P-
1. (Nickname) USS Porterfield DD-682, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.
2. US Army Air Corps/Force designation for a Fighter Plane. (Pursuit)
3. Joint Service Designation for a Patrol Aircraft.
P-38-
C-Ration can opener.
P-250 Handy Billy-
A gas operated portable water pump.
P’s-
(Slang) Monetary Exchange.
P Boat-
(Nickname) Consolidated PBY Catalina, in World War II.
PACAF-
(Short) Pacific Air Force of the US Air Force. Formerly the Far East Air Force.
Pacemakers-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-121, that flew the F-4 Phantom II. (Disestablished)
Paddles-
(Slang) Landing Signal Officer.
Padre-
(Nickname) Navy Chaplain.
Paint-
(Slang) The image on a Radar Scope.
Painted-
(Slang) Scanned by Radar.
Pair O’ Dice-
(Squadron Nickname) 90th Fighter Squadron, which operated the F-4 Phantom II, F-111 Aardvark,
A-10 Thunderbolt II & currently the F-15 Eagle.
Pallet Pushers-
(Slang) Air Transporters in the US Air Force, who load and unload cargo planes.
Pancake-
1. The 9th Infantry Division, that served in Europe during World War II and during the Vietnam War.
2. (WWII) To stall an aircraft just shy of landing, so all 3 wheels land at the same time.
Panic Rack-
(Slang) An Ejection Seat.
Panther-
The Grumman F9F jet fighter of the Korean War.
Panthers-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 99th FTS, that operates the T-1 Jayhawk.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 84th FTS, which operated the T-37 Tweet & currently the Raytheon T-6 Texan.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 63rd FS, who flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
4. (Squadron Nickname) 394th Combat Training Squadron, that flies the T-38 Talon.
5. (Squadron Nickname) 13th FS, that flies the F-16 Falcon.
6. (Squadron Nickname) 494th FIS/FS, which flew the F-100 Super Sabre, & currently the F-15 Eagle.
7. (Squadron Nickname) 81st FS, that operates the A-10 Warthog.
8. (Squadron Nickname) VMAQ-2, which flies the EA-6 Prowler.
Pantons-
(Squadron Nickname) 35th Fighter Squadron, that operates the F-16 Falcon.
Papa-
Codeword for the Letter P.
Papa Tiger-
(Nickname) Major General Claire E. Chennault, of the “Flying Tigers”.
Pappy-
(Nickname) Lt. Colonel Gregory Boyington, USMC, during World War II, leader of the famed “Black Sheep Squadron”.
Pat-
(Nickname) Major General Earle E. Partridge, USAF; of the Korean War.
Pathfinder-
1. (Nickname) General John C. Fremont, USA; in the Civil War.
2. The Lockheed P-38L Lightning, in World War II. Named so due to the radar installed, which was used to guide other aircraft.
Patriot-
The MIM-104, anti-missile missile; first used in the Persian Gulf War.
Patriots-
(Squadron Nickname) VAQ-140, that operates the EA-6 Prowler.
Patriot Wing-
(Squadron Nickname) 337th Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-5 Galaxy. (Disestablished)
Patton-
1. The M-48 Main Battle Tank.
2. The M-60 Main Battle Tank.
Paul-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Aichi E16A reconnaissance/dive bomber. A development of the E13A.
Pax-
(Short) Passengers.
PBR-
Navy designation for Patrol Boat, River; used during the Vietnam War.
PCS-
(Acronym) Permanent Change of Station.
Peaceful Ocean-
The Pacific Ocean.
Peacemaker-
The Convair B-36 and YB-60 Nuclear Bombers.
Peach Airlines-
(Squadron Nickname) VR-46, that flies the C-9 Skytrain II.
Peanut Special-
(British) The Grumman F4F Wildcat.
Pearl Harbor Avenger-
(Nickname) USS Bowfin, SS-287.
Peashooter-
1. (Slang) A fighter pilot.
2. (Slang) A fighter plane.
3. The Boeing P-26 fighter.
Peasoup-
(Slang) Heavy Fog.
Pecker Checker-
(Nickname) A Navy Doctor or Corpsman.
Pelicans-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 9th Airlift Squadron, that flies the C-5 Galaxy.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 14th Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-141 Starlifter & currently the
C-17 Globemaster III.
3. (Squadron Nickname) VP-45, that flies the P-3 Orion.
Peeping Tom-
(Nickname) An F-14 equipped with a TARPS pod.
Peerless P-
(Nickname) USS Princeton CVL-23; an Independence Class Light Aircraft Carrier.
