Military Abbreviations, Nicknames and Slang Terms
Beginning with G
Compiled by Jon Stacy

Gaggle-
(British) A number of aircraft in loose formation.

Gainful-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-6, Surface to Air Missile.

Galaxy-
The Lockheed C-5, Heavy Airlifter.

Gallant Gussi-
(Nickname) USS Gilbert Islands CVE-107, a Commencement Bay Class Escort Carrier.

Galloping Gearing-
(Nickname) USS Gearing DD-710, a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Galloping Ghost-
(Nickname) USS Enterprise CV-6. A Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier.

Galloping Ghost of the East Coast-
(Nickname) USS Kula Gulf CVE-108, a Commencement Bay Class Escort Carrier.

Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast-
(Nickname) USS Houston CA-30, a Northampton Class Heavy Cruiser.

Galloping Ghost of the Korean Coast-
1. (Nickname) USS Duncan DD-874, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
2. (Nickname) USS Black DD-666, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Galloping Ghost of the Virginia Coast-
1. (Nickname) USS Siboney CVE-112, a Commencement Bay Class Escort Carrier.
2. (Nickname) USS Juneau CLAA-119, a Juneau Class Light Cruiser.

Galosh-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile Missile.

Gamecocks-
(Squadron Nickname) 19th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-15 Eagle.

Gamblers-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 21st Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-16 Falcon.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 77th Fighter Squadron, that operated the F-100 Super Sabre, F-111 Aardvark & currently the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Ganep-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-4, Surface to Air Missile.

Ganked-
1. (Slang) Stolen.
2. (Slang) Screwed out of/into something.

Garage Doors-
Dive Brakes.

Gargoyle-
The KUD-1, a radio controlled Glide bomb.

Garudas-
(Squadron Nickname) VAQ-134 that operates the EA-6 Prowler.

Gaskin-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-9, Surface to Air Missile.

Gators-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMSB/VMF/VMA/VMFA-142, that flew the SBD Dauntless, F4U Corsair, A-4 Skyhawk & the F/A-18 Hornet. Served during World War II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 562nd Flying Training Squadron, flying the T-43.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 558th Flying Training Squadron, flying the T-43. (Disestablished)

Gator Freighter- (Nickname) USS New Orleans LPH-11, an Iwo Jima Class Helicopter Amphibious ship.

Gauntlets-
(Squadron Nickname) VAQ-136, that operates the EA-6 Prowler.

Gecko-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-8, Surface to Air Missile.

Gedunk-
(Navy) A Soda Fountain.

Gem-
(Nickname) USS Columbia CL-56, a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser.

Gen-
(British) A Rumor.

General of the Hot Air Force-
(Nickname) General Billy Mitchell, of the US Army Air Corps.

Gender-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Nippon Ku-8.

George-
1. Automatic Pilot.
2. (Allied Codename) Japanese Kawanishi N1K2-J, Army Fighter Plane.
3. Former Codeword for the letter G.

Georgia Bones-
(Squadron Nickname) 128th Bomb Squadron, that operates the B-1 Lancer for the Georgia Air National Guard.

Getting Mopped Up-
Donning Chemical Warfare Gear.

Ghost Riders-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, that operated the F-117 Nighthawk during the Persian Gulf War. (Disestablished).
2. (Squadron Nickname) 16th Special Operations Squadron, that operated the AC-130 Specter.
(Disestablished).
3. (Squadron Nickname) 4th SOS, that operates the AC-130 Spectra.
4. (Squadron Nickname) VF-142, that operated the F-8 Crusader, F-4 Phantom II & the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)

GI-
Government Issue. Any US service member.

GI Party-
A massive cleaning party of a barracks or office.

Giant Voice-
A public address system for a base or for a flightline.

Gig Line-
The alignment of the uniform’s shirt, belt buckle and fly.

Gipper-
1. (Nickname) President Ronald W. Reagan (1981-1989).
2. (Nickname) USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76; a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier.

