ANGEL GIRL by Michel Poulin - HTML preview

{1} Schnitzel mitt spatzel : Breaded veal cutlets with buttered noodles, a popular dish in Germany.

{2} AFOSI : Air Force Office of Special Investigations.  It is responsible to combat and investigate instances of criminal activities, espionnage and terrorism within the United States Air Force, plus provides protection services to its personnel and installations.  Its headquarters are situated in Quantico, Virginia.

{3} ASAP : As Soon As Possible.  A commonly used abbreviation around the United States.

{4} NCIS : Naval Criminal Investigation Service.  The law enforcement branch of the U.S. Navy charged with fighting criminal activities, acts of terrorism and espionnage within the U.S. Navy.

{5} A cup of Joe: Popular expression in the U.S. Navy which appeared after the then Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, published on June 1 of 1914 his Navy General Order 99, which prohibited the presence of alcohol aboard U.S. warships.  To this day, the U.S. Navy is still a ‘dry’ navy.

{6} Kakogo chyorta?  Sooksin!  What the Hell?  Son of a bitch! (in Russian).

{7} Chyort : ‘Damn’ or ‘Hell’ in Russian.

{8} VTOL : Vertical Takeoff and Landing.

{9} Tovarich : Comrade in Russian.

{10} Spasiba : Thank you in Russian.

{11} Zaebis : Holy shit! In Russian.

{12} Bozhe moi : My god! In Russian.

{13} ASAP : As Soon As Possible.  Very common expression in the American military.

{14} S-5 : Designation for the section in a military unit in charge of civil affairs.  S-5 sections are typically deployed only in wartime.

{15} Yes, there is really a Marine Corps aircraft squadron called ‘Thunder Chickens’, VMM-263, based at the New River Marine Corps Air Station, in North Carolina.

{16} Cogño : An expression in Spanish meaning basically either ‘oh shit’ or ‘asshole’.  Very popular around the Caribbeans and the Dominican Republic.

{17} ICBM: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

{18} M.I.T. : Massachussetts Institute of Technology.  One of the best and most famous American center of technological learning, situated in Boston.

{19} RPG: Rocket Propelled Grenade.  The RPG-7 is a portable anti-tank rocket launcher designed and built by the Soviet Union and that was widely exported all around the World.

{20} DIA : Defense Intelligence Agency.  The intelligence branch of the American armed forces.

{21} NSA : National Security Agency : A highly classified intelligence branch of the U.S. government that specializes in communications monitoring and crypto analysis.  It also is tasked with insuring the security of American classified communications systems.

{22} VSTOL : Vertical and Short Take Off and Landing.

{23} Airstairs : Type of aircraft door that pivots down to become a set of stairs.  A common feature on small civilian transport aircraft and on military cargo planes which allow them to operate without having to wait for an airport mobile stairs unit.

{24} Such a deplorable incident actually took place recently for the reason stated on this page, involving a U.S. Navy destroyer and a civilian cargo ship.  The destroyer captain involved and a few other senior officers were subsequently reprimanded and relieved of command.

{25} FLIR : Forward-Looking Infra-Red.  Thermal imaging cameras able to see heat signatures in the dark.

{26} APC : Armored Personnel Carrier.

{27} DP HEAT-FRAG : Dual Purpose High-Explosive Anti-Tank Fragmentation round.

{28} GUN DISH : NATO codename for the fire control radar of the Soviet ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system.

{29} Chyort : ‘Hell’ in Russian.

{30} NTSB : National Transportation Safety Board.  The American government agency responsible to investigate accidents involving transportation systems (aircraft, trains, road vehicles, boats and ships).

{31} LSM : Landing Ship Medium.  A category of landing ships able to carry tanks.

{32} DIA : Defense Intelligence Agency.  The American agency in charge of military intelligence at national level.  Part of the American national intelligence apparatus with the CIA and the NSA.

{33} Mjolnir : Name given to the mythical magical hammer of the Norse god Thor.

{34} LST : Landing Ship Tank. Large amphibious ship with low draught able to carry ten or more tanks and equipped with a bow ramp.