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overheard radio traffic

Started by whatevah, July 11, 2005, 01:08:03 AM

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Twolf

One of my first jobs in the Army was as a radio operator. I've got some funny stories, but this one takes the cake.
     I was still at AIT learning all the different radios and everything. One day we were told to go out to our rat-rigs, setup the long-range antennas and complete the day's assignment. My partener and I were both competing for Honor Graduate (we tied in the end) so we got done with our assignment really quickly - we had some time to goof off so we wanted to see what we could do with these "long range" antennas....
     With a little scanning we were able to pickup a radio station from (we assume) Mexico as everything was in Spanish. We figured we'd be funny and start keying the mic, saying all kinds of nasty stuff in Spanish. We imagined some old mexican dude driving off the road because his radio was saying nasty things at him. We don't really know if they could hear us on the other end or not, but we'd like to think they could. Eventually we got bored with that.
     So we started scanning again and picked up a transmission from some Americans. We didn't have any com-sec loaded so we knew that they had to be training. We started messing with them and giving them all kinds of false information. They asked us who we were and gave them a call sign that we had heard on the radio. They asked us to authenticate so we asked THEM to authenticate. They came back with an answer and we told them it was wrong and they needed to get off the net. It was all fun and games really. This goes on for about... oh.... 10 minutes MAX. Suddenly the door to our rat-rig busts open and MPs throw us on the ground with M9s to our heads, zip tie us up and off we go! I was lucky I took a dump that morning because I would have seriously crapped my pants as this was happening. Next thing I know I'm in an office and they're interrigating me as to what we were doing!
     Turns out that the Americans we were communicating with were in Korea doing operations on the DMZ! I couldn't tell you why they weren't using any com-sec, but they were pretty upset that we were messing with them.....
     In the end, we met with the post commander and he couldn't see kicking 2 soldiers with 100% in their course out of school and ruining their military careers. Were were supposed to get an Article 15 and lose pay, get extra duty and all that - but to this day that Article 15 never materialized.
     Moral of the story? Long range antennas are really long range, so only go on the freq that you're supposed to be on as it can land you in a lot of trouble! The MPs are kind of rough too! Oh yeah, my partener and I both graduated with 100% in the course. The deciding factor for honor graduate was our PT scores and oddly enough we had the SAME PT score. He kicked my butt on the run, but I whooped him in the push-ups and sit-ups. Our company commander had never seen that happen before.
[RANK] Smith
Grand Rapids "Iron Rangers" MN-010

&

SGT Smith
Minnesota Army National Guard
Recruiting & Retention NCO

thefischNX01

You really had to be there for this one, but for those of us that were, it brings a chuckle and an eyeroll ::) :D ???

This was back when I was with NJ wing, I was with helping out with the Solberg Airshow.  The Commander and Deputy for that weekend had taken the callsigns "Alpha" and "Bravo" respectively.  We also had an aircraft with us for recruiting from the local squadron.  Of course, the local Squadron sent one of their members down to make sure that we "didn't mess up the plane".  This person, who earned the nickname "Captain America".  So we send him to the airplane, along with a radio.  Not five minutes after he gets there does he come on the radio saying
"Uh...Bravo....this is (Captain America), I'm kinda hungry"

So, the day went on, and everytime Captain America did something, he would report it. 
"Bravo, I'm going to the Bathroom"
"Bravo, I need some water"
"Bravo, I think I'm up for a break". 

Finally,Mission Base comes on and says
"Bravo is MIA". 

And of course, Bravo is standing next to the Radio Operator laughing. 
Finally, I was sent to go look after the Senior Member and take the radio away from Captain America. 

(As a Side note, by the end of that weekend, Alpha and Bravo had forgotten their real names and were simply referring to each other by their callsigns ::))
Capt. Colin Fischer, CAP
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Easton Composite Sqdn
Maryland Wing
http://whats-a-flight-officer.blogspot.com/

Marine Corps Gal

Encampment 2006 Pass In Review practice; we're all standing in our respective flights and squadrons at attention.  I, being the guidon bearer, am standing behind the squadron commander.  Suddenly his radio bleeps.  Since we're at attention, he tries to shut up the guy on the other end.  Instead he gets:

"Encouraging you are not.  Need your help we do."

I have never, ever in my life heard such a perfect Yoda imitation as that.  It was amazing.

I was shaking like a leaf, trying not to make a sound.  The squadron commander pretended it wasn't funny.  He slowly raised the radio to his face so he could speak quietly.

"INTERRUPTING OUR PARADE YOU ARE."
OO-RAH.

ZigZag911

"Amusing the young Jedi are!"

Side note: try to imagine a conversation between Yoda and Gollum!

