Nicknames actually used during WWII for American Fighters

[Jerry O'Neill]

I had a discussion tonight about WWII nicknames for American Fighters, both Navy & Air Force.
I've had a hard time coming up with names for some of them other than the P-47 and the F4U. Both of these had nicknames, maybe several, but what were some of the other fighters called?
I'm not talking about their "official" name, like Hellcat or Warhawk, but a nickname used regularly by pilots & crews when referring to a specific type of plane, ie: "Jug", "Hog", "Whistling Death" etc.

Any fighter will do. Did the Hellcat have a nickname?
Did they call a P-51 "Stang" like so many people do today, or is that a new, fancy term?

Just a thought.
Jerry

[Matt Gunsch]

I don't know about then, but for me, a P-51 is a 51, and a T-6 is a 6, unless the plane has a name, then I use the name, our C-119 is The Phoenix, and C-1A is Bulle Dawge.

[Elroy13]

P-38 "Forktailed Devil"
SB2C Helldiver "Big Tail Beast" & "Son of a Bitch 2nd Class"
SBD Dauntless "S"low "B"ut "D"eadly

Its the only that come to mind, right off hand...

Here is a site that has some more current aircraft and their "nicknames"

http://www.coastcomp.com/av/fltline2/nickname.htm

Last edited by Elroy13 on Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mlenoch]

I have only hear the word 'Stang' used in the last several years here in the US. The verterans in the 352nd called their Mustangs 'kites' while overseas.
VL

[mlenoch]

That's: "veterans".........(musta been somethng in my tea).

[Ztex]

Looking at that modern list is a hoot...

EF-111 - Raven- Sparkvark

[Jerry O'Neill]

I'm trying to keep it to WWII American Fighters.
I don't see a lot with a nickname, used by American Servicemen, except the P-47 and the Corsair.
Jerry

[Dan K]

Whether it be Me-262, Meteor, P-59, or YP-80, I recall reading that the early jets were randomly referred to as "blowjobs" by the fighter jock fraternity.

Mind you, that's just what I've read.

[CH2Tdriver]

From what I understand, most called them by their original names unless they didn't like an airplane b/c of a particular characteristic.

B-26 = "Baltimore Whore"
Vought Vindicator = "Windindicator"
BT-13 = "Vultee Vibrator"
UC-78 = "Useless 78" or "Bamboo Bomber"

Pete

[k5083]

The question is "used by whom?"

I do not think "whistling death" was used for the Corsair by anyone except the war correspondents. It is hard to imagine those words coming out of the mouth of a navy or marine airman of the time. And it is almost certain that the Japanese did not use the expression.

As noted in another thread, this is likely true of "fork-tailed devil" as well. Generally, if a name sounds like a marketing guy came up with it, that's probably what happened!

August

[Mudge]

Do I remember correctly that the B-26 was also known as "The Widowmaker"?

Mudge the forgetful

[Ztex]

I thought the B-26 was the "Flying Prostitute"...short wings...no visable means of support?

Z

[Jack Cook]

A-7 SLUF short little ugly fellow
B-52 BUFF big ulgy fat f*cker
S2F Stoof
WF Willie Fud or Stoof with a Roof
Skyraider Able Dog SPAD Sandy
A-4 Scooter
SB2C The Beast
F-105 Lead Sled
A-10 Warthog
F-14 Turkey
TBM Turkey
AD-5W Guppy
AT-6 Pilot Maker
BT-13 vibrator
SkyWarrior All 3 Dead
S-3 Hoover
C-47 Gooney Bird

[Swiss Mustangs]

"fork-tailed-devil" actually is only the translation from the German word "Gabelschwanzteufel" - a term widely used by both military and civil personnel during WW 2 in Germany....


I've heard of B-29's being named 'Dreamboat' and B-24's dubbed 'Banana Boat'

...and where does the term "Flying Spam Can' related to the P-51 come from ?

Martin

[Airlift48]

Here's my revised post.

Barge Douglas SBD Dauntless
Beast Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Bent-Wing Bird Vought F4U Corsair
Britschik ("Little Shaver") Bell P-39 Airacobra


Here's a link to a page of them. Whether they were actually used?
I dont know.

http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynami ... kname.html

Last edited by Airlift48 on Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.