Phonetic alphabet

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Ak, Beer, Charlie, Don, Edward, Freddie, George, Harry, Ink, Johnnie, King, London, Monkey, Nuts, Orange, Pip, Queen, Robert, Sugar, Toc, Uncle, Vic, William, X-Ray, Yorker, Zebra....early WW2.

Able, Baker, Charlie, Dog, Easy, Fox, George, How, Item, Jig, King, Love, Mike, Nan, Oboe, Peter, Queen, Roger, Sugar, Tare, Uncle, Victor, William, X-Ray, Yoke, Zebra ...1942 when it was standardized to accommodate the Americans.

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-Ray, Yankee, Zulu...1950's adopted for NATO.

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Bruce, that is interesting.; Somewhere I have a pam that lists the differences between the US and British/Australian phonetic alphabet, but I'm yet to locate it (so didn't mention it above). It probably dates from late 41/early 42 based of your comments and that the pam I could readily put my hands on was dated 1942.

Tony: yes, the system has evolved - until standardised by way of NATO for western nations. (Wonder what the Russians and the Chinese use?)

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

Bruce' first list is exactly as per my copy of the Australian Armoured Corps pamphlet No.3 Intercommunication Provisional- May 1941.
I now assume it was the commonwealth standard?

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Bruce' first list is exactly as per my copy of the Australian Armoured Corps pamphlet No.3 Intercommunication Provisional- May 1941.
I now assume it was the commonwealth standard?

..as at May 41, perhaps.

But as shown above, from 1907 and through WW1 to ????, only a few letters received "Names", while other letters stayed as you would pronounce the letter. That is why we ended with such odd titles as Don R for Despatch Rider, or Toc H for the Talbot House recreation facilities. This usage precedes the May 41 Pam, but I wonder when exactly between the wars the full alphabet was coded, instead of the partial list used during WW1?

BTW: How do Canadians pronounce "Z"; Zee or Zed? (I know, I know, you're going to tell me "Z, eh". )

[Ed Storey]

Z = Zed in Canada.

[Bob Carriere]

......ZED..... that's in French!!!!!

Must be the only bilingual letter in Canada .....

Bub/Bob