W-
Prefix used in the Joint Service Designation System, for Weather. Used in conjunction with another established aircraft type. (example: WC-130 Hercules)
WAAC-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.
WAAF-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
WAC-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Corps.
WAF-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Force
WAFS-
(WWII, Acronym) Women’s Air Ferry Service
WAFU-
(Acronym) Wet And Fucking Useless.
Wake Island Avengers-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA-211, that flew the F2A Buffalo, F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, AD Skyraider, & the A-4 Skyhawk. Served during World War II & the Vietnam War. Currently known as the “Avengers”.
Walk in the Sun-
(Slang) An operation with little or no contact with the enemy.
Walker Bulldog-
The M-41 medium tank, that was used in the Vietnam War.
Wallbangers-
(Squadron Nickname) VAW-117, that operates the E-2 Hawkeye.
Waller Boat-
(Nickname) USS Waller DD-466, a Fletcher Class Destroyer.
Waltzing Matilda-
(Nickname) USS Yorktown CV-5. A Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier. Nickname was given to her by the Australians during World War II.
WASP-
(Acronym, WWII) Women’s Air Force Service Pilots.
War Dogs-
(Slang) Specially trained dogs for mine and booby trap detecting.
War Eagles-
1. (Squadron Nickname) 77th Bomb Squadron, that flew the B-29 Superfortress, B-52 Stratofortress, & currently the B-1 Lancer.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VP-16, which flies the P-3 Orion.
War Hawks-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VFA-97, that operates the F/A-18 Hornet.
2. (Squadron Nickname) 195th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Arizona Air National Guard.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 314th Air Refueling Squadron, that flies the KC-135.
4. (Squadron Nickname) HS-10, which flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.
War Horses-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VA-55, that flew the A-4 Skyhawk & the A-6 Intruder. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-465, that flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.
War Lords-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMF-451, that operated the F4U Corsair, FJ Fury, F-8 Crusader, & the F-4 Phantom II. Served in World War II & during Vietnam. (Disestablished)
2. (Squadron Nickname) HSL-51, that flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.
Warriors-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VFA-81, that flies the F/A-18 Hornet. Formerly known as the “Sunliners”.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMLA-167, which operates the UH-1 Iroquois & the AH-1 Cobra.
Warthog-
(Nickname) Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.
Watchdogs-
(Squadron Nickname) VMU-1, that flies the RQ-2 drone.
Waterboo-
(Nickname) A water buffalo in Vietnam.
WAVES-
(WWII, Acronym) Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service
Waxed-
(Slang) Killed.
Weapon Alpha-
The Mk 108, 12.75mm Anti-Submarine Rocket Launcher. Commonly seen on refitted Fletcher Class Destroyers in the 1950’s & 1960’s, mounted in place of the No. 2 turret.
Weatherman-
(British) A pilot who flies weather reconnaissance.
Weary Willie-
(Nickname) A B-17 or B-24, that is loaded with TNT, and piloted by remote control, would be used as flying bombs against German targets in World War II.
Weekend Warriors-
(Nickname) Guard or Reserve members, to Active Duty.
WeeVee-
(Nickname) USS West Virginia BB-48; a Maryland Class Battleship.
Wet and Dry Hook Up-
(Slang) A psychrometer.
Whale-
1. (Nickname) Curtiss C-46 Commando.
2. (Nickname) Douglas A-3 Skywarrior.
Whale Killer-
(Nickname) USS Blue DD-744, an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer.
When your out of FRAM’s, your out of Cans-
(Navy saying) Gun Destroyers of World War II vintage, that were updated, and slowly removed from service, & being replaced with Guided Missile Destroyers. It was believed that they couldn't fill the gap, of the old
greyhounds.
Whirlibird-
(Slang) A helicopter
Whiskey-
1. (Codeword) Letter W.
2. (Nickname) Bell AH-1W Super Cobra.
Whistling Death-
1. (Japanese) The Vought F4U Corsair.
2. (Vietnamese) The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark.
Whistling Devils-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-113, that flew the F4U Corsair, F4D Skyray & the F-8 Crusader. (Disestablished)
White Knights-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VMMT-204, that flies the MV-22 Osprey.
2. (Squadron Nickname) HMM-165, which operates the CH-46 Sea Knight.
3. (Squadron Nickname) 70th Fighter Squadron, that flew the A-10 Thunderbolt II. (Disestablished)
White Raid-
(Slang) A Propaganda Mission.
White Rocket-
(Nickname) The Northrop T-38 Talon.
White Shadow-
(Nickname) The Boeing E-4B, NEACP.
Whiz Kids-
(Nickname) Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara’s advisors from 1961-1969.
Why Not Minot?-
(Slang) Minot AFB, North Dakota. Received the Nickname, because it is in the middle of nowhere.
WIA-
(Short) Wounded in Action.
Widow Maker-
(Nickname) Martin B-26 Marauder, medium bomber of World War II.
Wilco-
(Codeword) “I will Comply” used in radio communication.
Wild Boars-
(Squadron Nickname) 390th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-15 Eagle.
