above second post down after the topic setup. While I was in active ministry, most people called me Pastor. I was glad to answer to that. Nowadays, they just call me Old Guy and tell me to get out of the way. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adambar Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 I used to be called d***head a lot, so I'll go with that. 🤔 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pukcip Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Whilst not an RAF pilot, my erstwhile RAF colleagues awarded me "Dingo" (I had an unruly Springer Spaniel) and "Pretty Boy" (I once wore a colourful tie in the Officer's Mess one evening). The second one came from an Air Commodore and stuck and I wasn't too chuffed but you learn very quickly to own it... 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingleaf Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Ah man not fair. They would call Cap'n Karl of the Mule Team Air Fright: "Swill hound" . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John York Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 I suppose mine would have to be; 'Itchy' or 'Scratch'. Take your choice! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMBIII Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 When I was flying, mine was "Green Bean" as our flightsuits were green and I am quite a bit over 6 ft. and had to wear a size long. Most of the time it was just shortened to "Green". Incidentally one of my family patriarchs, way back in the 1700's, given name was Green. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Q Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Oh well here it goes. I guess mine would be "Snot." I am a Hatter by trade (A museum educator and tradesman by profession). To become a Hatter, one must first be an apprentice. The not so polite nickname for an apprentice hatter is "snot." Ken 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Abernathy Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 2 hours ago, Ken Q said: Oh well here it goes. I guess mine would be "Snot." I am a Hatter by trade (A museum educator and tradesman by profession). To become a Hatter, one must first be an apprentice. The not so polite nickname for an apprentice hatter is "snot." Ken Apparently because you're snot a Hatter yet? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts