During the Deci ACMI days in the early 80s the range used car names for callsigns with each country’s range slot being given a specific name, ie a Brit slot would be called Morris or Austin etc.
On this day we were using a German slot and were given Mercedes. All went well until we swapped freq from Deci to Marco Radar and the Flight Lead reverted to type. It went something like this:
Lead. ‘Merc check in’
F4s. ‘2, 3 4’
Lead. ‘Marco Radar this is Merc formation, flight of 4 for the range request QNH’.
Marco Radar. ‘Hey Merc this is Mercedes’ range slot you’re not cleared in’
After some lengthy pause.
Lead. ‘OK sorry, this is Mercedes Formation, flight of 4 for the Range etc’
Marco Radar ‘Hey, I recognise your voice you are Merc formation, go home the range she is closed.
Longer Pause during which lead pilot and nav discuss options in house.
Eventually,
Lead (nav). ‘Mercedes check in’
F4s. ‘2, 3, 4.’
Lead (nav) ‘Marco Radar, Mercedes Formation, flight of 4 for the Range.
Marco Radar. ‘Mercedes Formation cleared in Range, QNH 1014, and watch out there is a Merc formation out there trying to steal your range slot.