Use this list as a guide to callsigns on HF... this isn't one of those "everybody and their brother" type lists. Although these callsigns are also used elsewhere up the spectrum (VHF and UHF), the reverse is not always true. This is mostly due to the fact that not all aircraft have HF capable radios.
Hopefully this list will be easier to digest and use since the HF listener could be offered with an over abundance of tie-ups for a given callsign that might not all apply on HF. Take the callsign COBRA for instance, if heard on VHF or UHF there are a whole slew of possibilities, on HF it will most likely be an OC-135 Open Skies aircraft keeping the peace.
General Use Callsigns
ASCOT
RAF aircraft, various types
CANFORCE
CAF aircraft, various types
REACH
Air Mobility Command aircraft carrying out the cargo/troop transport mission. Most likely a C-130, C-141, C-17, or C-5 and occasionally KC-135 or KC-10. In times of high airlift demand, civilian aircraft will also take on a REACH callsign for their military duties. Note: Although I like REACH better and I'm sticking with it, I heard an individual on an aircraft once spell it phonetically as REECH.
BLUE, BOBBY
CORONET and Mildenhall TDY(Temporary Duty) missions, will be KC-135 or KC-10
Aircraft carrying Distinguished Visitors or other military or government official or family member. Most likely a C-9, C-20, C-21, C-37 or C-32.
TROUT 99 is C-135C, tail 61-2669. NIGHTHAWK aircraft are either a VH-3 or VH-60 helicopter in support of the US President
GOLD
KC-135 or KC-10 in support of CORONET EAST missions
S4JG:
P-3 maintenance, 99.9% of the time conducting radio checks
XX ###
Where X is a letter and # is a digit such as "RU 330" or "LN 41". These are US Navy aircraft, most likely a P-3 or C-130. Usually but not always they say "Navy" before their callsign as in "Navy RU 330"
Type Specific Callsigns
BAT, BONE, COWBOY, HAWK, JAYHAWK, DARK, SCALP
B-1B Lancer
COBRA
OC-135S Open Skies
DARKSTAR, DRAGNET, GOLIATH, SHUCK, SENTRY
E-3 AWACS
DEATH
B-2 Spirit
DOOM, CHILL, ICER, JAMBO, SCALP, TUFF
B-52H Stratofortress
JAKE, RAZOR, STARGATE
E-8 JSTARS
SNOOP HAPPY
RC-135 Rivet Joint
Unit Specific Tanker Callsigns
BEAK
KC-135R/T 92ARW Fairchild AFB, Washington
CACTI
KC-135R/KC-10A CORONET deployments
COPPER:
KC-135E, 197ARS Arizona ANG
DUECE
KC-10A, 305AMW McGuire AFB, New Jersey
ETHYL
KC-135R/KC-10A TDY(Temporary Duty) Mildenhall, to/from Spain (unless ferrying in North East USA)
ESKAN
KC-135R TDY(Temporary Duty) Mildenhall, to/from the Gulf
ESSO
KC-135E/R TDY Geilenkirchen, to/from Germany
EXPO
KC-135E, 116ARS Fairchild AFB, Washington
FUZZY
KC-135R 136ARS NY ANG Niagarra Falls, New York (primary), KC-135R, 916ARW/77ARS Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
GAS
KC-135R, 366wing/22ARS Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
GRIZZLY
KC-135R, 196ARS CA ANG March AFB, California
GUCCI
KC-10A, 305AMW McGuire AFB, New Jersey, KC-10A, 60AMW Travis AFB, California
HUSKER
KC-135R, 173ARS NE ANG Lincoln, Nebraska
JEST
KC-135R, 97AMW Altus AFB, Oklahoma
OPEC
KC-10A, 305AMW McGuire AFB, New Jersey
ORCA
KC-10A 60AMW Travis AFB, California
OTIS
KC-130F/R, USMC
PACK
KC-135R, 133ARS NH ANG Pease AFB, New Hampshire (primary), KC-135E, 147ARS PA ANG Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (primary), KC-135R, 136ARS NY ANG Niagarra Falls, New York
PETRO
KC-135R, 22ARW McConnell AFB, Kansas
PISTON
KC-135E, 927ARW/63ARS Selfridge AFB, Michigan
QUID
KC-135, 100th ARW Mildenhall UK (note: also used by RC-135 in transit)
RAID
KC-135R/T, 319ARW Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
SHELL
KC-135R/KC-10A, TDY(Temporary Duty) Mildenhall
SODA
KC-135E, 151ARS TN ANG McGhee Tyson Airport, Tennessee
STEEL
KC-135E, 146ARS/147ARS PA ANG Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
TOGA
KC-10A, 60AMW Travis AFB, California
TURBO
KC-135R/T, 22 ARW McConnell, Kansas
UPSET
KC-135R, 126ARS UT ANG Salt Lake City, Utah
WILEY
KC-135D/E, 117ARS KS ANG, Forbes Field, Kansas
Please do not reproduce anything within without permission.
Use this list as a guide to callsigns on HF... this isn't one of those "everybody and their brother" type lists. Although these callsigns are also used elsewhere up the spectrum (VHF and UHF), the reverse is not always true. This is mostly due to the fact that not all aircraft have HF capable radios.
