WWI Digest 2082 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Modeling and Movies by Albatrosdv@aol.com 2) RE: Modeling and Movies by Shane Weier 3) Re: Scholars bookshelf by Pedro e Francisca 4) Re: Scholars bookshelf by Pedro e Francisca 5) Re: Fokker axle wings ... was Finishing coat by Dave Watts 6) RE: Fokker axle wings ... was Finishing coat by Shane Weier 7) Re: Windsock/Datafiles by ERIC HIGHT 8) Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by "David C. Fletcher" 9) Re: Modeling and Movies by "DAVID BURKE" 10) Re: Modeling and Movies by "DAVID BURKE" 11) Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by "DAVID BURKE" 12) RE: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by Shane Weier 13) RE: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by peter crow 14) Re: Modeling and Movies by "Bob Pearson" 15) Re: Windsock/Datafiles by Dennis Ugulano 16) Re: "Outdated" kits by Dennis Ugulano 17) RE: Modeling and Movies by Shane Weier 18) Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by "David C. Fletcher" 19) Re: Modeling and Movies by smperry@mindspring.com 20) RE: Modeling and Movies by "Matthew Bittner" 21) Re: "Outdated" kits by "Michael S. Alvarado" 22) Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by "Michael S. Alvarado" 23) Re: "Outdated" kits by Sixmilfigs@cs.com 24) Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... by "Michael S. Alvarado" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 18:01:26 EST From: Albatrosdv@aol.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: In a message dated 00-01-10 17:55:10 EST, you write: << "Woof, woof!", as Lord Flasheart would say. DV >> I'd almost consider re-subbing to cable and paying attention to Bravo Channel no matter how badly they butcher things with their "editing" (they're an A&E network, and in case you don't know, A&E stands for "axes & excess" when it comes to the way they hack things up to fit their commercial breaks, standards and practices etc. etc.) if they would bring back "Blackadder." I had at the time hoped that after Blackadder was secretary to the Duke of Clarence in the Regency period, that they would have done Gladstone and Disraeli before leaping to far forward to the OT series. Tom C ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 09:03:43 +1000 From: Shane Weier To: "'wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu'" Subject: RE: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <65C968E11318D311B0BD0060B06865CDBD1BBE@mimhexch.mim.com.au> > "Woof, woof!", as Lord Flasheart would say. > "I don't care how many times they go Up-diddley up up, they're still gits" Capt Edmund Blackadder. ************************************************************** The information contained in this E-Mail is confidential and is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you receive this E-Mail in error, any use, distribution or copying of this E-Mail is not permitted. You are requested to forward unwanted E-Mail and address any problems to the MIM Holdings Limited Help Desk. E-Mail: helpdesk@mim.com.au or phone: Australia 07 3833 8042. ************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 23:14:34 +0000 From: Pedro e Francisca To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Scholars bookshelf Message-ID: <387A67D9.C60247F2@mail.telepac.pt> Bill Bacon wrote: > Pedro, > > I don't remember if I got Gonfirmaqtion on my orders but lately, I ask for > confirmation in my initial correspondence. E-mail or faax asking for > confimation. > > Cheers, > > Bill B. > ----- Will do. Thanks again Bill ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 23:14:40 +0000 From: Pedro e Francisca To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Scholars bookshelf Message-ID: <387A67E0.248977D3@mail.telepac.pt> Bill Bacon wrote: > Pedro, > > I don't remember if I got Gonfirmaqtion on my orders but lately, I ask for > confirmation in my initial correspondence. E-mail or faax asking for > confimation. > > Cheers, > > Bill B. > ----- Will do. Thanks again Bill Pedro ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 18:53:27 -0500 From: Dave Watts To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Fokker axle wings ... was Finishing coat Message-ID: <200001102354.SAA17646@ind.cioe.com> Lance wrote; >Fokker axle "wing", or fairings, were plywood, right? Why would they be covered at all? Originally, a year ago or so, I believe Bob was asked if a D.VII had lozenge covering on the axle fairing. As your saying, "Axle fairing covered by wood?", is what I thought, and Bob answered something like "I have not been able to confirm the use of lozenge as a supplementary covering on top of the wooden fairing, but have looked for it." I had never even considered the idea of "supplemental fabric covering" for the axle fairing, but the thought was planted in my brain. So I looked through several books and all of my photos, and