Jolly Roger

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 7/31/02 2:58:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
laurence.horn at YALE.EDU quotes:

>  Is he any relation to the "Roger" who is continually being evoked by
>  fighter pilots and other military types?
>
>  Jolly Roger bears no relation to Roger Wilco

The people Laurence Horn are quoting are wrong here.

"Roger" used by a pilot is not specific to the military.  Civilian pilots use
the same terminology.  The delusion that it is military is caused by there
being so many more movies about fighter pilots than about airliner pilots or
for that matter bomber pilots.

>From the Airman's Information Manual, published by the FAA:

ROGER---"I have received all of your last transmission."  It should not be
used to answer a question requring a yes or no answer.

WILCO---"I have received your message, understand it, and will comply with
it."

Hence "Roger Wilco" is aerial shorthand for two complete independent clauses:
"I have received your message AND I will comply with it."

"Roger" is the code word for the letter "R" in the old "Able-Baker-Charlie"
alphabet used in World War II (and still occasionally heard today).  The
"Alfa-Bravo-Charlie" ICAO alphabet which replaced the older one uses "Romeo"
for "R", but I've never heard of any pirates flying the Jolly Romeo.

"Wilco" is simply a portmanteau of "WILl COmply".

      - James A. Landau
        systems engineer
        FAA Technical Center (ACB-510/BCI)
        Atlantic City Int'l Airport NJ 08405 USA