Battle of Britain pilots developed their own slang/terminology that would have been incomprehensible to others even in the military. However, this slang became part of the lifestyle of members of Fighter Command and was used in everyday conversation as well as in written correspondence. Some of this slang has become reasonably common in general use today (such as ‘binders’) but during the months of the Battle of Britain when the ‘King’s English’ was more dominant it was language commonly associated with the men from Fighter Command.

 

Binders – People who are always grumbling and moaning.

 

Bin – Killed as in ‘He’s been bin’

 

Blood Wagon – Ambulance

 

Booze-wine – drink, usually beer

 

Brolly – Parachute

 

Brown Job – Soldier/Army Officer

 

Beat-up – To dive at an object with the purpose of frightening them

 

Bogle – A woman

 

Cotton Wool – Clouds

 

Deck – The ground or an aerodrome

 

Double Top – A good shot (from double 20 in darts)

 

Erks – Airman’s rank if below a corporal

 

Forced Lob – Forced landing

 

Grappling Hooks – Making a big effort

 

Grease Monkey – Mechanic

 

Head in the Office – Office refers to the cockpit

 

Jim Crow – an aircraft on a reconnaissance mission

 

Nabble – To catch up

 

Peelow – Pilot

 

Putting on the horses – giving more throttle to gain more speed

 

Poking Charlie – Making fun of someone

 

Ring Twitch – To anticipate danger; a feeling of fear and excitement

 

Squirt – To shoot at

 

Stooge – Someone who does all the dirty work

 

Stooge Patrol – A patrol on which you do not expect to see the enemy

 

Stooging Along – Going on patrol without taking much notice of anything

 

Tits – The trigger or firing button on the joystick

 

Vic – Aircraft flying in a V formation

 

Walking Out – To bale out of your aircraft

 

July 2010

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