WW2 RAF Lancaster Aircraft Recognition Call Sign Codes (Phonetics)

The aircraft recognition code for ED559 was JA-D. JA was the code for RAF Grimsby (Waltham) and 'D' was the individual letter ascribed to the Lancaster. Being 'D' the aircraft was therefore given the call sign 'Dog'.

The list of other phonetic call signs in circa 1943 was:

A : Apple
B : Baker 
C : Charlie 
D : Dog 
E : Easy 
F : Freddy 
G : George 
H : Harry 
I : Item 
J : Jig/Jug/Johnny
K : King 
L : Love 
M : Mother
N : Nuts
O : Oboe
P : Peter
Q : Queen
R : Roger/Robert
S : Sugar
T : Tommy
U : Uncle
V : Victor
W : William
X : X-Ray
Y : York/Yorker/Yoke
Z : Zebra

There appears to be individual changes to this list depending on the RAF station or commander. The Dambusters used a much changed list for the raid on the dams.