Mis-use of "BUFF"s

[Krusty]

Yeah, I know. And for those that said in AH1 that "buff" meant any heavy bomber, well never ONCE in AH1 did I hear it used for anything other than the B17. I can't comment on incorrect use of the word in WB or AW, as I never flew them. But a wrong tradition is still wrong.

It is a pet peeve of mine that people use this term for any bomber. It's stupid. Maybe I can see it for the b17... MAYBE.. But I agree with others that it can be aesthetically pleasing.

But to use it for Ju88s? Lancasters? Ki67s? Hell no. Sorry, you folks are just wrong and/or uninformed to use it for all bombers.

And that, as they say, is that. And by "that" I mean "my pet peeve". So to quote a certain hand puppet from "The Tick"

"You're making us look bad! I told you, READ A BOOK!!"  

[Grits]

Originally posted by Krusty
but recently (perhaps the influx of newbies? Hell, I don't know why! I'm just reporting it!) people have been calling Ju88s and all level bombers "buffs".

So, your saying even though people 10 years before you used it differently, you think its newbies that are doing it wrong? Who's the newbie, you or someone in AW in '93?

[Krusty]

The fact of whether somebody flew in AW or not means nothing.

I followed AH1 regularly, flying HTH on and off on a regular basis since the beta ended. I had my 2 week period. Then a long while later I had another (lost my account info) then another (for some reason my account got wiped after a certain time period and I re-created it).

And at least I didn't go around saying "n00b" or accusing YOU of being a newbie. I was above that. What I was saying is that perhaps the new people who didn't fully understand what buff meant started taking it and mis-using it, and it caught on.

It's still wrong. Hell the nazis had most of an entire country following them and their ideas. They were still wrong, despite the fact that many people believed 'em.


So using "buffs" for all bombers is still wrong, despite the fact that so many use it as such.

[Grits]

Originally posted by Krusty
The fact of whether somebody flew in AW or not means nothing.

That is correct, but the fact that for the online flight sim community[/b] it was used as a term for any bomber long before you got involved does mean something.

I never thought you were calling me or anybody else a newbie, I was just pointing out that the term was in use long before you or I got here.

[Krusty]

Perhaps... But not in AH1, which was part of my point.

I only press the issue because.. well, you know.. the pet peeve thing.

[Warp]

I've been with HT since he had Warbirds and I distinctly recall hearing the term BUFF applied to ALL bombers and even using it myself in WB, AH1 and of course, now AH2.


Speaking of pet peeves, slang terms (like BUFF and GOON) don't bother me in the least to what they are applied to, as long as everyone is on the same sheet of music.  

My pet peeves (since we are sharing, heh) are when people use the word "loose" instead of "lose" or "and" instead of "an".  I'm beginning to see this useage in professional level documentation and even in commercial advertising.....scary!

[Grits]

No problem Krusty, we all have our pet peeves. Mine is Revisionist Historians.

[Rino]

The A-7 was known as the SLUF for Slow Low Ugly Blanker,
maybe the IL-2 or Stuka could take this nickname

[Howitzer]

Originally posted by humble
Was just about to chip in...B-52 is the one and only BUFF. nickname didn't even exist in WW2. B-17 was "flying fortress".

Not sure humble.. in the book I read, with the quotes present, the B24 pilots use BUFF to describe their airplanes, and the quote seemed to describe how they were referred to in WWII.

[tactic]

ok, the troops that we drop from a c47 (goon) Ive heard them called... drunks.... ok what up with that, cause i sometimes call them ... drunks...  want to make sure im using the right lingo, so all people will know im dropping paratroopers, troops, them, slow mo fo'z <-- heard them all.  sure theres more.  

Tactic

[Flossy]

Originally posted by tactic
ok, the troops that we drop from a c47 (goon) Ive heard them called... drunks.... ok what up with that

Because they would have to be drunk to jump out of a perfectly servicable aircraft?    

[Warp]

The term came in to favored useage in AH because jokes were often made about the "guys in the back of the plane" and what they were doing on the sometimes long flights to get to a field.

People, Americans in particular it seems, really like to use slang terms to describe or name things.

ex:

Check out my "ride" - ride could be car, plane, truck, any form of transportation, etc.

You see the set of "wheels" homie's cruisin in now? - "wheels" again referring to a vehicle of some sort.

Check my "threads" - older term to mean "clothing"

and the list could go on and on....

[GunnerCAF]

Originally posted by Krusty

Most peeps use "buffs" as a generic bomber term. WRONG

If taken literally it refers to Big Ugly Fat "effers" (not gonna spell it out).

I believe the term "Buffs"  is an old flight simmers term for bombers.  You see, back before airconditioning, on hot summer days, it was unconfortable furballing when it's hot and sticky.  

Some folks used to take a break from the heat of dogfighting by flying bombers.  You go to a rear airfield and take off in a heavy bomber.  On the slow climbout, you break out a cold drink, strip down to the raw, and sit in front of the fan.

So when you saw high bombers coming, you would call out.. "Here comes the buffs!"

I think I learned this from some guy called Slug, so it must be true.  But his version was much funnier

Gunner

[Crashy]

Originally posted by Warp
The term came in to favored useage in AH because jokes were often made about the "guys in the back of the plane" and what they were doing on the sometimes long flights to get to a field.

It's also dates back to the AW days.
I was always under the impression it came about because of Goons being a high priority target if spotted...therefore the para's in back must've been drunk to get on the plane in the first place

In AW you could ride co-pilot and in the back of'em. A couple times me and some fellow Muskies went with a C-47 and dropped with the drunks

[jpeg]

Did you have the chance to fly in one?

I've flown in the "Yankee Lady" for $400, worth every penny. I also paid for a couple of friends to go up.
I've seen two other B17s also, Aluminum Overcast and the copy of Memphis Bell.
Yankee Lady was the best, very well maintained.

If you want to see pics they are on my webpage, url should be in my sig.

Originally posted by elc7367b
Maybe its just a matter of preference, or "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" but I dont find the B-17 to be a big fat ugly bird.  I find it to be graceful and revel in its nostalgic value.  Always has been and always will be one of, if not the most, favorite bird for me.   I will most assuredly sign on to any mission that will muster large formations of B-17s.  what a plane!

Muttman


PS:  I actually had the chance on two seperate occasions, once in Hondo, Texas the other in El Centro, California to pay $5.00 to climb aboard and through a B-17 at airshows.  What an experience.  Have photos from all different angles.  I need to find those somewhere and post em here.