Pegasus-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 729th Airlift Squadron, that operates the C-141 Starlifter.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-463, who operates the CH-53 Super Stallion.
Peggy-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Mitsubishi Army Ki-67 bomber.
Pencil-
(WWII) A journalist.
Pencil Pushers-
(Slang) Air Force Member who does not fly.
Penguin-
(Slang) Air Force Member who does not fly.
Pennsy-
(Nickname) USS Pennsylvania BB-38, a Pennsylvania Class Battleship.
Penis Machinist-
(Nickname) Navy Corpsman.
Perry-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Kawasaki Army Ki-10, fighter.
Pershing-
The M-26 Main Battle Tank, of the Korean War.
Pete-
1. (Allied Codename) Japanese Mitsubishi Navy F1M2, seaplane.
2. (Nickname) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher.
Peter Dash Flash-
(Nickname) North American P-51 Mustang.
Peugeots-
(Squadron Nickname) 3rd Flying Training Squadron, that flies the T-6 Texan II.
PF-
Navy designation for Patrol Frigate. During World War II.
PF’s-
(Slang) “Popular Forces”. Vietnamese recruited from local villages and trained to defend their villages.
PFM-
(Acronym) Pure Fucking Magic.
Phalanx-
The Mark 16, 20mm Close In Weapons Support system (CIWS). The last line of defense for missiles and aircraft, throughout the US Navy.
Phantom-
1. The McDonnell FH. The Navy’s first jet fighter.
2. The 9th Armored Division, which saw service in Europe during World War II.
Phantom II-
The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 (F4H). The most popular fighter of the free world during the 1960’s and 1970’s, over 5,000 produced.
Phantom Knights-
(Squadron Nickname) 558th Flying Training Squadron, that operates the T-6 Texan II.
Phantom of the Yellow Sea-
(Nickname) USS Sicily CVE-118, a Commencement Bay Class Escort Carrier.
Phil Sea-
(Nickname) USS Philippine Sea CV-47. An Essex Class Aircraft Carrier.
Philippine-
The 12th Infantry Division, that saw service in World War II in the Pacific.
Phoenix-
1. The AIM-54 missile, exclusively used on the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 964th AACS, which flies the E-3 Sentry.
3. (Squadron Nickname) HMT-302, that operates the CH-53 Super Stallion.
Photo Joe-
(Slang) A pilot in a single seat, high altitude/speed reconnaissance aircraft.
Phrogs-
(Nickname) The Boeing/Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight.
Pickel-
(Slang) An aerial torpedo.
Pinto-
The Mohawk XPT-7, monoplane trainer of the early 1930’s.
Pig-
1. (Nickname) Marine AMTRAC (Amphibious Tractor), in World War II.
2. (Nickname) Browning M60 Machine Gun.
Pig Boat-
1. (Nickname) The Consolidated PBY Catalina.
2. (WWII, Slang) A Submarine.
Pig Crossing-
(Slang) Unprotected bomber deep inside German Territory during World War II.
Pig Palace-
(Navy Slang) A bar populated with ugly women and watered down booze.
Pig of the Port-
(Navy Slang) The least attractive woman brought aboard during a port visit.
Pig Stick-
(Navy) A staff which the ship’s commission pennant is flown.
Pilot Maker-
(Nickname) North American AT-6 Texan, in World War II.
Pinball-
(Nickname) Bell RP-63 King Cobra.
Pine-
(Allied Codename) Japanese Mitsubishi Navy K3M, Trainer.
Pineapple-
(Allied Codename) Hawaiian Islands, during World War II.
Pineapple Air Force-
(Allied Codename) Army Air Force defenders of the Hawaiian Islands.
Pineapple Run-
An escort run for destroyers in World War II; between the West Coast and Hawaii.
Ping-
1. To transmit on active sonar.
2. To bounce around or wander aimlessly.
Pipe-
(Slang) A Jet Engine.
Pirate of the Pacific-
(Nickname) USS Kidd DD-661, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.
Piss-
(Australian Slang) Beer.
Piss Ant-
(Navy Slang) Yard Worker.
Piss Cutter-
(Slang) Garrison Cap.
Pissy Pete-
(Nickname) USS Putnam DD-757; an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.
Pitter-
(Slang) The Weapons System Officer, onboard the F-4 Phantom II.
Placid Plodder-
(Nickname) Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
Plastic Bug-
(Nickname) McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.
Plumber’s Nightmare-
(Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando, Transport.
Pluto-
(Codeword) A Pipeline which was laid under the English Channel, during World War II, for oil & gas supplies.
