Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

A forum for the discussion of Military aviation and RAF Station heritage
Vulcan74
Posts: 622
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:26 am

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by Vulcan74 » Thu Apr 15, 2021 5:00 pm

To my knowledge in the 80's tactical call signs were used more than trigraphs. When at Marham the Victors used tactical call signs eg 8RE-41, as with the Lightnings at Binbrook. COT,FYY,VYT, and other training units used these style of call signs. Hope this helps!

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Thu Apr 15, 2021 5:27 pm

That's great! Thank you very much!

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Fri Apr 16, 2021 6:56 am

Oh, one more question, Vulcan, was the format of the tactical callsigns always number-letter-letter-number-number? ie never R8E41? And am I correct in thinking the first three characters were issued to a base for a set period of time (48 hrs?) before being replaced with a new prefix?

Vulcan74
Posts: 622
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2018 10:26 am

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by Vulcan74 » Fri Apr 16, 2021 8:00 am

Could be anyway round, not sure about the period of time for the call sign!

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:22 am

Thank you very much!

DickFlute
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:47 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by DickFlute » Sat Apr 17, 2021 10:44 am

Hi Karl

A few more observations from my notes...

Re the RAF tactical alpha-numeric callsigns... for what it's worth, in the notes I made I never recorded anything other than two distinct formats, i.e.
5 characters in the form of letter/digit/letter + 2 digits or digit/letter/letter + 2 digits.
In the mid-80s it was mainly the likes of air-defence units and supporting tanker units that used this type of callsign, but by the end of the decade most front-line outfits were using them. I have a note that the change to the widespread use of this type of callsign - rather than dynamic trigraphs - seems to have occurred around October 1989.

In the mid-80s most RAF units used trigraphs (until ca10/89 as per the above) and they were either fixed (as in the case of training units or units with a training element, TTTE; OCUs etc) or dynamic, which changed periodically - most likely on a daily basis.

Fixed examples noted in that period were...
1 FTS Linton - LOP & 1FTS det. Topcliffe - TOF
2 FTS Shawbury - SYS
3 FTS Cranwell - CWL
4 FTS Valley - VYT
6 FTS Finningley - FYY (FYR used for overseas flights)
7 FTS Church Fenton - CFN
CFS Scampton - SAP
EFTS Swinderby - SWD
1 TWU Brawdy - BRW
2 TWU Chivenor - CHR (later CHV)
TTTE Cottesmore - CTM (later COT)
TWCU Honington - HON
226 OCU Lossiemouth - LMN (later LOS)
233 OCU Wittering - WJJ regularly plus cyclical use of WJN-WJY changing monthly (later all superseded by WIT)
237 OCU Lossiemouth - LOS
240 OCU Odiham - OIJ
Abingdon MU - ABN
St Athan MU - SKT
Air Experience Flights - AED
University Air Squadrons - UA* (noted were UAA; UAB; UAF; UAG; UAQ; UAS; UAT)

Dynamic examples...
There seems little value in listing lots of these given that they changed frequently, and followed no particular pattern, but a handful noted in 1985/1986 were...
UHC93 7 Sqn Chinook
NGL51 9 Sqn Tornado
KRV10 33 Sqn Puma
BGW52 41 Sqn Jaguar
TMB36 231 OCU Canberra

A few other bits & pieces in no particular order..

Doughnut plus 2 digits or a single letter were used in SAS support ops. A trio of examples...
Doughnut 01 by a 33Sqn Puma & 7 Reg't A.109
Doughnut 51/52 by a pair of 7 Reg't A.109s
Doughnut H by an LTW C-130
Additionally the 7 Reg't A.109s often used RAF style dynamic trigraphs, for example "JBY03"; NMU42" & "QJM95".

You alluded to FRADU callsigns, and I have them listed as using "NAVY" + 3 digits where the digits were indicative of the code carried or assigned to a particular airframe, so the Canberra/Hunter callsigns were invariably in the range 'NAVY830 to NAVY879'.
In addition to the above they would often use Broadway or Yeovil plus two digits (along with the Sea Harriers of 800/801 & 899NAS).
Navy formation callsigns were usually colours & I've noted FRADU Canberras/Hunters using...
Amber; Blue, Bronze, Crimson, Pink & Purple

Further afield I think someone touched on the Canadians in Europe & for info I noted these...

