Japanese Aircraft WWII Nicknames

[Drone_pilot]

"The code name system was started in 1942 to simplify the identification of
Japanese aircraft as they were sighted. Generally speaking, boy's code
names were given to fighters, while girl's names were assigned to bombers.

An outstanding example of a Japanese fighter was the Mitsubishi Navy
Type 0 Carrier Fighter. This famous fighter was code named "Zeke." The
fact that "Zeke" and "Zero" are similar sounding is coincidental. And of
course we all know of the role the Zero played in the Pearl harbor attack.

Examples of bombers used in the Pearl Harbor attack are "Kate" (a torpedo
bomber) and "Val", a standard bomber, both flying off carriers."

Alf: Kawanishi E7K2 Seaplane
Betty: Mitsubishi G4M2a Bomber
Cedar: Tachikawa Ki-17 Support AC
Claude: Mitsubishi A5M4 Fighter
Emily: Kawanishi H8K2 Seaplane
Frances: Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga Bomber
Frank: Nakajima Ki-84-Ia Hayate Fighter
George: Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden Fighter
Helen: Nakajima Ki-49-IIb Donryu Bomber
Ida: Tachikawa Ki-36 Support AC
Irving: Nakajima J1N1-C Gekko Support AC
Jack: Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden Fighter
Jake: Aichi E13A1 Seaplane
Jean: Yokosuka B4Y1 Support AC
Jill: Nakajima B6N2 Tenzan Bomber
Judy: Yokosuka D4Y3 Suisei Bomber
Kate: Nakajima B5N2 Bomber
Lorna: Kyushu Q1W1 Tokai Support AC
Myrt: Nakajima C6N1 Saiun Support AC
Nate: Nakajima Ki-27b Fighter
Nell: Mitsubishi G3M2 Bomber
Oscar: Nakajima Ki-43-IIb Hayabusa Fighter
Pete: Mitsubishi F1M2 Seaplane
Rufe: Nakajima A6M2-N Seaplane
Spruce: Tachikawa Ki-9 Support AC
Susie: Aichi D1A2 Bomber
Thora: Nakajima Ki-34 Support AC
Tillie: Kawanishi H6K5 Seaplane
Tojo: Nakajima Ki-44-IIb Shoki Fighter
Val: Aichi D3A2 Bomber
Zeke/Zero: Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen Fighter

[Bombardier]

EXCELLENT info Droney. Cheers mate, explains alot

[Advisor]

As far as I know there wasn't a corresponding list for German a/c. I wonder why this is so?

[Bombardier]

As far as I know there wasn't a corresponding list for German a/c. I wonder why this is so?

Im not sure of all there origins but they appear to be a mix of German, English and Russian Nicknames for German Aircraft.

Doodlebug - V-1

Beule (Boil) - Messerschmitt Bf 109G
This model of the Bf 109 had two large 'boils' on the engine cowling, covering the cowl gun mechanisms.

Blechesel - Junkers J I
Tin Donkey. One of the first all-metal combat aircraft.

Bruno - Messerschmitt Bf 109B
German phonetic alphabet: B-Bruno

Caesar - Messerschmitt Bf 109C
German phonetic alphabet: C-Caesar

Dora - Messerschmitt Bf 109D
German phonetic alphabet: D-Dora

Dreifinger - Junkers Ju 88
"Three fingers". Sleek fuselage and two long engine nacelles.

Emil - Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Fliegende Auge - Focke-Wulf Fw 189
Flying Eye. The tactical reconaissance aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Maybe also because of its 'insect eye' cockpit glazing.

Fliegender Bleistift - Dornier Do 17
Flying Pencil. Because of the small cross-section of its fuselage.

Flying Pencil - Dornier Do 17
Because of its sleek lines.

Fritz - Messerschmitt Bf 109F

Gustav - Messerschmitt Bf 109G

Hudoy - Messerschmitt Bf 109
"Lean", Russian name for the Bf 109.

Iron Annie - Junkers Ju 52
Kanonenvogel - Junkers Ju 87G
Cannon bird. Armed with two 37mm anti-tank cannon

Kraft Ei - Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
Power egg. Small rocket powered fighter.

Kurfuerst - Messerschmitt Bf 109K
German phonetic alphabet: K-Kurfuerst

Lapotnik - Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
"Booter", because of it fixed landing gear. Also transliterated as "Lapetznhik". "Lapti" are birch shoes, as worn by Russian peasants.

Panzerknacker - Junkers Ju 87G (I like this one :rolleyes: )
Anti-tank version of the Ju 87.

Silber - Messerschmitt Me 262
Silver.

Stuka - Junkers Ju-87
'Sturzkampfflugzeug', a generic German term for dive-bomber.

Tante Ju - Junkers Ju 52/3m