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Thread: Aircombat Radio Comms in YOUR language

  1. #1

    Default Aircombat Radio Comms in YOUR language

    I am preparing a Saturday Gaming Night - an airfight over Malta with my Wing comrades
    The Italian flight consisting of Ju 87 and escorts will be engaged by the English defenders.
    To add some fun I want to learn some Italian usual aircombat commands (well I am going to fly at least one Pichiatello).

    But it came to my mind to start a thread when we could complete some common expressions and learn them in different languages (and how to pronounce them) for gaming purposes

    So let's start with English expressions.
    Please add, copy or correct these in YOUR language:

    1. I am on fire!
    2. Can't shake him!
    3. Bail out!
    4. Bandits on ...
    5. Break! Break!
    6. Bombs away!
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  2. #2

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    Big jobs- bombers.
    Small jobs- fighters.
    Pancaked a Wimpy- crash landed a Wellington.
    Doodle bug- V1 Rocket. (Not for Malta)
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  3. #3

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    Thanks Rob! I did not know them!
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  4. #4

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    I've just sent a message to my Italian friend. What does "Break!" mean? Is that an "Attack" cry or a command to turn towards the enemy spotted?

  5. #5

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    Some Italian fighter planes did not have radios.

    There are quite a few lists of RAF slang available on the internet. Here is a link to one:
    http://natureonline.com/37/56-ap4-glossary.html

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Honza View Post
    I've just sent a message to my Italian friend. What does "Break!" mean? Is that an "Attack" cry or a command to turn towards the enemy spotted?
    "Break" in this situation would mean "Break formation", implying that you were at liberty to fly as needed to meet the enemy. Usually, given by the flight leader to his winger(s), because an established formation maneuver would probably not be effective. Everyone for themselves can be implied. It could be given with qualifiers, so that wingmen would go in rough directions: IE: "Break Right!"

    PS:
    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    ...
    4. Bandits on ...
    "Bandits at 3 o'clock!"
    This is the identification of enemy aircraft, and the rough direction, using the hour hand from 12 o'clock (the nose of the plane or heading of the formation). It would be qualified with a rough height, if the bandits were not at the same altitude. IE: "Bandits at 12 o'clock high!" meaning, there are enemy aircraft in front of us, and above us. It was used fairly universally, both by fighter formations and multi-person crews (bomber gunners to ensure that the next gunner could pick up the target when it came into his arc of fire).
    Last edited by OldGuy59; 10-23-2014 at 15:55.
    Mike
    "Flying is learning to throw yourself at the ground and miss" Douglas Adams
    "Wings of Glory won't skin your elbows and knees while practicing." OldGuy59

  7. #7

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    "Stay in formation -- targets just ahead. Targets should be clear if you go in low enough. You'll have to decide. You'll have to decide...."

    >;)

  8. #8

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    I am preparing a Saturday Gaming Night - an airfight over Malta with my Wing comrades
    The Italian flight consisting of Ju 87 and escorts will be engaged by the English defenders.
    To add some fun I want to learn some Italian usual aircombat commands (well I am going to fly at least one Pichiatello).

    But it came to my mind to start a thread when we could complete some common expressions and learn them in different languages (and how to pronounce them) for gaming purposes

    So let's start with English expressions.
    Please add, copy or correct these in YOUR language:

    1. I am on fire!
    2. Can't shake him!
    3. Bail out!
    4. Bandits on ...
    5. Break! Break!
    6. Bombs away!
    G'day Andy!
    My humble alternate suggestions for realism.

    1) f*** I am on fire!
    2) Can't get the bugger off my 6
    3) Hit the silk (although that is probably more an Americanism)
    4) Bandits heading 145 degrees or Bandits 6 O'clock high!
    5) Break right! or Break left!
    6) Bombs gone!

    Cheers Baz.

  9. #9

    Casey's Avatar
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    French translation ... I'll try :


    1. "Je brűle !" or "je suis en flamme !"
    2. "Derričre moi ! Je n'arrive pas ŕ le lâcher !"
    3. "Je saute" or "Je m'éjecte !"
    4. Bandits ŕ ...
    5. "Rompez ŕ gauche" or "Rompez ŕ droite" but we use "break" as well in our terminology
    6. Bombes larguées !

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Big jobs- bombers.
    Small jobs- fighters.
    Pancaked a Wimpy- crash landed a Wellington.
    Doodle bug- V1 Rocket. (Not for Malta)
    Rob.
    Corkscrew left (or right), go.(not for Malta)
    Bandits
    Got the b******
    Run for your life - there are stupid people everywhere!

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post
    G'day Andy!
    My humble alternate suggestions for realism.

    1) f*** I am on fire!
    2) Can't get the bugger off my 6
    3) Hit the silk (although that is probably more an Americanism)
    4) Bandits heading 145 degrees or Bandits 6 O'clock high!
    5) Break right! or Break left!
    6) Bombs gone!

