I was wondering if anyone recalled the radio call signs for their ships or squadrons...For example, my favorite was "Guntrain" which was the USS Independence. My least favorite was "Schoolboy" which was the USS Midway. I've long since forgotten the others, such as USS Ranger's, USS Constellation, etc...Our Prowler squadron's call sign was "Ironclaw" and I think the radio call sign for VAQ-137 was "Barfing Pig" and, of course, VF-101 was "Ghost Rider". Anyone recall some of the others??

USS Ranger CV-61="GRAY EAGLE"

USS Constellation CV-64="WAR CHIEF"

How about the 'Flag Hoist' for them,you ask.

CV-61=November - Hotel - Kilo - Golf

CV-64=November - November - Uniform - Lima

Next ?

BoatsBM1

War Chief and Gray Eagle...I seem to recall both of those as we checked in with strike for carquals off of San Diego....Both were most impressive radio/tactical call signs!!

Hey, Boats, my dad was an MM1 and served on board USS Hyman, DD-732, an Allen M. Sumner class DD......

quote:

Originally posted by sparsons:
Hey, Boats, my dad was an MM1 and served on board USS Hyman, DD-732, an Allen M. Sumner class DD......

What time period?

I was in VF-74 and our radio callsign was "Devil:. Not very flashy but if you take a look at the squadron insignia you'll figure it out. VF-103, the Sluggers at that time, was callsign "Clubleaf".

I recall that the Independence was Guntrain.
For the life of me I can't remember the call sign for the Saratoga. Maybe Gerry can help out.

The USS Enterprise was Climax.

Vaw 12 ashore was Palmetto, at sea we were Anyface.

USS Forrestal CV-59 "Handbook"
USS Saratoga CV-60 "Fairfield"
USS America CV-66 "Courage"
USS Essex CVS-9 "Banknote"
VFA-15 Valions "Pride"
VFA-81 Sunliners "Zapper"
VFA-86 Sidewinders "Winder"

The ship I can't remember, and unable to find the callsign is the USS Wasp CVS-18. Any help?

Fearless,
Were all VAW-12 Dets the same or did each have their own call sign? I was in Dets 9,18,and 60 and can't remember any of them.



Bob

USS Davis DD937 was Matador
Com15 or Balboa, Panama was Jitterbug
Those are the only ones I remember.

Boats, Dad served on DD-732/USS Hyman at the beginning of the Korean conflict timeframe and did a Med Cruise....He wasn't on board when one of the forward 5" 38 gun turrets blew up though.

I remember when we were on the Indy with VAQ-132 our call sign was "Ironrod." Then later on the Ranger with VAQ-137 we were just "Rook 1" or what ever other aircraft 2 thru 4 (Rook 4).

Confirming USS America's call sign was "Courage"
Here call letters: November Mike India Bravo. NMIB

I understand that the USS Stennis inherited the America's call sign "Courage", her wheel and her silver.

edit:

Call sign book ACP 113
http://www.jcs.mil/j6/cceb/acps/acp113/ACP113AG.pdf

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CVA66er,

VFA-192 on Indy was called "Dam Busters"--which goes way back in time...But they didn't like the variation on that where it was altered to "Dumb Bast--ds"--Soooo, they changed it to "Chippy"--now wasn't that just the cutest thing you ever heard?? On USS Midway, VA-93 was called the Ravens, but it soon became "Raven-ettes" after two junior enlisted were found "getting in on" in a gear locker.....

Sir, that reminds me of the time a shipmate of mine at Miramar, year ago, on a late line watch, found two pairs of feet sticking out of the intake of an F-4 Phantom, one pair female. I don't think they were doing a FOD inspection on the compressor!

In the intake of an F-4?? I could see maybe an A-7, but that would be a real stunt for two to cram into the intake of a Phantom....I could think of a hundred better places.....

quote:

Originally posted by lcdrldo:
USS Forrestal CV-59 "Handbook"
USS Saratoga CV-60 "Fairfield"
USS America CV-66 "Courage"
USS Essex CVS-9 "Banknote"
VFA-15 Valions "Pride"
VFA-81 Sunliners "Zapper"
VFA-86 Sidewinders "Winder"

The ship I can't remember, and unable to find the callsign is the USS Wasp CVS-18. Any help?

Fearless,
Were all VAW-12 Dets the same or did each have their own call sign? I was in Dets 9,18,and 60 and can't remember any of them.



Bob

Bob

The home guard at NAS Norfolk was Palmetto. Those permanently assigned to the home guard were referred to as Det November.

All of the seagoing Det's I served with were Anyface aboard ship.

You also may recall that they changed the tail letters from GE to the CAG tail letters just before a Det deployed.

I remember repainting tail letters and I also remember the night before extended deployments going around to the home guard A/C and swapping out the old style radar scopes for the newer Texas Instruments scopes.


Bob

I suppose all A/C voice comm used the ships own voice callsign, but: the voice call signs got confusing whenever the carrier had a flag aboard when deployed. On the USN HiComm Net, tactical command call signs were always used when the command was attached.
Recaling a few from my day.

COMSIXTHFLT = FAST CHARGER
CINCUSNAVEUR = BELMONT
CINCEUR = IVANHOE (iirc)
CNO = TOP HAND
CTF60 (embarked in America during 66 & 67) = DERAIL

A couple of others I liked
Navcommsta Rota = Pawnee
Navcommsta Greece = Cactus Pete
USS INTREPID = ATLAS
VAW 122 = STEEL JAW

This one's for you Gerry...
USS DAVIS = MATADOR

I wouldn't think that would be any room to do anything! A few years later I read a report that an A/P on an Air Force Base caught a couple there doing the same thing in an F-4.
How the heck would get around the pitot tube in there? An A-7 would be a good one for it, but yeah, an F-4 intake???????

Even though they are de-commed VF-1 was "Wichita" (I believe).