sometimes thought I could see a faint lozenge pattern, but not conclusively. Then one day I saw the photos of the E.V/D.VIII in WWI Aero and the datafile of the surviving unrestored E.V/D.VIII at the Caproni museum in Italy. Well to my surprise I could clearly see fabric on top of the axle fairing and on the edges! I couldn't make out a lozenge pattern, but there was fabric. Put on by whom and when we don't know. In the write up it also mentioned that the seat was covered in lozenge. I resurrected this thread, fishing for more viewpoints on the subject. >And I was under the impression that maintenance problems stemmed not from the fairings per se, but from the limited access they afforded to the axle/wheel suspension bungees. The plywood was often then sawn away to ease getting at these components to service them. Shane covers this in his response. >Or am I just missing the point somewhere? >I'll shut up now... Please don't. Best, Dave W. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 10:11:43 +1000 From: Shane Weier To: "'wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu'" Subject: RE: Fokker axle wings ... was Finishing coat Message-ID: <65C968E11318D311B0BD0060B06865CDBD1BC1@mimhexch.mim.com.au> Dave, >So I > looked through > several books and all of my photos, and sometimes thought I > could see a > faint lozenge pattern, but not conclusively. I did this too, most recently about when Michael K was building his Stark D.VII. It is just about possible to convince yourself that you *might* be able to see a pattern on a *very* few fairings. OTOH it is dead simple to see no pattern on many tens of fairings. Furthermore, you can see a "loz" pattern on the leading edge of the axle fairing of some D.VIII - dead easy to see until you realise that the oil dripping from the engine almost always makes a dark, loz like blotch on the fairing at about mid point and it isn't loz at all. I decided that I should only use the clear photos - and assume that if no loz appeared in the clear photos, I could believe it didn't exist in the cruddy ones. (The alternative is the ludicrous assertion that Germans photographing D.VII/D.VIII with loz covered axles were always bad photographers and no-one capable of clearly photographing an aircraft with a loz covered axle ever did so ) BTW - what I mean here is "loz covered and unpainted" - the axle fairing may well be fabric covered then painted, and what type of fabric (and whether it was routinely done) is what we're discussing ! Don't you love this sort of conundrum? It's what makes WW1 aircraft so fascinating to me, since modelling one can turn into a meld between artistry, history, and the instincts of a detective Shane ************************************************************** The information contained in this E-Mail is confidential and is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you receive this E-Mail in error, any use, distribution or copying of this E-Mail is not permitted. You are requested to forward unwanted E-Mail and address any problems to the MIM Holdings Limited Help Desk. E-Mail: helpdesk@mim.com.au or phone: Australia 07 3833 8042. ************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 17:09:34 -0700 From: ERIC HIGHT To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Windsock/Datafiles Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.20000110170934.008abe44@pop.amug.org> lance, i haven't got mine yet. i also have surface mail. i upgraded to air this time. i'll be calling ray soon about it and i'll rattle his cage. eric At 05:02 PM 1/10/00 -0500, you wrote: >I know that almost everyone has long since received Windsock 15/6 and the Caproni Datafile, but I'm still waiting for mine. > >I've got a direct from Albatros subscription, surface delivery. > >Any other Yanks still waiting under the same circumstances, or is it time to send Ray and Angie a letter? > >Please advise.... > >Lance > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 16:33:53 -0800 From: "David C. Fletcher" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <387A7A71.9B4A90EB@mars.ark.com> Shane Weier wrote: As for OT - how much radio-telephony was there? Not much point in a phonetic alphabet when using morse, and if it was a rarity would an official alphabet be in use?" Magneto-driven telephones were in widespread use, hence the use of phonetics by the more mud-oriented folks - it wasn't just an 'air' thing. An air mechanic (the lowest rank in the RFC and equivalent to private, sapper, gunner, etc.), if one was needed in a hurry, was summoned by calling for an Ack Emma on the 'phone. AFAIK, radio-telephony didn't come into widespread use until the 1920s. Somewhere I have the information, but I can't lay my hands on it. Morse code was still in widespread use up to the early 1970s for weather and fleet broadcasts, mainly because it could be read through static. Voice only completely took