The Bambini-Code was a brevity code used for tactical radio voice communications by the Swiss Air Force (SAF). It was developed by the SAF during World War II and was used until 1998. It is sometimes referred to as the "fifth national language" of Switzerland.
The code was developed from the need to communicate via poor-quality radio links in the noisy environment of the aircraft then in service with the SAF. It was used by the SAF from around the start of the Second World War until 1998.
As the SAF started to have regular communications with foreign air forces in Switzerland and abroad, the Bambini-Code was no longer suitable. For example, with the retirement of the Hawker Hunter from SAF service in 1994, SAF pilots in the United States learning to fly its replacement the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet found they could not be understood when using the Bambini-code. So in 1998 the SAF changed to the NATO standard multiservice tactical brevity code. This was also at the time the SAF switched from using the metric system of measurement to the Imperial units of feet and miles per hour, although it kept the use of litres rather than gallons as the measurement unit for fuel. The NATO Brevity Code is now the standard code for the SAF at any time.
Many of the words in the Bambini-Code are still used unofficially, both on- and off-air. They may be heard in use by the aerobatic teams of the SAF; the Patrouille Suisse and the PC-7 Team and also off duty on the sports field or in the bar. They are also used in the training of guide dogs for the blind.
The Bambini-code comprised a vocabulary of about 500 words.
The code words were chosen so that they were phonetically as clear and distinct as possible. Vowel-rich words meet this requirement best and Italian words tend to have this characteristic, so many of the codewords sound Italian. For example "Bambini" is the Italian for "Children".
Some of the words are given below with their meanings in English.
Addio = Dispersal, disengagementALA = FlapsAlarme = AlarmAltezza = Altitude above sea level in hectometersAlto = Top, highAngeli = Friendly aircraft (Angeli is Swiss German for little angel)Atlanta = WestAttaco ident numero = Tactical attack to read the aircraft Serial No.Attaco ident Timonella = Tactical attack to force an aircraft to landAttaco Siwa = Attack with Sidewinder missileAttendez = WaitAttendez campo = Wait on the airfieldAvanti = Start attack, attack curveAviso = Message, informationBambini = All our aircraftBasso = BelowBello = Friendly aircraft are safeBibi = FighterBingo = Fuel remaining on reserveCamille = Fuel at 1000 lbs / lCampari = Fuel (Campari is an Italian apéritif).Campo = Airfield, baseCapito = UnderstoodCarello = Landing gear (Carello is Italian for a shopping trolley)Casino = Home baseClearance = Release, authorizationColonna = ColumnColor = Landing lightsCondor = Unidentified aircraftConditione = Weather conditionsCorso = CompascursDemitour = Reverse curveDescenze = DescentDiaboli = Enemy aircraftDomanda = RequestFinale = Final approachFinito = End of the radio traffic, closed endFormazione grande = Wide formationFormazione picco = Close formationGardez = Watch it, watchInferno = RainIn posizione = In positionAdd siesta = In peaceLago = Lake, waterLibero = Not used, freeLili = LeftLilitour = Turn 90° leftMekka = EastMeteo = WeatherMontare Pece = Maximum afterburner climbMontare sec = Climb at full throttleNase = straight ahead (Nase is German for nose)Nobis = NoNobis capitonnage = Not understoodNorwega = NorthPartenza = Start, departurePece = AfterburnerPiano = Slow, slowerPiccolo = Little, smallPositione = LocationPossibile = ProbablyPositione = Partenza locationPressione = SpeedPresto = Fast, fasterPronto = ReadyRendezvous = Meeting timeRepetez = Repeat the messageRera = RightReratour = Turn 90° rightReravolte = right turnRiposo = LandRiposo direkt = Direct approachRisponde = ReplyRitorno = ReturnSec = Full throttleSilencium = Radio silenceSiwa = AIM-9 Sidewinder missileSopra = OverStabilo = BackStuka = Dive brakes ("Stuka" is an abbreviation of Sturzkampfflugzeug, the German term for a dive bomber)Subito = ImmediatelySudan = SouthTimo Ella = Call for landingTiralto = Pull commandTouchez Repartenza = Touch-and-go landingVista = View, sight