Radio WW2

World War 2 Parlance

As promised at a prior time here’s the blog dedicated to Radio WW2. This is the follow up blog to acronyms used in language. It is basically a list of my favourites that I found whilst researching the previous blog. So sit back slip a magazine into your M1 A1 and relax. And travel back 65 years to a time less peaceful than our own.

These are taken from the RAF & RCAF manuals.

1. A/A or AA Aircraft Apprentice or Anti-Aircraft fire (Ack-Ack)
2. Ack-Ack Anti-Aircraft fire
3. ADGB Air Defence of Great Britain
4. Alligator or 'Gator Navigator
5. Bandit Enemy aircraft
6. Bible-Puncher Padre or Chaplain
7. Blackouts WAAF issue knickers (panties); winter, navy blue
8. Brassed off Angry
9. Browned off Lesser degree of angry
10. Canteen Cowboy Airman who sees himself as a ladies man; alt 'NAAFI Romeo'
11. Chairborne Any desk-bound job or duty
12. Dear-John An "end of relationship" letter from a spouse or girl friend
13. Devil-dodger Padre or Chaplain
14. Fish-head Navy personnel
15. Goon Name used by Allied prisoners of war for their German guards
16. Gone for a Burton Dead or killed
17. Homework Girlfriend; as in "a piece of homework"
18. Irons Knife, fork and spoon eating utensils issued to all non-coms
19. MAFL Manual of Air Force Law
20. Meat Wagon Ambulance
21. Passion-killers WAAF issue knickers (panties); winter, navy blue (see "Blackouts")
22. Pongo Any officer in the Army
23. Prune RAF legendary pilot, Pilot Officer Percy Prune, who served as supreme example of what not to do; applied to any unthinking air crew member flaunting the rules.
24. Spawny Lucky