Alert-Five: A manned fighter, sitting on the catapult ready to launch within five minutes. Used to intercept potential threats to an aircraft carrier. Also Alert-Fifteen and Alert-Thirty, which denote the time allowed from initial notification to being airborne.
Alpha strike: Large strike involving virtually all of a carrier’s tactical aircraft, typically to one target and sometimes in coordination with another carrier.
ALQ-51: Deception jammer designed for self-protection of tactical aircraft. Fitted as standard in A-3, A-6, and RA-5C aircraft. “Shoehorned” into A-4, F-4, and F-8. See shoehorn.
Atoll: The NATO designation for the Soviet K-13 missile, the counterpart of the AIM-9.
ball: A series of lights providing glide slope indication used as a visual aid to landing on the aircraft carrier. During each landing, a pilot is told to “call the ball,” whereupon he confirms that he can or cannot see the visual signals and is responding to them before landing.
bandit: A known enemy aircraft. See bogey.
barricade: A gigantic nylon net that catches damaged aircraft in midair.
bingo: A predetermined amount of fuel needed to return to base or an alternate airfield.
bogey: An unknown, possibly enemy aircraft.
bolter: An aircraft that has missed the arresting cables while attempting to land aboard the aircraft carrier.
break: A maximum performance turn used for defense against SAMs or aircraft.
bureau number (BuNo): Akin to a serial number. Each naval aircraft is assigned a number by the Bureau of Aeronautics when purchased. By referencing an aircraft’s BuNo, it is possible to determine the manufacturer, date of manufacture, and other pertinent information.
CAG: Commander Air Group (wing). Up until 1962, air wings were known as air groups and commanded by a senior commander who had previously commanded a squadron. In spite of the change in terminology, air wing commanders were referred to as CAG in honor of the tradition. See CVW.
CALL SIGN: A unique identification used when communicating via radio. Ships, squadrons, and pilots were assigned a call sign to prevent the enemy from knowing their true identity.
CAP: Combat air patrol, an air patrol over a specified area for a prescribed purpose. For example, a rescue combat air patrol to help rescue a downed aviator is referred to as a RESCAP.
CHOP (in-chop/out-chop): The NATO code word for CHange of OPerational control. In-chop refers to a unit joining a fleet or area of operations. Out-chop means that unit has departed a fleet or area of operations.
COOK OFF: The premature detonation of ordnance, usually due to extreme heat associated with exposure to fire. Also known as thermally induced firing.
CVW: Carrier Air Wing. Combination of squadrons aboard each aircraft carrier, led by a senior commander. See CAG.
division: A flight of four aircraft made up of two sections. Called a 4-ship in the air force. See section.
Dixie Station: Point off the coast of South Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin designated for carrier operations over South Vietnam. Once sufficient numbers of aircraft arrived in South Vietnam, the navy was alleviated from the need to operate from Dixie Station. See Yankee Station.
Fan Song: NATO code name for the Soviet SNR-75 missile guidance radar associated with the SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The radar was capable of tracking one aircraft and guiding three missiles at once. See SA-2.
feet-wet: The radio call made when transiting from over land to over water flight.
feet-dry: The radio call made when transiting from over water flight to over land flight.
flak-trap: An ambush using AAA. An unsuspecting pilot would be drawn toward a previously unknown and concealed AAA position, which would open fire when the aircraft overflew it. The North Vietnamese often used fake SAM sites for this purpose.
frag-orders: Abbreviated daily operating orders that are transmitted from higher headquarters to subordinate units to direct daily activities. Also known as “FragO,” “Frag-Ord,” or “Fragmentary Orders.”
general quarters: An announcement via a warship’s speakers directing the crew to man their battle stations. The crew will remain at this condition of readiness, prepared for immediate combat.
in-country: Common phrase used to denote air operations in South Vietnam.
International Control Commission (ICC): An international force of Canadians, Polish, and Indian personnel responsible for enforcing the 1954 Geneva Accords.
