| Although we searched for terms used by the US Air Force, we could only locate terms used by the the R.A.F.. We have included them here but are certain that the USAF has others. |
| TERM | | MEANING |
| | | |
| Balbo, A | | A large formation of aircraft. |
| Bale out | | To take to one's parachute. |
| Bind, A | | People who obstruct one |
| Black, A | | Something badly done, a "bad show". |
| Blitz, A solid lump of | | Large formation of enemy aircraft. |
| Blonde job, A | | Young woman with fair hair. |
| Bogus | | Sham, spurious. |
| Bomphleteers | | Airmen engaged on the early pamphlet raids. |
| Brassed off | | Diminutive of "browned off". |
| Brolly | | Parachute. |
| Browned off, To be | | "Fed up" |
| Bumps and Circuits | | Circuits and landings. |
| Bus driver | | A bomber pilot. |
| Buttoned up | | A job properly completed, "mastered". |
| Completely Cheesed | | No hope at all. |
| Cope | | To accomplish, to deal with. |
| Crabbing along | | Flying near the ground or water. |
| Deck, Crack down on | | To "pancake" an aircraft |
| Dog fight | | Aerial scrap. |
| Drill, The right | | Correct method of doing anything. |
| Drink, In the | | To come down into the sea. |
| Dud | | Applied to weather when unfit to fly. |
| Duff gen | | Dud information. |
| Dust bin | | Rear gunner's lower position in aircraft. |
| Erk, An | | A beginner in any job. |
| Fan | | The propeller. |
| Flak | | Anti-aircraft fire |
| Flap | | A disturbance, general excitement. |
| Fox, To | | To do something clever or rather cunning. |
| Gen. (pron. jen) | | General information of any kind whatever |
| George | | The automatic pilot |
| Get Cracking | | Get going. |
| Gong, To collect a | | To get a medal. |
| Greenhouse | | Cockpit cover |
| Hedge-hopping | | Flying so low that the aircraft appears to hop over the hedges. |
| Hurryback | | A Hurricane fighter. |
| Jink away | | Sharp manoeuvre. Sudden evasive action of aircraft. |
| Kipper Kite | | Coastal Command Aircraft which convoy fishing fleets in the North and Irish Seas. |
| Kite | | An aeroplane. |
| Laid on, To have | | To produce anything, such as supplies. |
| Mae West | | Life-saving stole, or waistcoat, inflated if wearer falls into sea. |
| Mickey Mouse | | Bomb-dropping mechanism |
| Muscle in | | To take advantage of a good thing |
| Office | | Cockpit of aircraft. |
| Organize | | To "win" a wanted article. |
| Pack up | | Cease to function |
| Peel off, To | | Break formation to engage enemy |
| Play pussy | | Hide in the clouds. |
| Pleep | | A squeak, rather like a high note klaxon. |
| Plug away | | Continue to fire. Keep after target |
| Pukka gen. | | Accurate information. |
| Pulpit | | Cockpit of aircraft |
| Quick squirt | | Short sharp burst of machine-gun fire. |
| Quickie | | Short for above |
| Rang the bell | | Got good results |
| Rings | | Rank designation on officer's cuffs. |
| Ropey | | Uncomplimentary adjective. "A ropey landing", "A ropey type", "A ropey evening", etc. |
| Screamed downhill | | Executed a power dive |
| Shooting a line | | Exaggerated talk, generally about one's own prowess. |
| Shot Down in Flames | | Crossed in love. Severe reprimand. |
| Snake about | | Operational aerobatics |
| Spun in | | A bad mistake. Analogy from an aircraft spinning out of control into the ground. |
| Stationmaster | | Commanding Officer of Station. |
| Stooge | | Deputy, i.e. second pilot or any assistant. |
| Stooging about | | Delayed landing for various reasons. Flying slowly over an area. Patrolling. |
| Synthetic | | Not the real thing. Also applied to ground training. |
| Tail End Charlie | | Rear gunner in large bombing aircraft or rear aircraft of a formation. |
| Tear off a strip | | To reprimand, take down a peg. |
| Tee up | | To prepare a job, to get ready. |
| Touch bottom | | Crash |
| Toys | | A great deal of training equipment is termed toys. |
| Train, Driving the | | Leading more than one squadron into battle. |
| Type | | Classification - usually referring to people. Good, Bad, Ropey, Poor type. |
| View | | R.A.F. personnel always take a "view" of things. Good view, Poor view, Dim view, Long distance view, Lean view, Outside view, "Ropey" view. |
| Wizard | | Really first class, superlative, attractive, ingenious. |
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