    Cheers Baz.
    A couple of things spring to mind with your suggestions Baz.
    The silk was often alluded to as an umbrella.
    Apparently one of the only formal remarks made on a bomb run was always Bombs away Captain.
    The pilot was often refereed to as Skip or skipper, or even his nickname amongst the crew, even over the RT. but on that sole occasion it appears that the correct formula was invariably used.

    Dammit missed the bugger!

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  12. #12

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    Czeck translation, usable mainly for Tomáš Vybíral, aka Adolphe Vybral

    1. I am on fire! - "Hořím" [horzeem]
    2. Can't shake him! - "Nemůžu ho setřást" [nemoodzu ho setrzast]
    3. Bail out! - "Vyskoč!" [veeskocz]
    4. Bandits at ... - "Banditi na" [bandeetee na]
    5. Break! Break! - "Zrušte formaci" [zrooshte formaci]
    6. Bombs away! - "Bomby vypuštěny!" [bombee veepoostenee]

  13. #13

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    Hi guys,

    these are my two cents based on WWII Italian movies. Perhaps some Italian friends, former airman, could drop any more suitable lingo?

    1. Sono in fiamme!
    2. Mi sta incollato! (He's stuck on me! - the literally English to Italian translation of "Can't shake him!" - Non riesco a scrollarmelo di dosso! - would be too long and unusual for an agitated moment such a dogfight.
    3. Lanciarsi! (meaning bailing out the plane)
    4. Nemici a ore ... (enemies at ... hours)
    5. Sgancia! Sgancia! (Meaning to break contact with an enemy fighter).
    6. Bombe fuori!

    Mau

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by csadn View Post
    "Stay in formation -- targets just ahead. Targets should be clear if you go in low enough. You'll have to decide. You'll have to decide...."

    >
    Only if the pilot has a drinking problem.

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by ptownhiker View Post
    Only if the pilot has a drinking problem. :)
    He didn't develop the drinking problem until *afterward*. ;)

  16. #16

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    Some RAF and Army Air Corp. Slang

    Arse end charlie: rear gunner
    Balbo:large formation of aircraft.
    Beehive: very close formation of bombers (hive) with fighter escort (bees).
    Belt up: be quiet.
    Dicey-do: a particularly hair-raising operation.
    Frozen on the stick: paralyzed with fear.
    Gardening: sowing mines in rivers, ports and oceans from low heights.
    Gone for six: dead.
    Hedge-hopping: flying so low that the aircraft appears to hop over the hedges.
    Kipper Kite: Coastal Command aircraft that protected fishing fleets.
    Sprog: a "new boy" fresh from training
    Wizard or wizzo: excellent - superlative

    For example;

    "God lord look at that beehive!"
    "Belt Up Red 4 and watch out for arse end charlie!"

  17. #17

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    As infantryman, I'll try to give my two cents:

    1. I am on fire!..................."Gorim"
    2. Can't shake him!............"Ne mogu da ga otresem"
    3. Bail out!......................."Iskači" (eeskatchee)
    4. Bandits on ..................."Neprijatelj na" (nepriyatel' nah)
    5. Break! Break!................."Rasturi formaciju" (rastooree formatsiyu)
    6. Bombs away!................."Bombe bačene" (bombeh batcheneh)

    Andrzej, what are those comms in Polish?

    Btw, James, are you familiar with Japanese expressions, perhaps?

  18. #18

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    Two more that spring to mind.
    Prang, as in pranged his Spitfire. A non fatal crash.
    Sky pilot. An R.A.F. padre or priest.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Sky pilot. An R.A.F. padre or priest.
    Rob.
    Wow, so that is what the 1969 Animals' song is about. Now it makes sense.

  20. #20

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    These are very interesting, chaps. Thank you very much!
    Now some of them in Polish (pronunciations are very difficult):

    1. I am on fire! Palę się!
    2. Can't shake him! Nie mogę go zrzucić!
    3. Bail out! Skacz!
    4. Bandits on ... Bandyci na ...
    5. Break! Break! Uciekaj!
    6. Bombs away! Bomby poszły!
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  21. #21

    Dom S's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Honza View Post
    Wow, so that is what the 1969 Animals' song is about. Now it makes sense.
    Yep, and Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood was about the unreliability of radio comms at the time....

  22. #22

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    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    These are very interesting, chaps. Thank you very much!
    Now some of them in Polish (pronunciations are very difficult):

    1. I am on fire! Palę się!
    2. Can't shake him! Nie mogę go zrzucić!
    3. Bail out! Skacz!
    4. Bandits on ... Bandyci na ...
    5. Break! Break! Uciekaj!
    6. Bombs away! Bomby poszły!
    Communicate over the RT in English if you don't mind Major.
    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  23. #23

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    Quote Originally Posted by Honza View Post
    Wow, so that is what the 1969 Animals' song is about. Now it makes sense.
    A story of coincidences Jan.
    At my last school for many years the Head of Religious Education was a smashing chap called Gordon Mitchell. He was renowned for his morning assembly talks. Anyway with his name and the association of being a fiery raconteur, being a "sky pilot" he was universally known to all as "Spitfire Mitchell".
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  24. #24

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    At a slight tangent....
    It's seems that the expression "bought the farm", often associated with test pilots in Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff may have a WWI origin in the expression "become a landowner", a euphemism for being placed in a burial plot.