Gitmo-
(Nickname) NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “The Navy’s Thorn in Castro’s Ass”.

Gladiators-
(Squadron Nickname) VA/VFA-106, that operated the A-4 Skyhawk & the F/A-18 Hornet.

Glen-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Yokosuka E14Y.

Global Eagles-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 15th Special Operations Squadron, that operates the MC-130 Hercules.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 15th Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-141 Starlifter & the C-17 Globemaster III.

Global Hawk-
The Northrop Grumman RQ-4, reconnaissance drone.

Globemaster-
The Douglas C-74 airlifter. A development of the DC-7.

Globemaster II-
The Douglas C-124 airlifter. A development of the C-74.

Globemaster III-
The Boeing (McDonnell-Douglas) C-17, airlifter. Designed as the replacement for the Lockheed C-141.

Globemasters-
(Squadron Nickname) VR-56, that flies the C-9 Skytrain II.

Go Juice-
(Slang) Fuel.

Go-on Rowan-
(Nickname) USS Rowan DD-782; a Gearing Class Destroyer.

Goa-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-3, Surface to Air Missile.

Goat-
(Nickname) Grumman SA-16/HU-16 Albatross.

Goat Locker-
The Chief Petty Officers berthing area onboard a ship.

Goat Rope-
(Slang) A Disorganized or Chaotic mess.

Goblin-
The McDonnell XF-85. An experimental jet parasite fighter.

Goldbrick-
(Slang) A goof off.

Goldbrick Society-
(Slang) A group of goof offs, on the job.

Gold Bottle Cap-
(Slang) An O-4 Major.

Gold Eagle-
(Nickname) USS Carl Vinson CVN-70, a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier.

Golden Acorn-
The 87th Infantry Division, that served in World War I and in Europe during World War II.

Golden Arrow-
The 8th Infantry Division, that served in World War I, in Europe in World War II, and during the Korean War.

Golden BB-
A lucky shot that brings down an airplane.

Golden Dragons-
(Squadron Nickname) VF/VA/VFA-192, that operated the F9F Panther, FJ Fury, A-7 Corsair II & the
F/A-18 Hornet.

Golden Eagles-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VT-22, that flies the T-45 Goshawk.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMM-162, that operates the CH-46 Sea Knight.

Golden Falcons-
(Squadron Nickname) HS-2 that operates the SH-60 Sea Hawk.

Golden Gator-
(Nickname) USS Boxer LHD-4. A Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship.

Golden Gators-
(Squadron Nickname) HC-85 that flies the SH-3 Sea King.

Golden Grizzly-
(Nickname) USS California CGN-36. A California Class Nuclear Cruiser.

Golden Hawks-
(Squadron Nickname) VAW-112 that operates the E-2 Hawkeye.

Golden Intruders-
(Squadron Nickname) VA-128, that operated the A-6 Intruder. The Squadron was reorganized into VAQ-128 “Fighting Phoenix” flying the EA-6 Prowler.

Golden Knights-
(Squadron Nickname) US Army Parachute Demonstration Team. They’ve operated the C-7 Caribou and currently the C-31 Friendship.

Golden Lion-
The 106th Infantry Division, that served in Europe during World War II.

Golden Pride-
(Squadron Nickname) 59th Fighter Squadron, that flew the F-15 Eagle. (Disestablished)

Golden Warriors-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-87, that flies the F/A-18 Hornet.

Golf-
(Codeword) Letter G.

Golf Ball-
A tracer, flaming in the air.

Gonzo Station-
US Ships assigned to the Indian Ocean, with the 5th Fleet.

Gooney Bird-
(Nickname) Douglas DC-3/C-47 Skytrain, during World War II.

Good Hood-
(Nickname) USS Mount Hood AE-29.

Goop Bomb-
(Slang) A special kind of incendiary bomb.

Gorillas-
(Squadron Nickname) 58th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-15 Eagle.

