Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
...on a website about model making...
I just have to share this. I just love the military sense of humour.
""""""""""The following conversation was heard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz.
Iranian Air Defense Radar: 'Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.'
Iranian Air Defense Radar: 'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!'
Aircraft: 'This is a United States Marine Corps FA-18 fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait.'
Iranian Air Defense Radar: (total silence)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The F/A18 can outclass anything the Iranians could possibly send up of course.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Tee-hee, tee-hee...
Believe it or not...this is the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. The Radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on Oct. 10, 1995.
US Ship: Please divert your course 0.5 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
CND reply: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
US Ship: This is the Captain of a US Navy Ship. I say again, divert your course.
CND reply: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course!
US Ship: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CORAL SEA*, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!!
CND reply: This is a lighthouse. Your call.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Brilliant Tom but I though that one was actually the carrier USS Enterprise, the Coral Sea was sold for scrapping in 1993 having been decommissioned in 1990.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
I had heard it was the Nimitz, but did not wish the 'truth' to get in the way of a good story.
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=174Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Nimitz or Enterprise, yes - it is a good story.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
During the first Gulf War, American air traffic controllers in Saudi Arabia were confused by British pilots often referring to their position as 'over MMFD'. Assuming that MMFD was a secret code word for a particular location, they asked their superiors for the lat/long coordinates of it so they could plot it on their maps. Nobody knew where it was so it was assumed to be ultra-top-secret and the question arrived on Gen. Schwartzkopf's desk. Puzzled, he asked his ADC to quiz his opposite number on the British side, Major Mark Chapman, who was ADC to Sir Peter de la Billiere.
The Americans were not amused to find that MMFD meant 'Miles and miles of f****** desert'.
Story told to me by Mark Chapman himself at the time.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Peter, I have just spluttered fresh hot coffee all over my blotter!! But thank you for the chortle!
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
Thank you Barry, Tom and Peter for raising a laugh on this dismal morning, MMFD is so obvious when you see the answer.

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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Luvvit! MMFD has now been absorbed into my memory bank
The Canadian Lighthouse versus USS Nimitz/Coral Sea/Enterprise rapport 'Beam me up Scottie' would be the correct answer methinks