Sollingen 1st CAD
CF-188s
Hawk
Hornet
Monkey
Snake
Sting
Tiger
Wardance
Whisky
Yogi
CT-133s
Kiwi

Lahr
444Sqn CH-136
Viper

On other Euro matters, these observations may be of interest (disregard if they're mentioned in previous posts)...

USAFE
Ramstein
58th MAS C-12/C-20/C-21 & T-43
Mot (used for training details) & Spar

Rhein-Main
37th TAS/435th TAW C-130
Herky & Ask

55th AAS/435th TAW C-9
Tune (when not operating Medevac flights as "Airevac****")

Sembach
43rd ECS/66th ECW EC-130
Call

601TASS/601TCW CH-53
Cully

Zweibrucken
26th TRW RF-4
Anchor
Kodak
Recce
Utah

Keflavik
57th FIS F-4/F-15
Arno
Polar
Sloegin

US Army Europe
Chievres
357th AvDet UH-60
Shape

Coleman Barracks
7th Signals Battalion U-21
Nite

56th AvCo UH-1/OH-58/C-12/U-21
Aero

Stuttgart
1st AvDet/HQ USECOM C-12/C-21/UH-1
Clue

2nd MIB
OV-1/RV-1
Hawk

Wiesbaden
V Corps HQ Flight UH-1/U-21
Boss

1st MIB
OV-1/RV-1
Ghost & Dime

RC-12
Argus

Hope it's of use.

Best wishes

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Sun Apr 18, 2021 6:40 am

Dick - you, sir, are an absolute legend! Thank you so much for taking the time time to list all of that (and your previous post)! It's hugely appreciated. At some point (hopefully, if we get to that stage), it might become clear why I'm interested :-)

Thanks again. You've been a massive help!

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Fri Apr 23, 2021 7:28 am

Morning all,

Having completed a bit more work on this, a few more queries have raised their heads:

Would LTW have used ASCOT or tactical callsigns?

32 Sqn & Queens Flight? Seem to recall KITTYHAWK (still current), RAINBOW + ASCOT in use, but were they used in the mid-80s, or would they have used tactical in that era too?

Presume 115 Sqn would have been tactical?

Anything for the JP4s of CACTS at Shawbury, please?

And XX341, the ASTRA Hawk, when it was Cranfield based? CRANFIELD XX?

As ever, MTIA in advance!

DickFlute
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:47 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by DickFlute » Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:08 pm

Hi Karl

If it helps I have the following notes for the period in question:

32 Sqn ASCOT c/s noted...
710 to 749 - Training flights
1000 - ACM/C in C (RAF)
1001/1002 - AOC 1 Group
1066 - C in C AFNE
1200 to 1399 - VIP/Royals (also used by QF)
1400 to 1799 - VIP tasks
1800 to 1899 - Overseas training flights
7500 to 7749 - Various non VIP tasks
7750 to 7799 - Special taks
7800 to 7949 - General tasks

Additionally, they also occasionally used random word callsigns. A few examples noted were...
'Motto 69'; Onset 16'; 'Tansy 55' & 'Topsy 70'.

115 Sqn ASCOT c/s noted
7** - Training flights
7000 to 7049 - Overseas training fliights
7050 to 7499 - Flight checking tasks
I can't say if this unit used other forms of callsigns, alpha-numerics or whatever, but if they did, I never recorded any.

Queen's Flight
As you have alluded to individual callsigns were associated with the Royal Family, and in addition to Kittyhawk & Rainbow as you've mentioned, Unicorn & Kitty were also used - the latter being used for flights other than royal flights, i.e. positioning flights or similar

The unit also used ASCOT callsigns, noted in the range...
1200 to 1399 - VIPs/Royals (also used by 32 Sqn)
&
1900 to 1999 - Special tasks & training
The Wessex helicopters were also noted using dynamic trigraphs from time to time including 'NLG10'; 'MIR10' & 'KSU01'; and following the system change in 10.89 occasionally therafter used alpha-numerics such as '1RC18'.
Also, similar to 32 Sqn, aircraft would occasionally use random word callsigns & I've a note that one of their BAe 146s used 'Spicy 50'.

