Glossary
The following short glossary explains some of the more common terms, and lists some of the more important people and places of the Great War in the Air.
General
Incendiary
Ammunition filled with phosphorus, used for igniting observation balloons or Zeppelins.
Pusher
Any aircraft with the engine mounted at the rear of the cockpit.
Tracer
Ammunition containing phosphorus in the base, used for judging the accuracy (more or less) of one's fire. Not to be confused with 'incendiary'.
Tractor
Any aircraft with the engine mounted in front of the cockpit.
British
Ack-Emma
Air Mechanic. Also, A.M. (in the morning). Based on the phonetic alphabet of the day, this term was widely used by British pilots.
Archie
Anti Aircraft Artillery. From the popular song lyric 'Archibald, certainly not!'.
Bus
Slang term for an aircraft. Refers to the day-to-day routine of combat flying.
Candas
Home of No.2 Aircraft Depot, which supplied aircraft to the British Southern Front.
Comic Cuts
RFC Weekly Communiqué. This newsletter gave an account of day-to-day work in the squadrons, made up from pilots' and observers' reports.
Constantinesco Gear
A type of interrupter gear that allowed machine guns to fire through the propeller.
Crate
Slang term for an aircraft. Refers to the box-like construction of early aircraft.
Emma-Gee
Machine Gun. Based on the phonetic alphabet of the day, this term was widely used by British pilots.
Grid
Slang term for an aircraft. Refers to the wire bracing used on early aircraft.
Harry Tate
Nickname for the R.E.8 reconnaissance plane.
Kite
Slang term for an aircraft. Refers to the fabric covering of early aircraft.
Pip-Emma
P.M. (in the afternoon). Based on the phonetic alphabet of the day, this term was widely used by British pilots.
Quirk
Nickname for the B.E.2.
St. Omer
Home of No.1 Aircraft Depot, which supplied aircraft to the British Northern Front.
Trenchard, General Sir Hugh
General Officer Commanding the Royal Flying Corps. Known in the RFC as 'Boom' Trenchard because of his deep, gruff voice.
French
U.S.
German