Military Callsigns

[supsup]

I just started a new job this month and about 1/2 of our flying takes us in out of military bases. I hear many different callsigns like "joseph" or "tomcat". I was just wondering if military a/c have specific callsigns for each type of a/c, or are they just random?

supsup

 

[groundpointsix]

Look in the "Best Callsigns" thread. Someone explained how they're assigned

 

[NFOtoPilot]

Military call-signs are squadron specific. In a tactical environment they can be mission specific. If your good you can figure out what type of a/c it is.

 

[Easywithit]

Most squadrons have squadron callsigns for use with ATC. ex. VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" are called....you guessed it....Fist. VFA-113 Stingers are "Sting". The number after is usually the event number. Your ATC callsign can be different from your tactical callsign. If you are in a 4 ship of Hornets fighting another unit you can call yourself anything...Blood 41-44, Hammer, Shield, etc.

Your flight schedule will dictate what the ATC callsign is going to be and you have to use that to get anywhere (Fallon, R-2508, etc). Hope this helps.

 

[Dr4uh60l]

Some units choose their callsign depending on the location. The C-130's out of Dobbins AFB in Marietta, Ga go by "COBB", they are in Cobb County. The unit in Nashville, Tn goes by "MUSIC". The USAF has a traning unit that uses different callsigns for different training activites. Not sure, but I think "WOLF" is a student nav training mission, and "MOON"could be instrument training. These are just a few that I hear along my route, then there's the F-18's that go by "RAZOR" and "GATOR". In the Army, our callsigns would change every few days on a tactical mission to preclude the enemy forces from being able to keep track of us.

 

[Kaman]

Hello,
In the helicopter community in the Navy we used our squadron callsign for all our missions, except when we were on an IFR flight plan. In that case, we would use our AirWing tail letters, plus our side number (ex: NL 613, "November Lima 613").
In many cases you could tell a squadron by it's tactical callsign, but quite a few defied that logic. Here are some examples:

HSL-31 "Archangels" callsign: "Copyright"
HSL-35 "Magicians" callsign: "Magus"

One of the callsigns that the Air Force uses that always makes me laugh is, "Hefty". This is a Travis C-5 callsign, however, all dedicated AMC airlift missions use the callsign "Reach" no matter what type aircraft. At least that is the explantion I heard on that.

Regards,

ex-Navy Rotorhead

"Black Knight 613, your signal is Buster, and charlie spot three."

 

[skyking1976]

New Mexico ANG at Kirtland AFB - Taco