LTW
LTW ASCOT c/s noted were...
7** to 9** - Training flights
4000 to 5999 - Special tasks and general transport flights
6001 to 6650 - NATO exercise block (Also used by other transports such as 10 Sqn VC-10s)

In addition to the LTW formation callsigns listed in a previous post, similar to 32 Sqn LTW C-130s would occasionally use random word callsigns. A few noted were...
'Cabin 32'; 'Husky 77' & 'Raven 43'.

Lastly LTW C-130s would also often use exercise callsigns several times a year, and some noted were...
'Fabric'; 'Jumbo' & 'Template'.

I've nothing to add for CATCS or the ASTRA Hawk I'm afraid.

Best wishes

User avatar
andrewn
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:47 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by andrewn » Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:12 pm

Hi Karl,

See below for my record of 48TFW F-111F callsigns between 1988 & 1993. Surprisingly few in number for such a large wing, however they did use additional exercise callsigns for their quarterly Base Ex's, though these changed on a daily basis and I didn't log many of them, being up in Cheshire....

Image

User avatar
andrewn
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:47 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by andrewn » Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:16 pm

KarlADrage wrote:
Fri Apr 23, 2021 7:28 am

Anything for the JP4s of CACTS at Shawbury, please?
CATCS used SYS 9* or simply Papa 9* (when in circuit, which they were most of the time). On rare formation flights I noted 'Hamlet' a couple of times, but that was about it.
Last edited by andrewn on Sat Apr 24, 2021 8:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
andrewn
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:47 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by andrewn » Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:30 pm

DickFlute wrote:
Fri Apr 23, 2021 2:08 pm

LTW
LTW ASCOT c/s noted were...
7** to 9** - Training flights
4000 to 5999 - Special tasks and general transport flights
6001 to 6650 - NATO exercise block (Also used by other transports such as 10 Sqn VC-10s)

In addition to the LTW formation callsigns listed in a previous post, similar to 32 Sqn LTW C-130s would occasionally use random word callsigns. A few noted were...
'Cabin 32'; 'Husky 77' & 'Raven 43'.

Lastly LTW C-130s would also often use exercise callsigns several times a year, and some noted were...
'Fabric'; 'Jumbo' & 'Template'.
Some great info in your posts Dick, most of which tallies with my own logs from a similar period.

On the Herc random callsigns "Amber 19" was another, think they used these random ones for back and to too Aldergrove (maybe special missions?)...

And for the formation callsigns I once logged Spectre formation, all 15 of them, off up to the Macrihanish area for one of the big paradrop exercises of the day, circa 1989.

User avatar
andrewn
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:47 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by andrewn » Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:38 pm

KarlADrage wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:15 am


81st TFW additions to Shuck's list above: SALTY, DRAGO
SALTY was 509TFS (the Pirates), DRACO was the 81TFW wing callsign until replaced by BISON around 1989.

User avatar
andrewn
Posts: 1119
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:47 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by andrewn » Sat Apr 24, 2021 8:41 pm

DickFlute wrote:
Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:50 am
Hi Karl

In case it's of use I have the following which is a summary of RAF callsigns from my notes from around the mid to late 80s...

