Originally Posted by
CV-6
WW2: Fighters were given men's names. Bombers were given women's names. Much easier to remember than Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen. Consider also that at the time intelligence on Japanese A/C was meager.
Cold War: Fighters given names beginning with "F". Bombers, "B". Again much easier to remember.
I understand the system they created, just not the reason for it. They didn't decide to do it with any other country. The pun potential for the Germans was very high. Mister Smith, Twinkle, **** Wolf. And Junkers just stands by itself. My Dad, b. 1935 and 10yo at the end of the war, taught me the joke about "Them fokkers is Messerschmidts!"
My mom's dad served on the Langley and Lexington in the 1930's. One of my uncles did his stint launching Pathers over Korea, another was in Korea after the war. My Dad, bless him, enlisted in 1953 and spent his time in the Army finishing his high school degree and stealing pineapples in Hawaii.