How do they say "fighter", here?

[Pomphis]

True. Oh, and germany also had Schlachtflugzeuge (battle planes) in WW2, the Hs 129. In german the Il-2 or the A-10 would also belong in that category.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Pomphis

True. Oh, and germany also had Schlachtflugzeuge (battle planes) in WW2, the Hs 129. In german the Il-2 or the A-10 would also belong in that category.

Wasn't there a wordplay based on schlacht (battle) being homophonic with a very similar word meaning butcher?

[rust]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

Wasn't there a wordplay based on schlacht (battle) being homophonic with a very similar word meaning butcher?

I do not know the wordplay in question, but two of the German words for
"butcher" are "Schlachter" and "Schlächter" (the latter a regional variant).

[Woodman]

"butcher" are "Schlachter" and "Schlächter" (the latter a regional variant).

"Schlächter" as a non regional word would be considered by most germans as refering to a person who committed a massacre.

[The Colonel]

IIRC Luftwaffe ground attack units, called schlachtgruppen were prone to calling themselves schlachtergruppen ... I assume this was back in the days when the Luftwaffe were on top.

[rust]

Originally Posted by Woodman

"Schlächter" as a non regional word would be considered by most germans as refering to a person who committed a massacre.

Indeed. I was slightly shocked when I was told at a rural inn that I would
have to wait a while for my meal because they would have to send some-
one to the Schlächter to buy the meat. :)

[trans]

There is an old Russian word for battle, "poboische", that, like "Schlacht", also has the meaning "slaughter". However, it does not seem to be used to describe any battles much beyond the 15th century. And no relation to aircraft - to give at least lip service to the original topic.

A regional variant on "Schlachter/Schlächter" in the southern German-speaking areas is "Metzger".

Also slightly shocking is going to an inn and seeing flyers for a special "Schlachtplatte", i.e. "slaughter plate", where on certain days you can get all-you-can eat organ meats, blood sausage, and all that good stuff as fresh as can be.

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by flyingwombat

The USAAC/AAF designated all fighters as "Pursuit", e.g. P-6, P40, P-51. Even the official terms was "pursuit." I'm not sure if there was an "official" change by the AAF bureaucracy. I do know that after the USAF was formed "P" for Pursuit became "F" for Fighter.

There has been a collapse in types of tactical aircraft post-war. Look at the retirement of "Interceptors" in favor of general purpose "strike fighters" since the 1970s.

F-22 => F/A-22 => F-22

[Pomphis]

Even earlier: F-105 and F-111.

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by hcobb

There has been a collapse in types of tactical aircraft post-war. Look at the retirement of "Interceptors" in favor of general purpose "strike fighters" since the 1970s.

F-22 => F/A-22 => F-22

Better, surely than the RAF's attempt to re-build a Strike bomber as a high altitude interceptor. Thankfully the Tornado F3 is finally on its way out...