R.A.F. Language

SHORT GLOSSARY OF R.A.F. SLANG

Balbo, A A large formation of aircraft.

Bale out To take to one's parachute.

Bind, A People who obstruct one.

Black, A Something badly done, a "bad show".

Blitz, A solid lump of Large formation of enemy aircraft.

Blonde job, A Young woman with fair hair.

Bogus Sham, spurious.

Bomphleteers Airmen engaged on the early pamphlet raids.

Brassed off Diminutive of "browned off".

Brolly Parachute.

Browned off, To be "Fed up".

Bumps and Circuits Circuits and landings.

Bus driver A bomber pilot.

Buttoned up A job properly completed, "mastered".

Completely Cheesed No hope at all.

Cope To accomplish, to deal with.

Crabbing along Flying near the ground or water.

Deck, Crack down on To "pancake" an aircraft.

Dog fight Aerial scrap.

Drill, The right Correct method of doing anything.

Drink, In the To come down into the sea.

Dud Applied to weather when unfit to fly.

Duff gen. Dud information.

Dust bin Rear gunner's lower position in aircraft.

Erk, An A beginner in any job.

Fan The propeller.

Flak Anti-aircraft fire.

Flap A disturbance, general excitement.

Fox, To To do something clever or rather cunning.

Gen. (pron. jen) General information of any kind whatever.

George The automatic pilot.

Get Cracking Get going.

Gong, To collect a To get a medal.

Greenhouse Cockpit cover.

Hedge-hopping Flying so low that the aircraft appears to hop over the hedges.

Hurryback A Hurricane fighter.

Jink away Sharp manoeuvre. Sudden evasive action of aircraft.

Kipper Kite Coastal Command Aircraft which convoy fishing fleets in the North and Irish Seas.

Kite An aeroplane.

Laid on, To have To produce anything, such as supplies.

Mae West Life-saving stole, or waistcoat, inflated if wearer falls into sea.

Mickey Mouse Bomb-dropping mechanism.

Muscle in To take advantage of a good thing.

Office Cockpit of aircraft.

Organize To "win" a wanted article.

Pack up Cease to function.

Peel off, To Break formation to engage enemy.

Play pussy Hide in the clouds.

Pleep A squeak, rather like a high note klaxon.

Plug away Continue to fire. Keep after target.

Pukka gen. Accurate information.

Pulpit Cockpit of aircraft.

Quick squirt Short sharp burst of machine-gun fire.

Quickie Short for above.

Rang the bell Got good results.

Rings Rank designation on officer's cuffs.

Ropey Uncomplimentary adjective. "A ropey landing", "A ropey type", "A ropey evening", etc.

Screamed downhill Executed a power dive.

Shooting a line Exaggerated talk, generally about one's own prowess.

Shot Down in Flames Crossed in love. Severe reprimand.

Snake about Operational aerobatics.

Spun in A bad mistake. Analogy from an aircraftspinning out of control into the ground.

Stationmaster Commanding Officer of Station.

Stooge Deputy, i.e. second pilot or any assistant.

Stooging about Delayed landing for various reasons. Flying slowly over an area. Patrolling.

Synthetic Not the real thing. Also applied to ground training.

Tail End Charlie Rear gunner in large bombing aircraft or rear aircraft of a formation.

Tear off a strip To reprimand, take down a peg.

Tee up To prepare a job, to get ready.

Touch bottom Crash.

Toys A great deal of training equipment is termed toys.

Train, Driving the Leading more than one squadron into battle.

Type Classification - usually referring to people. Good, Bad, Ropey, Poor type.

View R.A.F. personnel always take a "view" of things. Good view, Poor view, Dim view, Long distance view, Lean view, Outside view, "Ropey" view.

Wizard Really first class, superlative, attractive, ingenious.

Balbo, A	A large formation of aircraft.
Bale out	To take to one's parachute.
Bind, A	People who obstruct one.
Black, A	Something badly done, a "bad show".
Blitz, A solid lump of	Large formation of enemy aircraft.
Blonde job, A	Young woman with fair hair.
Bogus	Sham, spurious.
Bomphleteers	Airmen engaged on the early pamphlet raids.
Brassed off	Diminutive of "browned off".
Brolly	Parachute.
Browned off, To be	"Fed up".
Bumps and Circuits	Circuits and landings.
Bus driver	A bomber pilot.
Buttoned up	A job properly completed, "mastered".
Completely Cheesed	No hope at all.
Cope	To accomplish, to deal with.
Crabbing along	Flying near the ground or water.
Deck, Crack down on	To "pancake" an aircraft.
Dog fight	Aerial scrap.
Drill, The right	Correct method of doing anything.
Drink, In the	To come down into the sea.
Dud	Applied to weather when unfit to fly.
Duff gen.	Dud information.
Dust bin	Rear gunner's lower position in aircraft.
Erk, An	A beginner in any job.
Fan	The propeller.
Flak	Anti-aircraft fire.
Flap	A disturbance, general excitement.
Fox, To	To do something clever or rather cunning.
Gen. (pron. jen)	General information of any kind whatever.
George	The automatic pilot.
Get Cracking	Get going.
Gong, To collect a	To get a medal.
Greenhouse	Cockpit cover.
Hedge-hopping	Flying so low that the aircraft appears to hop over the hedges.
Hurryback	A Hurricane fighter.
Jink away	Sharp manoeuvre. Sudden evasive action of aircraft.
Kipper Kite	Coastal Command Aircraft which convoy fishing fleets in the North and Irish Seas.
Kite	An aeroplane.
Laid on, To have	To produce anything, such as supplies.
Mae West	Life-saving stole, or waistcoat, inflated if wearer falls into sea.
Mickey Mouse	Bomb-dropping mechanism.
Muscle in	To take advantage of a good thing.
Office	Cockpit of aircraft.
Organize	To "win" a wanted article.
Pack up	Cease to function.
Peel off, To	Break formation to engage enemy.
Play pussy	Hide in the clouds.
Pleep	A squeak, rather like a high note klaxon.
Plug away	Continue to fire. Keep after target.
Pukka gen.	Accurate information.
Pulpit	Cockpit of aircraft.
Quick squirt	Short sharp burst of machine-gun fire.
Quickie	Short for above.
Rang the bell	Got good results.
Rings	Rank designation on officer's cuffs.
Ropey	Uncomplimentary adjective. "A ropey landing", "A ropey type", "A ropey evening", etc.
Screamed downhill	Executed a power dive.
Shooting a line	Exaggerated talk, generally about one's own prowess.
Shot Down in Flames	Crossed in love. Severe reprimand.
Snake about	Operational aerobatics.
Spun in	A bad mistake. Analogy from an aircraftspinning out of control into the ground.
Stationmaster	Commanding Officer of Station.
Stooge	Deputy, i.e. second pilot or any assistant.
Stooging about	Delayed landing for various reasons. Flying slowly over an area. Patrolling.
Synthetic	Not the real thing. Also applied to ground training.
Tail End Charlie	Rear gunner in large bombing aircraft or rear aircraft of a formation.
Tear off a strip	To reprimand, take down a peg.
Tee up	To prepare a job, to get ready.
Touch bottom	Crash.
Toys	A great deal of training equipment is termed toys.
Train, Driving the	Leading more than one squadron into battle.
Type	Classification - usually referring to people. Good, Bad, Ropey, Poor type.
View	R.A.F. personnel always take a "view" of things. Good view, Poor view, Dim view, Long distance view, Lean view, Outside view, "Ropey" view.
Wizard	Really first class, superlative, attractive, ingenious.