Call signs

[hma1369]

According to the monthly 1st MAW Command Chronologies for March-July 1968, the assigned call sign was "Reenlist". It remained the "official" call sign at least through Feb 1969. When did "Scarface" return, or was it used all along?

On the list of tailcodes/call signs (http://popasmoke.com/tailcodes.html) (I didn't come up with the call signs) "Dixie Cup" and "Eagle Claw" are shown for 367. When were these used?

[HM lynch]

Scarface was the only call sign we used in late 1967 and all of 1968.

[hma1369]

Thanks for clearing this up. Scarface is the only call sign used in the various Command Chronologies or After Action Reports.

[barryandmargot]

According to the monthly 1st MAW Command Chronologies for March-July 1968, the assigned call sign was "Reenlist". It remained the "official" call sign at least through Feb 1969. When did "Scarface" return, or was it used all along?

On the list of tailcodes/call signs (http://popasmoke.com/tailcodes.html) (I didn't come up with the call signs) "Dixie Cup" and "Eagle Claw" are shown for 367. When were these used?

Eagle Claw was also used when we were assigned to SOG missions in 68/69

[jgunter6]

I remember when they tried to change the call sign. All the pilots got together and refused to use "reenlist". They tried to get us to use other words, but we were always Scarface. At least wjile I was there from11/67 to 7/69.

[Joe Burney]

I was in VMO-3/HML-367 in 67/68. When I got there in Aug 67 the callsign was Oakgate. It soon was changed to Scarface and about the time HML was formed they switched it to Reenlist. I believe this was to confuse Charley !! All squadrons were subject to this commsecurity move; however as I recall, the switch had us going to "Renlist", VMO-6 was "Cadaver", VMO-1 was "Hostage" etc. Anyway those were so ridiculous no one used them and we stayed "Scarface" Can you imagine Cadaver Medevac chase checking in? These may have the sqds confused but I remember the dumb callsigns!

[Joe Reed]

I always wondered about a few of these myself..Some were particilarly "unusual", in my mind:

Cattlecall- HMM-161
Spartan Luck- HMM-165
Frosty Gold- HMM-262
Comprise- VMO-1 (?)

Never really thought about it before arriving RVN, but all the war movies we saw up to that time had aricraft as "Red Leader" or "Eagle" or similar fear inspiriing callsigns. Cadaver, Reenlist and the others don't really sound that awe inspiring, but we got used to them.:cool:

[Ray Norton]

It must have taken a staff of sixty or more at headquarters to think these things up!

[sutterwl]

"fighting mad 1 - 4 actual"

now that is a real call sign, courtesy of 3/3/3

sure beats the hell out of "clip clop" = hmm-362

semper fi

[Allyn Hinton]

Comprise was HML-167, and Hostage was VMO-2

[Rick]

VMO-6, Ky Ha, we were Klondike. It seems we changed to something else, for a short while, then Cadaver...now, that was weird.....Cadaver to the Coffin...was generally the call to the Tower.
I remember working with the guys on the ground, we would check in with our Cadaver..some had a real problem with that. But, I remember once, a very reluctant sounding radioman was looking for some gun support...we finally broke protocol and told him....formerly Klondike.....his tone immediately changed. We had to rebuild our reputation from scratch.:eek: It never did make much sense to me, but I am sure it fooled some gook out there someplace, who really didn't care.....
VMO-6
HML-367