RAF phonetic alphabet

Following the take up of radio, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) used a succession of radiotelephony spelling alphabets to aid communication. These have now all been superseded by the NATO phonetic alphabet.

They would be used in phrases to emphasize the aircraft identification, eg "H-Harry", "G for George". This letter was not the aircraft's serial number painted on the tail (two letters followed by three digits as in a motorcar license plate of the time) but was painted on the side of the aircraft in large letters following the two-letter squadron designation code and the RAF roundel. This worked because no squadron had more than 26 aircraft.

The first alphabet owes a lot to World War I Western Front "signalese" - the phoenetic spelling used by signallers. Only Ack, Gee Emma and Esses changed. Possibly these were lost because they were already in use in phrases such as Ack-Ack: AA, anti-aircraft (fire) and "ack emma", "pip emma" for AM and PM.

The Royal Navy of World War I differed more from the later alphabet having Apples, Butter, Duff, Pudding, Queenie, Tommy, Vinegar, Willie, Xerxes and Yellow.

Alphabets

1924–1942	1942–1943	1943–1956
Ace Beer Charlie Don Edward Freddie George Harry Ink Johnnie King London Monkey Nuts 1 Orange Pip Queen Robert Sugar Toc Uncle Vic 2 William X-ray Yorker Zebra	Apple Beer Charlie Dog Edward Freddy George Harry In Jug/Johnny King Love Mother Nuts Orange Peter Queen Roger/Robert Sugar Tommy Uncle Vic William X-ray Yoke/Yorker Zebra	Able/Affirm Baker Charlie Dog Easy Fox George How Item/Interrogatory Jig/Johnny King Love Mike Nab/Negat Oboe Peter/Prep Queen Roger Sugar Tare Uncle Victor William X-ray Yoke Zebra

• ¹ The choice of Nuts following Monkey is probably from "monkey nuts" = peanuts.
• ² "Vic" subsequently entered the English language as the standard (Vee-shaped) flight pattern of three aircraft.

1956–present

In 1956 the NATO phonetic alphabet was adopted.

See also

Toc H - example of signalese carry-over.