over after the introduction of Single Side Band radios. She only dit dit because her dah dah dit dit... Dave Fletcher -- Visit us at our Home Page: ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 18:24:12 -0600 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <006301bf5bcb$5c361480$fc84aec7@dora9sprynet.com> Tom, you tightwad, do like I did: spend the 120 bucks and buy the tapes! Blackadder Rules (and so does Ace Rimmer - obviously drawn from Flashheart) DB -----Original Message----- From: Albatrosdv@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list Date: Monday, January 10, 2000 5:04 PM Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies >In a message dated 00-01-10 17:55:10 EST, you write: > ><< > "Woof, woof!", as Lord Flasheart would say. > > DV >> > >I'd almost consider re-subbing to cable and paying attention to Bravo Channel >no matter how badly they butcher things with their "editing" (they're an A&E >network, and in case you don't know, A&E stands for "axes & excess" when it >comes to the way they hack things up to fit their commercial breaks, >standards and practices etc. etc.) if they would bring back "Blackadder." I >had at the time hoped that after Blackadder was secretary to the Duke of >Clarence in the Regency period, that they would have done Gladstone and >Disraeli before leaping to far forward to the OT series. > >Tom C > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 18:28:02 -0600 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <006401bf5bcb$5d072020$fc84aec7@dora9sprynet.com> >"Woof, woof!", as Lord Flasheart would say. 'My God, it's starting to sound like Cruft's in here...' DB ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 18:32:14 -0600 From: "DAVID BURKE" To: Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <006601bf5bcb$5f9d5b60$fc84aec7@dora9sprynet.com> Congratulations! According to the Secretary of the Army, you are now a fully commisioned Private-General of the Army (the rank that I previously held). DB -----Original Message----- From: Sharon Henderson To: Multiple recipients of list Date: Monday, January 10, 2000 4:18 PM Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... >> >> >And is this right for current: >> >Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, >> >Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, >> >Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu > >> Very good. Now say it backwards with your eyes closed while touching >> your nose.... > > > >OK, here goes: > >uluZ, eeknaY, yar-X, yeksihW, rotkiV, mrofinU, ognaT, arreiS, oemoR, cebeuQ, >apaP, racsO, rebmevoN, ekiM, amiL, oliK, teiluJ, aidnI, letoH, floG, tortxoF, >ohcE, atleD, eilrahC, ovarB, ahplA. > >JUST to keep E. from doing it first.... :-) > >Aww c'mon, you know I *had* to do it after a challenge like THAT! :-) And >you'll have to take my wlord for touching my nose... eyes were opened, tho. > >Thanks for all the wonderful info! Your article is great, David! Thanks! > >Sharon, >No Longer Phonetically Challenged.... :-) > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 10:40:37 +1000 From: Shane Weier To: "'wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu'" Subject: RE: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <65C968E11318D311B0BD0060B06865CDBD1BC2@mimhexch.mim.com.au> Dave (#73) said: > Magneto-driven telephones were in widespread use, hence the use of > phonetics by the more mud-oriented folks - Yerse. I read your earlier post and beat myself about the head with a lump of coal - as I talked on a high tech sealed unit telephone guaranteed not to cause any explosions in a coal mine but sodding near impossible to understand anyone over. Grrrr. Shane ************************************************************** The information contained in this E-Mail is confidential and is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you receive this E-Mail in error, any use, distribution or copying of this E-Mail is not permitted. You are requested to forward unwanted E-Mail and address any problems to the MIM Holdings Limited Help Desk. E-Mail: helpdesk@mim.com.au or phone: Australia 07 3833 8042. ************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 16:46:18 -0800 (PST) From: peter crow To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: RE: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <20000111004618.5953.qmail@web703.mail.yahoo.com> Quite a few WWI images at this site.. don't recall this being memtion before.. P. Crow http://www.earthstation1.com/WWI.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 16:54:40 -0800 From: "Bob Pearson" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <200001110107.RAA08699@mail.rapidnet.net> Nah, save the money and tape it off of PBS. . up here in Canada we get Detroit and Seattle PBS stations Bob Ditto Red Dwarf. .. ---------- >From: "DAVID BURKE" >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies >Date: Mon, 10 Jan, 2000, 4:43 PM > > Tom, you tightwad, do like I did: spend the 120 bucks and buy the tapes! > > Blackadder Rules (and so does Ace Rimmer - obviously drawn from Flashheart) > > DB > -----Original Message----- > From: Albatrosdv@aol.com > To: Multiple recipients of list > Date: Monday, January 10, 2000 5:04 PM > Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies > > >>In a message dated 00-01-10 17:55:10 EST, you write: >> >><< >> "Woof, woof!", as Lord Flasheart would say. >> >> DV >> >> >>I'd almost consider re-subbing to cable and paying attention to Bravo > Channel >>no matter how badly they butcher things with their "editing" (they're an > A&E >>network, and in case you don't know, A&E stands for "axes & excess" when it >>comes to the way they hack things up to fit their commercial breaks, >>standards and practices etc. etc.) if they would bring back "Blackadder." > I >>had at the time hoped that after Blackadder was secretary to the Duke of >>Clarence in the Regency period, that they would have done Gladstone and >>Disraeli before leaping to far forward to the OT series. >> >>Tom C >> ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:34:07 -0500 From: Dennis Ugulano To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Re: Windsock/Datafiles Message-ID: <200001102034_MC2-9418-AA93@compuserve.com> Lance, >> Any other Yanks still waiting under the same circumstances, or is it time to send Ray and Angie a letter? << No, you are right on schedule. It takes up to 60 days to get across the pond. I know it costs and extra $60 but I pay the air mail postage. It's my one big expense but I do feel its worth it. I am a single resource person and Windsock and the Datafiles fills my needs exactly. Dennis Ugulano email: Uggies@compuserve.com http://members.xoom.com/Uggies/dju.htm Page Revised 9/12/99 "Every modeller will rise to his own level of masochism" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:34:06 -0500 From: Dennis Ugulano To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Re: "Outdated" kits Message-ID: <200001102034_MC2-9418-AA91@compuserve.com> Matt, >> While the answer is obvious - build it - what do others think? I have heard plenty of "horror" stories with people trying to build the Pegasus D.V, so... << I recently finished the Pegasus Albatros D.Va and I think it looks good with the exception of the rib tapes. My problem. None. I never plan on buying the Eduard kit. Don't need it. The Pegasus kit meets my needs and wants. Dennis Ugulano email: Uggies@compuserve.com http://members.xoom.com/Uggies/dju.htm Page Revised 9/12/99 "Every modeller will rise to his own level of masochism" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 11:43:17 +1000 From: Shane Weier To: "'wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu'" Subject: RE: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <65C968E11318D311B0BD0060B06865CDBD1BC3@mimhexch.mim.com.au> > Nah, save the money and tape it off of PBS. . up here in > Canada we get > Detroit and Seattle PBS stations > > Bob > Don't buy the FMP books either. Colour copies of the profiles are so much cheaper...... Shane ************************************************************** The information contained in this E-Mail is confidential and is intended only for the use of the addressee(s). If you receive this E-Mail in error, any use, distribution or copying of this E-Mail is not permitted. You are requested to forward unwanted E-Mail and address any problems to the MIM Holdings Limited Help Desk. E-Mail: helpdesk@mim.com.au or phone: Australia 07 3833 8042. ************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 17:55:05 -0800 From: "David C. Fletcher" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <387A8D79.3D8A236@mars.ark.com> Shane Weier wrote: "how much radio-telephony was there?" Here I go with a "supplementary". The 1919 Jane's says, "The introduction of the wireless telephone is another improvement which increases the speed and accuracy of "spotting". It will be possible for artillery brigade, group or battery to communicate direct in open speech with the observers "spotting" for them." That would imply that experiments were underway but the "will be possible" tells me that it was not yet in widespread service use. Unless anyone can come up with a more definitive answer, I suspect "R/T" is moving into "ot". Dave Fletcher -- Visit us at our Home Page: ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:55:47 -0500 From: smperry@mindspring.com To: Subject: Re: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <003a01bf5bd6$fc29f3c0$d00156d1@default> > Don't buy the FMP books either. Colour copies of the profiles are so much > cheaper...... > Shane ZING! Seems Aussie ground fire is still accurate as ever :-) sp ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:03:12 -0600 From: "Matthew Bittner" To: "wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: RE: Modeling and Movies Message-ID: <200001110206.SAA20134@magpie.a001.sprintmail.com> On Mon, 10 Jan 2000 20:52:11 -0500 (EST), Shane Weier wrote: > > > Nah, save the money and tape it off of PBS. . up here in > > Canada we get > > Detroit and Seattle PBS stations > > > > Bob > > > > Don't buy the FMP books either. Colour copies of the profiles are so much > cheaper...... Ouch! Didja feel that one, Bob? ;-) Matt Bittner http://www.geocities.com/~ipmsfortcrook http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/misc/ww1fr.htm ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 21:31:02 -0500 From: "Michael S. Alvarado" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: "Outdated" kits Message-ID: <387A95E6.FD2BF23C@bellatlantic.net> The answer would have been easy in my youth - firecracker fodder! Alvie Matthew Bittner wrote: > Hustad and I had an interesting conversation. While it deals > specifically with the 1/72nd Albatros D.V, I'm sure it can apply > to others as well. > > What do you do with those "older" kits that are no obsolete > because of the latest kit to come out? We were debating, what > are we going to do with our Pegasus Albatros D.V's now that the > amazing Eduard is out? You know you really can't sell it because > the Eduard is not only less expensive, but it's also a better > kit. > > While the answer is obvious - build it - what do others think? I > have heard plenty of "horror" stories with people trying to build > the Pegasus D.V, so... > > Matt Bittner > http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/misc/ww1fr.htm > http://www.geocities.com/~ipmsfortcrook > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 21:33:44 -0500 From: "Michael S. Alvarado" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <387A9687.362F9DA1@bellatlantic.net> At one point in the early part of the twentieth century it started out Affrim, Baker, etc Alvie Sharon Henderson wrote: > OK, I'm lame, I'll admit it. And I'm only partly on topic.... :-) > > I can recite the WW1-era German phonetic alphabet w/o problem, but > the US equivalent has gone partly out of my head. Could some kind > soul help me out, as Dad's no longer here to ask? > > WHEN did the change from Able/Baker/etc. occur, and has there been > more than one change? I know they wanted to change Charlie to Coca, > but that didn't last long, as no one would use it. What was the > US wartime usage in our topic range, and was it different by the > Next War? > > And is this right for current: > Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, > Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, > Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu > > Help.... > > Sharon ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 21:52:43 EST From: Sixmilfigs@cs.com To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: "Outdated" kits Message-ID: You could always sell them on ebay as collectibles. Shawn ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 21:43:25 -0500 From: "Michael S. Alvarado" To: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Subject: Re: Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog.... Message-ID: <387A98CD.F16B9E9A@bellatlantic.net> Those of us of the naval boat drivers persuasion are also familiar with the infamous "falcon" codes as well. Alvie "David C. Fletcher" wrote: > Sharon Henderson wrote: > > "I can recite the WW1-era German phonetic alphabet w/o problem, but > the US equivalent has gone partly out of my head..." > > This is going to be a rather lengthy post; it is the major part of an > article I did for the local flying club on the phonetic alphabets and > their origins. The latest thread has added a part I was looking for as > well! Here goes: > > The first phonetic alphabet came into use during World War > One. Not all the letters had names assigned, just where there > could be confusion. Radiotelephony was in its infancy and even > telephones lacked the clarity we take for granted today, so > getting the difference between "M" and "N" and "B" and "D" was > not always easy. Unlike later variations, some letters, notably > "M" and "S" did not start with those letters! Some WWI phonetic > words have survived the rigours of time. Anti-aircraft Artillery > remained "Ack-Ack" long after the letter "A" had become "Able" > and then "Alpha", although "Ack" was still in use until 1942. A > "V" formation by aircraft is still often referred to as a "Vic" > and "out" (closing a transmission) in Morse code is ._._. (AR run > together) and is still referred to a "Ack-R". The Morse for > "out" in the ICAO Morse, which faded from use in the 1960s, was > .._._ (VA run together) and was referred to as "Vic Ack" right > to the end. The first column of the chart shows this first > phonetic alphabet. > > The next phonetic alphabet to become familiar to Canadians > was introduced in 1939, along with