Iron Hand: Code name for missions flown against SAM sites. Flown by an A-4 Skyhawk or A-6 Intruder carrying Shrike missiles. Known as Wild Weasel in the air force.
Iron Triangle: Nickname for the highly defended area between Haiphong, Hanoi, and Thanh Hoa.
jink: An irregular flight path with constantly changing altitude and direction. Used to prevent a predictable flight pattern, making it difficult for gunners to track a plane.
Loose Deuce: A tactical formation flown by a flight leader and wingman. Mutually supportive and flexible.
Mk 82/83/84: 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-pound general purpose bombs used during Vietnam.
PIRAZ: Positive Identification and Radar Advisory Zone. An area over North Vietnam in which navy ships or air force early warning aircraft could monitor via radar and provide advisories to U.S. aircraft.
Red Crown: Code name of the ship performing PIRAZ duties in the Gulf of Tonkin. See PIRAZ.
RESPOT: The action taken to move aircraft on the flight deck. Generally done in preparation for launching or recovering aircraft. Prior to launching, aircraft will be moved aft to clear the catapults on the forward flight deck. Prior to recovery, aircraft will be moved forward to clear the landing area.
RHAW gear: Radar homing and warning equipment that points out the direction of radars and warns of changes in missile launch and guidance status. Also RWR (Radar Warning and Receiving).
route packages: Six arbitrary geographic areas established in North Vietnam to allow for better coordination between navy and air force strikes.
SA-2: NATO code name for the Soviet-built S-75 surface-to-air missile, a radar-guided high-altitude missile that could reach Mach 2.5 and carried an 86-pound warhead. See Fan Song.
section: A flight of two aircraft. Called a 2-ship in the air force. See division.
shoehorn: Navy operation to install the ALQ-51 deception system in small tactical aircraft that had not been designed to carry it.
Shrike (AGM-45): An air-to-surface antiradar missile fired at SAM sites. See Iron Hand.
Sidewinder (AIM-9): Air-to-air heat-seeking missile.
skids: Wheeled dollies used to move ordnance about the flight deck.
TACAN: Tactical Air Navigation system. A device in an aircraft that gives range and bearing to a radio signal.
TF-77 (Task Force 77): The US Navy’s carrier force in the Gulf of Tonkin. Commander Task Force 77 (CTF-77) directed Yankee Station activity, with several carrier groups (CARGRUs) under its command.
Thud Ridge: The nickname given to a 12-nautical-mile, 5,000-foot-high ridgeline northwest of Hanoi. The ridge ran parallel to the Red River and was a useful navigation point. It also provided terrain masking from North Vietnamese radars.
TRAP: Naval aviation slang referring to an arrested landing onboard an aircraft carrier. Naval aircraft use a tailhook to catch a cable or cross-deck pendant on the flight deck in an arrested landing, which allows the aircraft to rapidly decelerate.
up north: Common navy aircrew phrase used to designate North Vietnam. See in-country.
VA (Attack Squadron): Attack squadrons on Oriskany flew A-4 Skyhawks or A-1 Skyraiders. Their primary functions were bombing or attacking military targets.
VECTOR: A navigation service during which a radar controller directs an aircraft via heading and distance.
VF (Fighter Squadron): Fighter squadrons on Oriskany flew F-8 Crusaders. Their primary function was to protect the attack aircraft from MiGs. Although it was not their primary mission, fighters could carry air-to-ground ordnance to relieve the burden on the limited numbers of attack aircraft.
VMF(AW) (Marine Fighter Squadron, All Weather): The marine fighter squadron on Oriskany flew F-8 Crusaders.
Walleye (AGM-62): TV-guided air-to-surface glide bomb introduced in March 1967. The pilot could see the target and guide the weapon through a TV lens installed in the nose of the weapon.
WESTPAC: Acronym for Western Pacific. Phrase used by sailors to describe any cruise in the western regions of the Pacific Ocean.
Yankee Station: Spot in the Gulf of Tonkin south of Hainan Island at which carriers maintained position for strikes into North Vietnam. Yankee Station was located at 17°30'N by 108°30'E. See Dixie Station.