Goshawk-
The McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing T-45, Naval Jet Trainer. Based on the British Hawk attack plane.

GQ Johnnie-
(Nickname) USS Johnston DD-557; a Fletcher Class Destroyer.

Grace-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Aichi B7A.

Grandmasters-
(Squadron Nickname) HSL-46 that flies the SH-60.

Granny-
(Nickname) USS Guadalupe AO-32.

Grapes-
(Nickname) Purple Shirt sailors on an aircraft carrier, who refuel aircraft.

Grant-
The M-3 medium tank, or early World War II.

Grasshopper-
A series of Liaison aircraft of World War II. To include the Taylorcraft L-2; the Piper L-3, L-4, L-18.

Gravel Haulers-
(Squadron Nickname) 741st Missile Squadron, that operates the LGM-30 Minuteman II ICBM.

Gray Ghost-
1. (Nickname) General John S. Mosby, CSA; during the Civil War.
2. (Nickname) USS Hornet CV-12, an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier.
3. (Nickname) USS Pensacola CA-24, a Pensacola Class Heavy Cruiser.

Gray Ghosts-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-531 that flew the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, FJ Fury,
F-8 Crusader, & the F-4 Phantom II. Served as a Night Fighter Squadron in World War II. (Disestablished)

Gray Ghost of the Carolina Coast-
(Nickname) USS Trumpetfish SS-425.

Gray Ghost of the East Coast-
(Nickname) USS Newport News CA-148, a Des Moines Class Heavy Cruiser.

Gray Ghost of the Korean Coast-
(Nickname) USS Rochester CA-124, an Oregon City Class Heavy Cruiser.

Gray Ghost of the South China Coast-
(Nickname) USS Gridley DLG/CG-21; a Leahy Class Cruiser.

Gray Ghost of Virginia Coast-
(Nickname) USS Northampton, CLC-1/CC-1.

Gray Hawks-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VAW-120 that flies the E-2 Hawkeye.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMM-161, that operates the CH-19 Sea Horse & the CH-46 Sea Knight. 1st Helicopter unit too see combat in the Korean War.

Gray Knights-
(Squadron Nickname) VP-46, that flies the P-3 Orion.

Gray Lady-
(Nickname) USS Long Beach CGN-9; the Worlds first Nuclear Powered Warship.

Gray Wolves-
(Squadron Nickname) VAQ-142, that flies the EA-6 Prowler.

Greyhound-
(Nickname) A US Navy Destroyer.

Grease-
(Slang) To make a smooth landing.

Grease Monkey-
(Slang) A mechanic or other members of a ground crew.

Greasy G-
(Nickname) USS Guadalupe AO-32.

Greasy George-
(Nickname) USS George Clymer AP-51/APA-27; an Arthur Middleton Class Amphibious Attack Troop Transport.

Great Decliner-
(Nickname) General William S. Rosecrans, USA; during the Civil War.

Great Emancipator-
(Nickname) President Abraham Lincoln.

Great Marianas Turkey Shoot-
(Nickname) Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 19-20 June, 1944.

Great White Fleet-
(Nickname) American Battleship Armada, that steamed around the world, as part of President Theodore Roosevelt’s Foreign Diplomacy.

Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast-
(Nickname) USS LaSalle AGF-3. Named so due to its white paint it wore early in its career.

Greatest Contribution to the Japanese War Effort- (Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando.

Green Card-
An active duty, Identification card.

Green Falcons-
(Squadron Nickname) VA-205, that operated the A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 Corsair II, & the A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)

Green Hornet-
(Nickname) General George S. Patton Jr., of World War II.

Green Hornets-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 20th Special Operations Squadron that operates the MH-53 Pave Low.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 61st Airlift Squadron, that operates the C-130 Hercules.

Greenhouse-
A glassed enclosure on an aircraft.

Green Knights-
(Squadron Nickname) VMA/VMFA-121, that operated the A-4 Skyhawk, & the F/A-18 Hornet.