Aldergrove
72 Sqn Wessex - Klingon; Parker; Swallow; Swiift- Rustic

Brawdy
1 TWU Hawk - Burner; Bronze; Dragon; Eagle; Falcon; Gannet; Harlech; Kestrel; Merlin; Opal; Osprey; Sabre; Silver; Tartan- Banjo, Condor

Chivenor
2 TWU Hawk - Baron; Blacknight; Firefly; Gallant; Hatchet; Indigo; Kelly; Mirror; Mogul; Roman; Wizard- Rasta, Winston

Church Fenton
7 FTS JP - Anthrax; Macaw; Sword; Topaz; Vega; Wagon
Tucano callsigns noted - Lantern

Coltishall
6 Sqn Jaguar - Boxer; Conga; Cresta; Havoc; Turbo Tinker, Gold, Can Opener
41 Sqn Jaguar - Carrick; Hotspur; Kodak; Rebel; Redbird; Viking - Adman
54 Sqn Jaguar - Blackcat; Buick; Hornet; Panther

Coningsby
5 Sqn Tornado - Carbon; Birch; Laser; Maple; Scarlet; Scorpion
29 Sqn Tornado - Buzzard; Ransack; Magpie; Triplex- Barrel
228 OCU Phantom - Beetle; Focus; Scarab; Spider
229 OCU Tornado - Charger; Lucky; Maddog; Scorcher; Torch- Horseman, Saturn, Rambo
F3OEU - Apollo

Cottesmore
TTTE
A Sqn - Alien; Apex; Aston; Axis
B Sqn - Banshee; Blade; Brigand; Bullet
C Sqn - Chappy; Classic; Club; Colt; Condor; Cutlass
Standards Sqn - Staple; Stellar; Stiletto; Sunshine

Cranwell
RAFC JP - Apollo; Baptist; Brickbat; Cocktail; Musket; Poacher; Template; Whisky

Finningley
6 FTS
JP - Adler; Agate; Bandbox; Bass; Crow; Darley; Sparrow; Teal; Trent - Banquet
Jetstream/Dominie - Alcove

Honington
TWCU Tornado - Abbot; Beta; Brandy; Cedar; Crystal; Flint; Macaw; Magnum; Mango; Minx; Mitre; Pewter
13 Sqn - Baldrick, Cobra, Lancer, Mantis

Leeming
11 Sqn Tornado - Eagle; Gamma; Nitro; Rooster; Totem
23 Sqn Tornado - Clayman; Fresco; Jacket; Razor
25 Sqn Tornado - Bebop; Chariot; Falcon; Javelin; Merlin; Tarot
Wing c/s Everest

Leuchars
43 Sqn Phantom - Blacksmith; Gamecock; Tartan
111 Sqn Phanton - Adept; Export; Scimitar

Linton
1 FTS JP - Blade; Caster; Galleon; Sabik; Toddy; Vega; Venus- Regal

Lossiemouth
8 Sqn Shackleton - Gambia; Rockfist
12 Sqn Buccaneer/Hunter - Fox; Jackal; Pirate; Vixen; Wolf
208 Sqn Buccaneer/Hunter - Chuckle; Classic; Fozzy; Gibbon; Skull
226 OCU Jaguar - Cougar; Granite; Rapier; Tiger; Wildcat
237 OCU Buccaneer/Hunter - Baton; Crook; Dagger; Spike; Wombat

Lyneham
LTW C-130s - Albatross; Brassneck; Dogfish; Dragon; Mallard; Spectre; Startrek; Turban- Blowlamp, Snapdragon

Marham
27 Sqn Tornado - Clyde; Jumbo; Tempest; Tribal; Trent
617 Sqn Tornado - Bengal; Blackdog; Midas; Saxon; Spartan; Trojan; Vandal

Odiham
7 Sqn Chinook - Kermit; Lifter; Starling
33 Sqn Puma - Castle; Stag; Weasel
240 OCU Chinook/Puma - Sardine
Wing (SHF) - Argus; Juggler

Scampton
CFS
Bulldog - Libra; Nomad; Rustic
JP - Blackjack; Magnet
Hawk - Hurricane; Jigsaw; Puffin; Rivet
Tucano callsigns - Theakston

Shawbury
2FTS Gazelle/Wessex - Dalek; Hamlet; Tolstoy

St Mawgan
42 Sqn Nimrod - Petrel

Topcliffe
1 FTS det. Bulldog - Clasic; Cordite; Fury; Lampoon

Valley
4 FTS Hawk - Bronze; Cobra; Dolphin; Drifter; Jester; Mustang; Phoenix; Puffin; Python; Snapper; Taboo; Tankard; Topper- or Copper ?