the expansion of the Armed > Forces and the wider use of radio. Incidentally, Royal Canadian > Air Force pilots did not start to use radio until after they had > got their "wings" during World War II, since radio was not fitted > in training aircraft; if they stayed on as instructors, they may > have accumulated hundreds of flying hours and never spoken to > anybody. A good lookout was essential! This phonetic alphabet > introduced the ideas of having a word for every letter and of > starting that word with the letter it represented. This phonetic > alphabet is shown in the second column. > > It wasn't only our side which used phonetics. The Germans > developed their own system using common Christian names. Since > German aircraft were given letters to designate the different > sub-types, these often became the aircraft nicknames. The > Me [expletive deleted] BFXXXE became "Emil" and the later BfXXXG became > "Gustav". There was some variation in the names used at > different times during the war, but only for a handful of > letters; "F" could be Fritz or Friedrich, "C" could be Clara or > Caesar and so forth. Although it might not have been normal to > use these phonetic designators in British Columbia during the > war, there are enough German tourists now who may recognize them! > The German phonetic alphabetic is in column three. > > During 1942, the 1939 alphabet was deemed to be > unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. One was the entry of the > United States into the war with its own, somewhat different > phonetic alphabet. The new version was a compromise between the > British and American versions, with a few innovations. This > remained as the standard alphabet until 1957, and is shown in > column 4. > > In 1957, the need to use a common phonetic alphabet in all > countries was recognized. English is the language of aviation > and the usage is prescribed by the International Civil Aviation > Organization, headquartered in Montreal. It was this body, ICAO, > which introduced the system we use on a daily basis. For those > who need a refresher, this alphabet is in column 5. > > Numbers have been an adjunct to the phonetic alphabet since > the early days. The pronunciation is standardized so that people > whose native language is not English (and can therefore not say > "th") can be understood by each other. The pronunciations are > "zee-ro","wun", "too", "tree", "fower", "fife", "six", "seven", > "eight", and "niner". These are used for all numerals and are > never combined, thus avoiding confusion between "thirteen" and > "thirty" and so on. The first double-digit number is, therefore, > "wun zee-ro", but since "ten" has a distinctive sound, it has > been adopted by police and CB users to indicate that the > following numbers will not be in the standard format, but will be > using the common form. Thus, those with scanners may hear the > Mounties say "ten sixty-one" instead of "wun zee-ro six wun" when > they are heading for the nearest doughnut shop. Only when using > the "ten code" are familiar, compound numbers spoken over the > radio. Altimeter settings, headings, speeds, altitudes and > everything else in aviation does not fall under the ten code and > should be spoken as individual numbers. > > Dave Fletcher is a member of the Courtenay Air Park > Association, the owner of Volmer VJ22 C-GHTY and the author of > numerous historical articles and the book "HARVARD! The North > American Trainers in Canada". He joined the Royal Canadian Air > Force in 1961 and trained as a Radio Officer; he gained his > Private Pilot Licence in 1965 and bought his first aeroplane the > next year. He has some 9,000 flying hours - mostly as a navigator > in Argus, Aurora and Boeing E-3A - and has used radio communications > in many parts of the world and in multi-national operations. > > Phonetic Alphabets > > WWI 1939 German 1942 1957 > > Ack Ack Anton Able Alpha > Beer Beer Bertha Baker Bravo > C (see) Charlie Clara Charlie Charlie > Don Don Dora Dog Delta > E (ee) Edward Emil Easy Echo > F (eff) Freddie Freidrich Fox Foxtrot > G (gee) George Gustav George Golf > H (aitch) Harry Heinrich How Hotel > I (eye) Ink Ida Item India > J (jay) Johnny Josef Jig Juliet > K (kay) King Kurfurst King Kilo > L (ell) London Ludwig Love Lima > Emma Monkey Martha Mike Mike > N (en) Nuts Nordpol Nun November > O (owe) Orange Otto Oboe Oscar > Pip Pip Paula Peter Papa > Q (cue) Queen Quelle Queen Quebec > R (are) Robert Richard Roger Romeo > Esses Sugar Siegfried Sugar Sierra > Toc Toc Toni Tare Tango > U (ewe) Uncle Ulrich Uncle Uniform > Vic Vic Viktor Victor Victor > W (double-u) William Wilhelm William Whiskey > X (eks) X-Ray Xantippe X-ray X-Ray > Y (wye) Yorker Ypern Yoke Yankee > Z (zed) Zebra Zeppelin Zebra Zulu > > Dave Fletcher > -- > Visit us at our Home Page: > ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 2082 **********************