On the Airbands

Since publishing Damon Roberts request for callsign information relating to “Onyx” and “Gridiron” last September, I have been flooded with phone calls and letters from military personnel from various RAAF bases with the answers.

My conjecture at the time that “Onyx” may have in fact been “Oggy” was incorrect. While “Oggy” is a bona fide RAAF callsign used by F-111C crews, in this instance “Onyx” was the callsign actually used, by A-4 Skyhawks of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). We also now have some further callsigns that the RSAF Skyhawks and C-130’s have been using. “Raffles”, “Hyatt”, “Plaza”, and “Beaufort”. “Gridiron” was not associated with the RSAF, as perhaps expected, and turned out to be an F-16 fighter jet from the USAF ANG, and was used in conjunction with other Iron Fist exercise callsigns such as “Iceman” and “Hoodoo”.

Thanks to all who took the time to phone or write. I appreciated it, and no doubt, Damon Roberts and everyone else who listens to military traffic does as well.

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