Podunk-
(Slang) A small town.
Pogey Bait-
(Navy) Candy
Pogey Bait Clerk-
(Navy) Someone who has a cushiony/easy job.
Pogo-
Convair XFV-1, VTOL fighter.
Police Action-
The official term to describe the Korean War.
Polka Dots-
(Squadron Nickname) VMSB/VMTB/VMF-332, that flew the SBD Dauntless, TBM Avenger, F6F Hellcat, &
F4U Corsair, during World War II & Korea.
Pom-Poms-
(Nickname) 40mm Bofors anti aircraft guns.
Pond-
(Slang) The Atlantic Ocean.
Poop-
(Slang) Information.
Poor Mans Mustang-
(Nickname) Ryan L-17 Navion, trainer.
Poor Richard-
(Nickname) USS Bonhomme Richard CV-31, an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier. She was the only carrier to serve in World War II, the Korean War and during the Vietnam War.
Possum-
(Nickname) Brigadier General Hayward S. Hansell.
Pork Chop Hill-
Name of a hill on the stabilized front, in Korea.
Pork Sword-
(New Zealand) Penis.
Posthole-
A bomb crater.
POV-
(Acronym) Privately Owned Vehicle.
Prairie-
The 33rd Infantry Division, which served in World War I and in the Pacific in World War II.
Prang-
1. A crash or collision.
2. To stand a plane on end.
Predator-
The RQ-1, drone.
Pregnant Beast-
(Nickname) Grumman/General Motors TBF/TBM Avenger.
Pregnant Cow-
(Nickname) Consolidated B-24 Liberator, of World War II.
Pregnant Pig-
(Nickname) Lockheed PV-1 Harpoon/B-34 Lexington, during World War II.
Pregnant Whale-
(Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando.
Pretvels-
(Squadron Nickname) 35th Flying Training Squadron, that operated the T-37 Tweet. (Disestablished)
Priest- The M-7 105mm mobile howitzer, of World War II.
Princess-
(Nickname) USS Nassau CVE-16, a Bogue Class Escort Carrier.
Pro’s Nest-
(Squadron Nickname) VP-30 that flies the P-3 Orion.
Professionals-
(Squadron Nickname) VAH/VA-123, that flew the A-3 Skywarrior & A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)
Project Rainbow-
(Codename) Better known as the “Philadelphia Experiment”, in June 1943. The idea was to make the
USS Eldridge DE-173, disappear by electronic camouflage.
Prop Wash-
1. Propeller Backwash.
2. (Slang) Gossip, Nonsense.
Proud Warriors-
(Squadron Nickname) HSL-42, which operates the SH-60 Seahawk.
Provider-
The Fairchild C-123, light transport aircraft, used during the Vietnam War.
Providers-
(Squadron Nickname) VRC-30 that flies the C-2 Greyhound.
Prowler-
The Grumman EA-6, Electronic Jamming Aircraft. Served during the Persian Gulf War, Kosovo, and the War with Iraq.
Proxie-
(Nickname) White phosphorous air to ground rockets, during the Vietnam War.
Prune Barge-
(Nickname) for the USS California BB-44, a Tennessee Class Battleship.
PS-
Army Air Force designation for Pursuit Squadron. Fighter Squadrons of World War II.
PT-
1. Navy designation for Patrol Torpedo Boats, of World War II.
2. US Army Air Corps/Force designation for a Primary Trainer.
Pucker Factor-
The level of anxiety experienced by aircrews.
Puff the Magic Dragon-
(Nickname) AC-47 that saw service in Vietnam.
Puke-
(Slang) Somebody that does another job, or in another service.
Pukin’ Dogs-
(Squadron Nickname) VF-143, that flew the F-4 Phantom II & F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)
Punch Elvis-
(Slang) To eject from an aircraft.
Punch Out-
1. To eject from an aircraft.
2. To go home or leave for an amount of time.
Punchbowl-
Name of a hill south of the Stabilized Front, in Korea.
Punji Stakes-
Sharpened stakes of bamboo, dipped in animal excreta, to cause infection. This was a Vietnamese torture method against French and American troops.
Purple Foxes-
(Squadron Nickname) HMM-364, which flies the CH-46 Sea Knight.
Purple Heart Box-
(Slang) A US halftrack.
Purple Heart Corner-
(WWII) The last plane, in the lowest row in a formation.
Push-Pull-
(Nickname) The Cessna O-2 Skymaster, which was service in Vietnam.
Puzzle Palace-
(Slang) The Pentagon.
