Warbird Information Exchange

While reading about Brian Shul's experiences in his book 'Sled Driver' I started thinking about the pet names given to some (or all?) US aircraft types.

The ones I already know are:

SR71 Blackbird - Sled

F100 Super Sabre - Hun

F105 Thunderchief - Thud (I think)

B52 Stratofortress - Buff

I have some questions for the knowledgeable members of WIX:

1 - Is there a complete comprehensive listing of all of these 'pet' names of US aircraft?
2 - Given that the P47 Thunderbolt was known as the 'Jug', did this naming practice start during WWII?
3 - Did it start earlier than WWII with the Curtis 'Jenny'?

I would be interested in hearing everyone's input on this, and maybe to compile a full listing.

Thanks

Barry

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Little Johnny : "When I grow up I want to be a pilot!"

Johnny's Mother : "Don't be silly Dear - you can't do both!"

B-1 Lancer - Bone (B-one)

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

C-130 - Trash Hauler

MD80 - Sewer Tube

Any Airbus - Scarebus

Cessna O-2 - Huff n Puff

A-10 - warthog

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

B-25: Bucket of Bolts
C-47: Gooney Bird

More here: Somebody had way too much free time at MIT.

http://web.mit.edu/btyung/www/nickname.html

"B-25: Bucket of Bolts"....

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Beech 18: Bugsmasher

S2F Tracker: Stoof

F-4 Phantom II: Rhino

A-4 Skyhawk: Scooter

PBY Catalina: Pigboat

Beech Bonanza: Fork-tailed Doctor Killer

F4U Corsair: Whistling Death (the Japanese called it that)

P-38 Lightning: Fork-tailed Devil (the Germans called it that)

T-33 Shooting Star: T-Bird

F-16: Lawn Dart and Viper

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Lake Dallas, Republic of Texas

O-2A - FACs lovingly called it "Skypig" and I carry on that tradition........

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That came from the Vought PR shop not the Japanese......
B-25 Baker Two Bits
WF Willie Fudd or Stoof with a Roof
P-51 Stang
F-14 Turkey
A-6 Tadpole
C-47 Goon
F-105 Lead Sled
A-7D Little Buff
S-3 Hoover
T-37 Tweet
A-3 Whale
C-130 Herk

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Don't touch my junk!!

"F-14 Turkey"

I thought the Grumman Avenger was the Turkey...

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

P-47 Jug

Couple more

UH 1D or H official Iroquois nicks Huey, Slick, Dust Off

AH 1G official Cobra nicks Snake, VC NVA nicks long skinny one

OH 6A official Cayuse Nick Loch VC NVA Nick little fat one

Wise old VC NVA say dont mess with little fat one long skinny one will get ya

737 - Guppy
727 - Pocket Rocket (the -100 model especially)
F-15E - Mud Hen (shout out to Randy Haskin!)
F-22 - was called "Star Wars" for a while because of the ill-fated Reagan program which showed a lot of promise but never delivered in addition to looking "out of this world."
EF-111 - Spark 'Vark
CH-47 - Sh*thook

The F-105 was called the "Thud" becuase of the sound it made when it hit the ground (typical military humor).

One correction and one explanation -

The B-52 was nicknamed "B.U.F.F." (Big Ugly Fat F*cker) for obvious reasons. When the USAF started receiving the A-7D (which had a bigger engine and more pylons to carry much more expendable munitions), the crews nicknamed is the "S.L.U.F." (Short Little Ugly F*cker) because of its massive payload capability and because it was "yet another" Navy design forced on the Air Force. Funny thing was that the US Navy got jealous and ordered the A-7E with the new Spey engine and more payload.

A3D - All Three Dead
A-4 - Heinemann's Hot Rod
BT-13 - Vibrator
SB2U - Wind Indicator
AT-6 - North American Noise Generator
PBY - Dumbo
Martin B-26 - Flying Prostitute and Baltimore Whore
G4M Betty - One-Shot Lighter and Flying Cigar (was the second one the Japanese nickname for the Betty or ours?)
B-24 - The Box the B-17 Came In
AT-17/UC-78 - Bamboo Bomber and Useless 78
SB2C - Son of a B!tch Second Class
PT-19/26 - Maytag Messerschmitt
MXY7 Ohka - Baka Bomb

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Thanks Fellas,

Some excellent responses so far. I really appreciate it.

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

Here are some RAF/British ones :

Bristol Britannia - 'The Whispering Giant' (because it had F**k-All to shout about).

Boeing 757 (British Airways) - 'Stick Insect' (because it looked just like one on approach with it all hanging out).

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).

Bristol Beaufighter - 'Whispering Death' (attributed to the Japanese).

Vickers Varsity - 'Pig'.

DH Mosquito - 'Freeman's Folly'.

Short Sunderland - 'Flying Porcupine'.

F 104 Super Starfighters (German Air Force) - 'GEEWETs' (Gravity Wins Every Time).

Avro Shackleton - 'A Million Rivets Flying in Formation'.

HS Nimrod - 'Pregnant Comet'.



And last of all

'BOBFOC' (pronounced Bob-Fock) - The name given to a WAAF who when viewed from the rear appeared to be highly desirable, but when looking at the front view it was quite disappointing.

BOBFOC - stands for 'Body Off Baywatch - Face Off Crimewatch'.

Cheers

Barry

_________________
Little Johnny : "When I grow up I want to be a pilot!"

Johnny's Mother : "Don't be silly Dear - you can't do both!"