Originally Posted by
megan
The aircraft went by the names "Able Dog" and "Spad". Anyone any idea of what period the two names had currency or introduced, Able Dog would seem to be early as the old phonetic alphabet is used, when then was Spad introduced?.
Quick search suggests that SPAD is a reference to the WW1 French biplane but others aren't convinced though no-one has come up with an alternative theory. Perhaps it started when the A-1 was in French service in the 1950s?