SDF_Specialist

This story was passed to me at my first SAREX. I was working with the GT. It was just after lunch, and we all decided to set up an antenna. We get that up, and one of the trainers decides to try to use his VX-150 on the 40 ft. mast. Thinking this isn't working, he gave up. It turns out that the mission base heard him, and was trying to talk back. He had his volume turned all the way down. That's not the story though. About 5 years before my first SAREX (so around 2000), a SAREX was held at the same location where my first was held. A few practice ELTs had been set out. It was about an hour before any GTs we sent out to locate it. They had a GBD out with them who didn't have a radio on him. From what I'm told, a cadet came up to him and told him that there was a strange call sign looking for the person in charge. He got on the mic and identified himself. The voice got friendly and asked if they needed help with that signal. He said no and asked who he was talking to. The other voice told him to look up. It was an AF AWACS Plane.
SDF_Specialist

WoodlandSARman

#45
Back in my cadet years we were coming back from wing and my buddy was on the radio and one of the vans called asking something and he said "this is Red Fire 806 Wait one over" right after that you hear. Red Fire 806 this is red Fire 1 over. I look over at him and am like, dude, did I just hear who i thought I heard? A second later we hear the same call and everyone starts laughing out of there seats.

He gets on the radio and is like (in a really nervous voice "uh Red Fire 1 this is Red Fire 806, go ahead sir...... over"

He then goes on to tell him to say "stand by not WAIT" ect ect.


You never know who has their radio on :)
SM Chamberlin
Former C/CMSGT. "lifer"
IN Wing Central Group ES Officer GLR-IN-224
Former GLR-IN-123
Former SWR-OK-002 - Black Knight Command Staff.
Former GLR-IN-069
NGSAR Basic 2000 - Honor Team
NESA GSAR Advanced/Team Leader - 2001 NESA GSAR Basic -  2007

WoodlandSARman

Quote from: 1Lt on June 06, 2007, 04:09:06 PM
This story was passed to me at my first SAREX. I was working with the GT. It was just after lunch, and we all decided to set up an antenna. We get that up, and one of the trainers decides to try to use his VX-150 on the 40 ft. mast. Thinking this isn't working, he gave up. It turns out that the mission base heard him, and was trying to talk back. He had his volume turned all the way down. That's not the story though. About 5 years before my first SAREX (so around 2000), a SAREX was held at the same location where my first was held. A few practice ELTs had been set out. It was about an hour before any GTs we sent out to locate it. They had a GBD out with them who didn't have a radio on him. From what I'm told, a cadet came up to him and told him that there was a strange call sign looking for the person in charge. He got on the mic and identified himself. The voice got friendly and asked if they needed help with that signal. He said no and asked who he was talking to. The other voice told him to look up. It was an AF AWACS Plane.

Yeah, its funny what the millitary does when they get bored, or anyone in aviation. probably someone in the aircraft that was or is CAP that started scanning the freqs.
SM Chamberlin
Former C/CMSGT. "lifer"
IN Wing Central Group ES Officer GLR-IN-224
Former GLR-IN-123
Former SWR-OK-002 - Black Knight Command Staff.
Former GLR-IN-069
NGSAR Basic 2000 - Honor Team
NESA GSAR Advanced/Team Leader - 2001 NESA GSAR Basic -  2007

SDF_Specialist

Quote from: WoodlandSARman on July 30, 2007, 09:01:19 PM
Back in my cadet years we were coming back from wing and my buddy was on the radio and one of the vans called asking something and he said "this is Red Fire 806 Wait one over" right after that you hear. Red Fire 806 this is red Fire 1 over. I look over at him and am like, dude, did I just hear who i thought I heard? A second later we hear the same call and everyone starts laughing out of there seats.

He gets on the radio and is like (in a really nervous voice "uh Red Fire 1 this is Red Fire 806, go ahead sir...... over"

He then goes on to tell him to say "stand by not WAIT" ect ect.


You never know who has their radio on :)


Why would you say "uh" when the Wing Commander calls you? lol. Almost sounded like he signed his own death warrant.
SDF_Specialist

Stonewall

Why you need to mount a bracket for you hand mic...

On my way to a meeting one night and monitoring the radio like a good ES guru would do and all of the sudden you hear someone talking about a wing staff member.  The guy is on his cell phone talking to another CAPer when his mic fell between the console and his seat in the car.  It lasted all of about 30 seconds, but 30 seconds was enough.

Funny thing was, I started getting a ton of calls on my cell because everyone knew I didn't like the person the guy was talking about so they thought it was me.  Hahaha, I had a mount for my mic so nothing like this would happen to me.
Serving since 1987.

♠SARKID♠

Setting:  air show at 128th Air Refueling Wing, security gate.  The security forces kept doing full searches on our CAP van every time we came through, and this angered Lt.Col Curry.  He radioed CAP base, and the following ensued...

Curry: CAP Base, CAP transport

Inexpierienced radio operator (cadet):  Uh, uh, CAP transport go ahead

Curry: Give me Col Trossen

Cadet: Umm, he's busy

Curry: I need to talk to him, Now.

Cadet: Umm, he's really busy

Curry: Put on Col Trossen, NOW.

Cadet: He's talking to the security officer

Curry: I DONT CARE IF HE'S TALKING TO GOD PUT HIM ON!!!


Hillarity still ensues to this day

SDF_Specialist

Just picked this one up a few minutes ago.

"Columbus *** this is Columbus ***, over"

Station responds

"Yes sir, are you busy? I'd like to meet up with you on the amateur bands for a short QSO."

