Basics for Radio Communication

4. Aviation Jargon

4.2. WWII German

By Devon S A (Flt Lt), Royal Air Force official photographer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Here is a selection of the most important terms of the brevity code words in German and their Allied equivalent. Pilots in the WWII have thus coordinated briefly and concisely with each other and with control centers. This is a small selection. There are a multiplicity of further terms (more than 200), but is too much for this course.

General

Victor/Vitamins Roger understood
Ricardus Say again not understood/restored

Flight Data

carousel - Course (e.g. "Caruso 185")
Haste Buster Own speed
Church tower Angels Height (e.g. church tower 5 = 500)
North Pole - above the clouds
Equator Popeye in the clouds
South Pole - under the clouds
Source - Current location
Rolf Check Turn Right (Degrees) Right (e.g. 3 x Rolf = 30 degrees right)
Lisa Check Turn Left (Degrees) Left (e.g. 3 x Lisa = 30 degrees left)
Carousel Rolf - Curve right
Great carousel about Rolf Hook Right 180 degree curve to right
Circus (above) - Collect (about)
waiting room - waiting loop, court round (large/small)
Garden fence Home Plate Own airfield
rocket - Start
Congo Pancake On the ground, landed
Luzi Anton Pancake landing, landing approach
Appear... Course xx - The shortest way... turn on course xx
Thirst, small, big Chicken, Bingo Fuel shortage, ending, critical

Observations

I touch. Tally Visual destination contact
I'm blind. No Joy destination contact lost
Marketplace - Main target
sky blue - no enemy contacts

Aircraft Observations

Question mark Bogey Unknown aircraft
Indians Bandits Enemy fighters
- on 12h 12 O’clock ahead
- high/low - high/low Height indication
mountains Weeds Low flying enemy fighters
Rolf Lisa make - waggle wings for recognition

Air Combat

Timpani, timpani Tally Ho Attack
Ampulse Tally Ho Start Attack
Ampulle-Richardus Press Repeat Attack
xx IN or xx goes in Xx IN Manoeuvring to attack.
xx OUT or xx is out Xx OUT or XX OFF End attack.
Fire magic - Fighting, Flak
burglar - Entrance into anti-aircraft area
Emitted - under fire
I take over. - Stay focussed (on opponent), relieve someone
Long make, after... Rolf - Pull your opponent to the right