Wattisham
56 Sqn Phantom - Adnams; Cockbird; Firebird; Warlord
74 Sqn Phantom - Doorstep; Gorgon; Thunder; Tiger; Stampede; Stingray- Jamjar

Wittering
1 Sqn Harrier - Bottle; Edit; Giant; Magnet; Malton; Neon; Packet; Stratum
233 OCU Harrier - Banjo; Blazer; Forage; Fondue; Format; Native; Pagan; Striker; Talent
- Advent, Bobcat, Humber

Wyton
100 Sqn Canberra - Archer; Boneyard; Darwin; Sarang; Woodstock- Jasper
231 OCU Canberra - Cheetah, - Benbow
360 Sqn Canberra - Bromide; Mothball; Tasman; Tinsel; Trident; Warthog- Aspirin, Monika
EWAU (a/c drawn from 51 Sqn & 360 Sqn as required) - Pluto
1 PRU - Survey

Best wishes
I've added a few extra's above in bold and italics to Dick's comprehensive list....
Last edited by andrewn on Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

KarlADrage
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:53 am
Location: Northants
Contact:

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by KarlADrage » Sun Apr 25, 2021 8:10 am

Fantastic, gents! Thank you so much. Have got quite a bit on for the next week or so, but I'll definitely come back to this after that.

Thanks again.

User avatar
Pi
Posts: 209
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:00 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by Pi » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:54 pm

[quoteCottesmore]
TTTE
A Sqn - Alien; Apex; Aston; Axis
B Sqn - Banshee; Blade; Brigand; Bullet
C Sqn - Chappy; Classic; Club; Colt; Condor; Cutlass
Standards Sqn - Staple; Stellar; Stiletto; Sunshine
[/quote]

Was here 86-89 never heard Apex, Bullet, Condor, Cutlass or Sunshine.

User avatar
Pi
Posts: 209
Joined: Sat Jun 08, 2019 4:00 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by Pi » Fri Apr 30, 2021 3:57 pm

Also at Marham we had fun with 39 Sqn's tac c/sign's, one case was T54FO, 'T54 Marham Approach your are cleared to Foxtrot Oscar !' 'Yeah thanks we were waiting for someone to tell to do that !'

DickFlute
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 3:47 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by DickFlute » Sun May 02, 2021 10:05 am

Was here 86-89 never heard Apex, Bullet, Condor, Cutlass or Sunshine.
Thanks. All I would add is that the callsigns I quoted for TTTE at Cottesmore were all noted in use in the period between 1984 & 1990. Maybe some of them were used less frequently than others or were dropped from/added to the core list over time, but nevertheless they were all used at some point in that time frame.

For example, in my notes from 1984, I have the following info for the 12th September...
2 x TTTE Tornados operating @ low level in NE England as 'Sunshine'. During this sortie ZA361/B-57 diverted to Newcastle with a 'suspected' bird-strike & following an inspection departed later the same day as 'Sunshine leader'.

Best wishes

shuck
Posts: 566
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by shuck » Sun May 23, 2021 12:16 pm

andrewn wrote:
Sat Apr 24, 2021 6:12 pm
Hi Karl,

See below for my record of 48TFW F-111F callsigns between 1988 & 1993. Surprisingly few in number for such a large wing, however they did use additional exercise callsigns for their quarterly Base Ex's, though these changed on a daily basis and I didn't log many of them, being up in Cheshire....

Image

Great list ... many 48th TFW/48th FW call-signs have been reported over the years for F-4, F-111 and F-15, but can anyone confirm which were used during the F-4D Phantom II years.

All I have is AMITE, TREST, ZORRO

Thanks

shuck
Posts: 566
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:21 pm

Re: UK Callsigns of the mid-1980s

Post by shuck » Tue Jun 22, 2021 9:14 am

MH-53J/M from 21st SOS at Woodbridge, Alconbury and Mildenhall used ...

PAVE, DEVIL, KNIFE, RESCUE

Post Reply

Return to “Heritage Area”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests