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Omelet
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Dutch pilot wanted to be called bouncer cause he used to be one at a club in Holland. Bouncer in dutch ("Uitsmijter") also means grilled egg. The squadron decided Bouncer sounded too cool so called him omelet. Lesson learned: NEVER ask for your own callsign!
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Obi
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You can probably guess his last name
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Ogre
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Many years before the popular "Shrek" movies, there was a young LT. on his first operational tour at "the Kun". This LT quickly became infamous for his ability to belch so loud as to scare the "Juicy's" out of many downtown establishments... This, coupled with his tendency to blurt out anything that came to his mind in any social setting, led to quite an interesting "Sweep" where the new LT's were named. Originally, the COKs in charge of the naming wanted to name him "Booger" after the popular character in Revenge of the Nerds, who was also able to belch impressively. But alas, the other LT's in the squadron were able to convince the COKs that "Ogre" from the same movie, was a better name for 2 reasons: 1. Booger was a dork and there were already 2 other Boogers in the F-16 community and 2. Ogre was much more socially unacceptable both in real life and the movie. Thus, the LT was appropriately named "Ogre".
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Ogre
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Well it came by ways of my TI amongst other things....no need to really explain why...BECAUSE if you ever meet me or already know me you will FULLY UNDERSTAND!
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Oh My
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'Maj. 'Oh My' Gaud.'
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Opie
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When I was in flight school in 1983 ( VT-10 ....US Navy thank you...go navy!!!!) I had a really young looking face and a thick southern draw. My dad was a sherrif from a small georgiatown and I was very proud of that. One day when I was on a FAM2 flight ( the second T-2 Buckeye flight ) an instructor and I were talking and asking me questions ( both professional and non professional ). Upon hearing that my dad was a sherrif of a small rural county, me looking so young, and with a thick accent, he started calling me Opie.....for the character on Mayberry. Of course, I did not like it and it stuck like glue to my butt. the whole squadron within an hour knew my call sign.
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Ozone
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My first operational F-16 assignment was at Torrejon AB, Spain in the 612th Fighter Squadron (TFS back then!). We enjoyed the freedom to fly VFR up to 20,000' which was especially helpful when low on fuel coming off the Bardenas Reales bombing range.
My next assignment was to Moody AFB, GA in the 68th Fighter Squadron. One of my first sorties was to Pinecastle bombing range in north FL. Following the last pass I was bingo and both my UHF and VHF radios were transmit only, no receive capability. I decided the best course of action was to squawk 1200, declare I was "RTB to Moody, VFR at 19.5" and zoom up to 19,500'.
My wingman rejoined to close despite the briefed rejoin formation of tactical line abreast. His was a 2-seat "B" model with both seats occupied. As they joined to my right wing, the 2 pilots were frantically sending hand signals which I couldn't decipher. Turns out they were trying to get me to descend immediately. They transmitted to Jacksonville center our apologies but the flight lead was having difficulty with his radios and that they would rejoin and get him below 18,000 ASAP where VFR is legally flown in the United States.
Well, of course it took forever for it to ring in with me that they wanted me to descend so we flew for about 15 minutes at 19.500'. Luckily, I think the Jacksonville center controllers thought it was a hoot especially since there was an F-15 pilot from the Jax FLANG on the frequency chiming in that there was an F-16 pilot "VFR at 19.5, ha ha" Great! I've nearly succeeded in getting a violation AND brought dishonor and shame to the F-16 community in one fell swoop.
This event was extremely embarassing especially for a new guy trying to make a good impression amongst his peers and superiors. It was doubly bad because there were 2 witnesses at the scene which makes it harder to refute. My squadronmates first thought "Magellan" would be appropriate for me but that would infer that I was navigationally challenged. At the Moody O'Club one hot, muggy afternoon they finally had a naming. After many beers and a raucous laugh at my expense they decided on "ozone" to memorialize my inability to follow Federal Aviation Regulations with regard to VFR altitudes in the United States.
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Other callsigns
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O.P.,
Opus,
Oscar,
Oukie,
Over G,
Oz,
...
