Taking our “Here’s Why” from the paper to the blog. An explanation for why something is the way it is in the Air Force/military. Whether you’re riding on a jet ski or are an Air Force aircrew flight equipment journeyman, life vests are part of protocol. During World War II, life vests were nicknamed “Mae Wests” after the popular 1930s and 40s actress Mae West. Could you guess why? Linguist and author Henry Alexander explains that members of the Royal Air Force and Army Air Forces who were issued flight gear began calling their life vests — manufactured by Peter…
Browsing: Royal Air Force
Taking our “Here’s Why” from the paper to the blog. An explanation for why something is the way it is in the Air Force/military. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie… the way the phonetic alphabet – formally known as the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet – starts out as most know it today. This wasn’t the way the phonic code always began, but what prompted the final change? From the 1930s and into WWII, the Royal Air Force adopted the RAF phonetic alphabet, and the U.S. adopted the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet which went something like this: Able Baker Charlie Dog Easy Fox George…