Green Lizard-
(Nickname) Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, during the Vietnam War.

Green Lizards-
(Squadron Nickname) VA-95, that flew the A-4 Skyhawk & the A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)

Green Mountain Boys-
(Squadron Nickname) 134th Fighter Squadron that operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Vermont Air National Guard.

Green Pawns-
(Squadron Nickname) VA-42, that flew the AD Skyraider & the A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)

Gremlin-
An imaginary elf, that was blamed for all kinds of aircraft trouble, during WWII.

Gremlin’s Delight-
The B-17, due to its reoccurring maintenance problems.

Griffins-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 194th Fighter Squadron that operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the California Air National Guard.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 1st Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-15 Eagle & currently the F-22 Raptor.

Griffon-
(NATO Codename) Soviet Anti-Ballistic Missile Missile.

Grim Reapers-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 13th Bomb Squadron, that operated the A-17 Nomad, B-12, B-18 Bolo, A-20 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, A/B-26 Invader, B-57 Canberra & currently the B-1 Lancer. Established during World War I, flying the Spad XIII, the flew the DH-4 Jenny, for most of the 1920’s as the 13th Squadron/13th Attack Sq., they would also fly the A-3 Falcon & A-12 Shrike, during the Mid 1920’s to Early 1930’s. The unit saw
service during World War I, World War II, Korea, & Vietnam. (www.13thbombsquadron.org)
2. (Squadron Nickname) 493rd Fighter Squadron, that has operated the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84 Thunderjet,
F-86 Sabre, F-100 Super Sabre, F-4 Phantom II, F-111 Aardvark, & currently the F-15 Eagle. Served in World War II & the Persian Gulf War.
3. (Squadron Nickname) VF-101, that operated the F4D Skyray, F-4 Phantom II & the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)
4. (Squadron Nickname) 4453rd Test & Evaluation Squadron, that operated the F-117 Nighthawk. (Disestablished)

Grinder-
(Navy) A piece of Asphalt.

Ground Pounder-
(Slang) An Air Force member who does not fly.

Growler-
The Boeing EA-18G Super Hornet.

Grunt-
Any US Marine (Used as Slang by other services)

Guad-
(Nickname) for the USS Guadalupe AO-32.

Guardian Wings-
(Squadron Nickname) 301st Rescue Squadron, that operates the HH-60 Blackhawk.

Gucci Tanker-
(Nickname) McDonnell-Douglas KC-10 Extender.

Guideline-
(NATO Codename) Soviet SA-2, Surface to Air Missile, used to great effect during the Vietnam War, by the North Vietnamese.

Gulfstream-
The Grumman VC-4, executive transport.

Gulfstream II-
The Grumman VC-11, executive transport.

Gulfstream III-
The Grumman C-20, executive transport.

Gulfstream IV-
The Grumman C-20F, executive transport.

Gulfstream V-
The Grumman C-37, executive transport.

Gunfighters-
1. (Squadron Nickname) HMLA-369, that operates the UH-1 Iroquois/AH-1 Cobra.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VF-124, who operated the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)

Gunner-
The Fairchild AT-21, advanced trainer of World War II.

Gunrunners-
(Squadron Nickname) HMLA-269, who flies the UH-1 Huey/AH-1 Cobra.

Gunship-
1. A Battleship or Cruiser.
2. An aerial gun platform (example: AC-130 Specter).

Gunslingers-
(Squadron Nickname) VFA-105 that flies the F/A-18 Hornet.

Gutless-
(Nickname) Vought F7U Cutless

Gun Decking-
(Navy) A White Lie.

Gung-Ho-
(Codeword) “Everything is Right”.



This list was created by Jon Stacy and is displayed on MaritimeQuest with his permission.
This information may not be duplicated, displayed or published without the express written consent of the author.

© 2006 John Stacy All Rights Reserved.


If you have an addition, correction or clarification please
email John Stacy.