ALL DROMES HAD TWO NAMES

A thought has just crossed my mind. Picking up on Denis's 'AND SOME HAD THREE' response; these call-signs were rotated periodically, because the enemy were intercepting our W/T traffic. They were far from stupid and could triangulate the location of the repeated use of these call-signs near base - every night and day on take off and landing. This accounts for two or three different call-signs which are already coming to light in the list.
Below is an extract from an AM publication on the subject. It touches on the other vital set of call-signs, those allocated to squadrons, etc.

EXPLANATION OF THE BOMBER CODE SYSTEM.

Stations were each given a call sign, which was a word (occasionally two sandwiched together), that contained two distinct vowel sounds.
Each Station (but later each Base for those Groups that adopted the system), was allocated a list of codes in blocks of 5 or 2 for the squadrons and other flying units stationed there.
There are two code books CDO270(3)& CD0272(5) "RT War Call Signs - Ground Stations & Aircraft Home" that applied to aircraft operating from the UK, so RAF & USAAF. The first code book lists all the stations and is followed by a series of columns of reference numbers that relate to the blocks of codes in the second book. Lissett was part of 43 Base at Driffield. From April 44 Driffield was allocated code block 176 which included Luxsoap, Catfish, Beaten, Utter, Palin and code block 263 which was Daygown and Rudkin. When a squadron moved to a new station they would be allocated a new call sign from the list.
At the drop of a hat Air Ministry could move everyone on to the next column in the list, so the blocks associated with Driffield would overnight be allocated to-another area and probably another command. The change in April 44 was pre D-Day, but remained the same until VE day so the only changes felt at squadron level would be on moving to a new station. Before that the changes were more frequent.
In the earliest days the system would have been different as the code names only work where RT is involved. Simple alpha-numeric codes work better over WT.

Mark, what are the dates? and what do the stars (*) mean?

There is a list (incomplete) of Pundit codes here..

www.bomber-command.info/pundit.htm

Long time ago - maybe around 2000/2001- I saw on the web a PDF file of scans of a callsign document that listed several hundred airfields and their RT callsign/HF-DF callsigns(EG: Beaulieu was 1RA, Holmsley South - D7F) as well as other pertinent info.

I thought I had kept a copy - but in spite of raking through loads of dusty papers, trawling through GBs of saved files, and torturing Google- I can't find it again.

I will however keep looking- can't imagine I would have ditched it.

Hi, Richard,
Dates indicate that I have definitely proved that this particular drome had that call-sign on the given date.
If you look at the bottom of the group carrying stars (*), you will see the explanation.

Whats the difference between an ident code and a pundit code? Or are they the same thing?

Did'nt the Pundit codes relate to the airfields actual name, using letters from the name, where as the ident or radio callsign only related to the airfield for a means of identification by radio...if you get me drift

As Dennis says, the Pundit beacon flashed the ident. letters of the aerodrome' ie: 'CT' = Cottesmore'. These letters were repeated in the Signals Square - usually made of white-painted concrete, bordered by white stones and directly adjacent to the Watch Office. These would be visible up to around 2,000ft on a clear day. It was basically a daylight visual confirmation on a drab or foggy/rain squall day when the Occult beacon may have been in use. I'm sure you will all have seen pictures of these in various books, etc.
Briefly, the Pundit beacon was a mobile device which flashed the aerodrome ident letters in red. Some dromes also had a Night Identification Panel installed. These were an illuminated version of the Signals Square, and often located at opposte ends of the main runway, at the junction of the outer ciruit and lead-in lights. These were mostly found in the crowded flat lands of eastern England, in Bomber Command's home country. Here the outer circle radius lights sometimes almost touched, and these illuminated panels were essential if you were to be spared the embarrasment of landing by mistake at the wrong drome! Even so, it still sometimes happened!!
Will post a list of some Ident Letters I have later, if that's OK.

I don't mean to sound daft (which I know happens alot!) but the Pundit codes are the same thing as the Ident letters then?

There seems to be alot of callsigns atarting with 'MA' aswel as another callsign, (inc the St Mawgan one that I cant remember and was used alongside 'Heave Ho'), were these alocated for a certain reason or use?