Wildcat-
1. The Grumman F4F, naval fighter.
2. The 81st Infantry Division, which served in World War I and in the Pacific in World War II.
Wildcats-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VF/VFA-131, that flew the F-4 Phantom II, & currently the F/A-18 Hornet. Served during the Operation: Iraqi Freedom.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VT-10, that operates the T-34 Mentor & T-1 Jayhawk.
Wild Ducks-
(Squadron Nickname) 309th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Falcon.
Wild Hares-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF-217, that flew the F4U Corsair, during World War II.
Wild Weasel-
(Nickname) Air Force Anti-SAM suppression squadrons.
Wild West-
The 91st Infantry Division, that served in World War I, and in Europe during World War II.
Willie C-
(Nickname) USS William C. Lawe DD-763, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
Willie D-
(Nickname) USS William D. Porter DD-579, a Fletcher Class Destroyer. Perhaps the Navy’s most jinxed ship of World War II.
Willie Fudd-
(Nickname) Grumman WF-2 (later E-1) Tracker.
Willie Pete-
(Slang) White Phosphorus.
Willie the Whip-
(Nickname) General William Tunner, USAF; who was instrumental in the organizing of the Berlin Airlift.
Willing & Able-
(Squadron Nickname) 7th Airlift Squadron, that operated the C-141 Starlifter & currently the
C-17 Globemaster III.
Willy Lovers-
(Nickname) Pilots of VMF-311, in 1948, their aircraft carried the tail code of “WL”. The nickname was given to them by pilots of VMF-225.
Willy R-
(Nickname) USS William R. Rush DD-714, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
Willy Wood-
(Nickname) USS William M. Wood DD-715, a Gearing Class Destroyer.
Wimpy-
(British) The Wellington bomber of World War II.
Winco-
(British) Wing Commander
Wind Indicators-
(Nickname) Vought SB2U Vindicator, obsolete dive bomber that was replaced by the Douglas SBD Dauntless in the early phases of World War II.
Wind Walkers-
(Squadron Nickname) HMT-301, that flies the CH-53 Super Stallion.
Windy Bay-
(Nickname) USS Windham Bay CVE-92, a Casablanca Class Escort Carrier.
Wing Weenie-
(Slang) An Air Force Member who does not fly.
Winged Victory-
The 43rd Infantry Division, that served in World War II, in the Pacific.
Wings of the Deep South-
(Squadron Nickname) 183rd Airlift Squadron, that flew the C-141 Starlifter & currently the
C-17 Globemaster III.
Wilson Pickett-
(Nickname) White Phosphorus air to ground rockets, launched from helicopters during the Vietnam War.
Wire Chaser-
(Nickname) A person who works on electronics and avionics of an aircraft.
Wise Owls-
(Squadron Nickname) VT-31, which operates the T-44.
Wichita-
The Beech AT-10, advanced trainer of World War II.
Wichita Wobbler-
1. (British) The Beech C-45 Voyager, transport.
2. (Nickname) The Cessna UC-78 Bobcat.
Wizards-
1. (Squadron Nickname) VAQ-133, that operates the EA-6 Prowler.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VPU-2, which flies the P-3 Orion.
WMD-
(Short) Weapons of Mass Destruction. (Nuclear, Chemical or Biological)
Wobbly Goblin-
(Nickname) Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk.
Wolf Raiders-
(Squadron Nickname) VMF/VMA-121, that operated the F4F Wildcat, F4U Corsair, & the AD Skyraider. Served in World War II & in Korea. Now known as the “Green Knights”.
Wolfpack-
1. (Nickname) A concentration of German U-Boats, too attack Allied Shipping in the North Atlantic, during World War II.
2. (Squadron Nickname) VMF-112, that flew the F4F Wildcat & F4U Corsair during World War II. The squadron is now known as the “Cowboys”.
3. (Squadron Nickname) VF-1, that operated the F-14 Tomcat. (Disestablished)
4. (Squadron Nickname) 550th Special Operations Squadron, that flies the MC-130 Hercules.
5. (Squadron Nickname) HSL-45, who flies the SH-60 Sea Hawk.
6. (Squadron Nickname) HMH-466, which operates the CH-53 Super Stallion.
Wolves-
(Squadron Nickname) 107th Fighter Squadron, that flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon, for the Michigan Air National Guard.
Woody-
(Nickname) USS Worcester CA-144, a Worcester Class Heavy Cruiser.
Woolworth Carrier-
(Nickname) Escort Carriers, of World War II.
World, The-
(Nickname) United States, by overseas troops.
World Watchers-
(Squadron Nickname) VQ-1, who flies the EP-3 Orion.
Wrap-
1. (Nickname) To smash or damage an aircraft.
2. (Nickname) To end an undertaking.
WSO-
(Short) Weapons Systems Officer, onboard a F-4 Phantom II.
WX-
(Short) Weather.
Wyoming Line-
An unplanned “hump” in the Kansas Line, east of the Iron Triangle, during the Korean War, 10-16 June, 1951.