  25. #25

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    Another good one;

    Squirt: to fire a short burst from machine guns, as in "We gave the train a good squirt".

  26. #26

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    Quote Originally Posted by QB Fox View Post
    At a slight tangent....
    It's seems that the expression "bought the farm", often associated with test pilots in Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff may have a WWI origin in the expression "become a landowner", a euphemism for being placed in a burial plot.
    Often shortened just to "Bought it". Gone West, got the chop etc.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  27. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by FarEast View Post
    Another good one;

    Squirt: to fire a short burst from machine guns, as in "We gave the train a good squirt".
    Don't the Americans use "Gave it a hosing". I suspect this is a longer squirt.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  28. #28

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Communicate over the RT in English if you don't mind Major.
    Kyte.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXf1bhEEXd0


  29. #29

  30. #30

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    Quote Originally Posted by Пилот View Post
    Good one Пилот.
    It was actually "For your Freedom and ours " that I was meaning, but that clip covers it even better.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  31. #31

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Don't the Americans use "Gave it a hosing". I suspect this is a longer squirt.
    Rob.
    Americans, as a rule, don't worry about ammo supply (until it's almost gone ).

    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  32. #32

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Nightbomber View Post
    I am preparing a Saturday Gaming Night - an airfight over Malta with my Wing comrades
    Are you going to use some Ground Control phrases as well? Just watch a bit of Battle of Britain to get a flavour, 'Rabbit Leader this is Cowslip calling, I have some trade for you over (insert appropriate name such as Valletta)' Vector 230 Angels one five' etc.

  33. #33

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    We are missing Sven on this topic, with German language.

  34. #34

  35. #35

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    German:

    Moebelwagen - Bomber (lit Furniture Van, Pantechnicon)
    Indianer - Fighters
    Horrido - scored a kill
    Hanni - Height(enemy) in 100s of metres
    Karuso - direction (course)
    Kirchturm - (Church tower) friendly height in 100s of metres
    Pauke Pauke -Attack)
    Viktor - Roger (Understood)
    Mauerblume - (Wallflower) Tally Ho (Enemy sighted)

  36. #36

  37. #37

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spring-Chicken View Post
    Are you going to use some Ground Control phrases as well? Just watch a bit of Battle of Britain to get a flavour, 'Rabbit Leader this is Cowslip calling, I have some trade for you over (insert appropriate name such as Valletta)' Vector 230 Angels one five' etc.
    I do know that Valletta's call sign was "Hot dog" Hal Far was "Banjo" and Sq. L. "Jock" Martins call sign was "Red one", but not much more than that. Kyte is of course "Gordon two."
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  38. #38

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    Just found a reference to Malta Central Opps room as being "Gondor control."
    I will continue to trawl my books and the net.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  39. #39

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    I am on fire! -- Estou pegando fogo!
    Can't shake him! -- Năo consigo pegá-lo!
    Bail out! -- (this is difficult, but something like this) Pule!
    Bandits on! -- Bandidos chegando!
    Break! Break! -- Evadir! Evadir!
    Bombs away. -- (another difficult...) cant find something. Maybe Joaquim can help.

  40. #40

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    Quote Originally Posted by Barkmann View Post
    I am on fire! -- Estou pegando fogo!
    Can't shake him! -- Năo consigo pegá-lo!
    Bail out! -- (this is difficult, but something like this) Pule!
    Bandits on! -- Bandidos chegando!
    Break! Break! -- Evadir! Evadir!
    Bombs away. -- (another difficult...) cant find something. Maybe Joaquim can help.
    Good, Nicolas! Many thanks
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  41. #41

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Just found a reference to Malta Central Opps room as being "Gondor control."
    Funny -- I don't recall any white trees on Malta.... >;)

  42. #42

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    Quote Originally Posted by csadn View Post
    Funny -- I don't recall any white trees on Malta.... >
    Just the dead ones.

  43. #43

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spring-Chicken View Post
    Are you going to use some Ground Control phrases as well? Just watch a bit of Battle of Britain to get a flavour, 'Rabbit Leader this is Cowslip calling, I have some trade for you over (insert appropriate name such as Valletta)' Vector 230 Angels one five' etc.
    That was the same thing that came to my mind when I saw this thread: "Tally Ho, Velvet Leader! Down below, on the left. Stukas!"

  44. #44

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    I do know that Valletta's call sign was "Hot dog" Hal Far was "Banjo" and Sq. L. "Jock" Martins call sign was "Red one", but not much more than that. Kyte is of course "Gordon two."
    Rob.
    The aircraft call sign for Operation Spotter II which was the second lot of Spits flying in from HMS Eagle was "Exile"

  45. #45

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by Пилот View Post
    I always love that bit when I watch the movie!



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