Station responds PROPERLY

"Roger sir, we'll see you on the HAM Bands for a short QSO. This is Columbus *** QSY, out".


I wanted to start to scan for the guys, but it would have been pointless.
SDF_Specialist

Cadet Tillett

At a VAWG SAREX:

Ground team: "we have rescued the ELT"

Mission Base: "Did you give it CPR?"
C/Capt. Tillett, NCWG
Wright Brothers #4609
Mitchell #54148
Earhart #14039

SJFedor

Quote from: Cadet Tillett on October 04, 2007, 09:23:20 PM
At a VAWG SAREX:

Ground team: "we have rescued the ELT"

Mission Base: "Did you give it CPR?"

My ongoing annoyance with people that call practice beacons, ELTs..... >:(

Steven Fedor, NREMT-P
Master Ambulance Driver
Former Capt, MP, MCPE, MO, MS, GTL, and various other 3-and-4 letter combinations
NESA MAS Instructor, 2008-2010 (#479)

mikeylikey

Quote from: SJFedor on October 05, 2007, 06:08:42 AM
Quote from: Cadet Tillett on October 04, 2007, 09:23:20 PM
At a VAWG SAREX:

Ground team: "we have rescued the ELT"

Mission Base: "Did you give it CPR?"

My ongoing annoyance with people that call practice beacons, ELTs..... >:(

Don't hold back....tell us how much you really hate it...... >:D
What's up monkeys?

flyerthom

Not sure if PA still uses 10 codes or not. 10-7 in the area meant out of service. On EMS duty and heard  to county comm center from a PA state trooper on a MVA with a fatality,

"<county name> County Control - driver is 10-7..."
TC

fyrfitrmedic

Quote from: flyerthom on October 07, 2007, 02:01:27 AM
Not sure if PA still uses 10 codes or not. 10-7 in the area meant out of service. On EMS duty and heard  to county comm center from a PA state trooper on a MVA with a fatality,

"<county name> County Control - driver is 10-7..."

Not in eastern PA at least. The move to plain speech in the SE PA counties took place a while ago.
MAJ Tony Rowley CAP
Lansdowne PA USA
"The passion of rescue reveals the highest dynamic of the human soul." -- Kurt Hahn

♠SARKID♠

Quote from: fyrfitrmedic on October 07, 2007, 03:34:00 AM
Quote from: flyerthom on October 07, 2007, 02:01:27 AM
Not sure if PA still uses 10 codes or not. 10-7 in the area meant out of service. On EMS duty and heard  to county comm center from a PA state trooper on a MVA with a fatality,

"<county name> County Control - driver is 10-7..."

Not in eastern PA at least. The move to plain speech in the SE PA counties took place a while ago.

Mention of 10 codes just reminded me of a local CB personality.  Theres somebody around the Milwaukee area who every day or so comes on and just starts raving in a middle eastern language over the CB channel 19.  Somehow he managed to earn the call sign of "Creamy Diapers."  Nobody knows who he is, but he's really famous.  Every time he comes on, people just start making fun of him and keying their mikes to step on him.  He just yells unintelligibly into the mike nonstop for 10-15min and eventually calms down.

bosshawk

Heard on the FAA Norcal Approach frequency: transmitted by one of the Chinese students that fly from a flight school at the airport where I most often fly for CAP.

Norcal: Cessna**** say intentions.

Cessna****: oh, I become 737 copilot for China Airlines.

Norcal: Uh-----roger. Now tell me, what do you want to do next.

Just one of about a hundred that could be quoted from these Chinese students.
Paul M. Reed
Col, USA(ret)
Former CAP Lt Col
Wilson #2777

Dad2-4

During a practice alert back during the cold war, the flight line was alive with trucks, tows, crew and maintenance vehicles, Security Police, missile racks, etc. About 2 AM our new 2ndLt Flight Leader gets on the radio to our Squadron 1st Sgt, 32 year vet, Chief MSgt, highly respected by our Sq. CC:
2Lt: "1st Sgt, can I see you at parking space #2 please?"
1stSgt: "I'll be there in a minute, Lt. I'm taking care of something."
2Lt: "1st Sgt, I need you down here ASAP."
1st Sgt: "Lt, be there in 5."
2Lt: "1st Sgt, This is LIEUTENANT *******, I need you here now!"
1st Sgt: "Lietentant ******, this is CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT *******. I need to see you in the Hangar."
Mind you every SP, base CC, wing CC, group CC, and 8thAF CC can hear this exchange. Amazing how one can hear a pin drop with all those B-52 engines running. :o

flyerthom

Quote from: fyrfitrmedic on October 07, 2007, 03:34:00 AM
Quote from: flyerthom on October 07, 2007, 02:01:27 AM
Not sure if PA still uses 10 codes or not. 10-7 in the area meant out of service. On EMS duty and heard  to county comm center from a PA state trooper on a MVA with a fatality,

"<county name> County Control - driver is 10-7..."

Not in eastern PA at least. The move to plain speech in the SE PA counties took place a while ago.

This was in Eastern PA Region about 1992. I remember it because my partner about wrecked the ambulance on I 80 laughing.
TC