Why Do Pilots Use The Term "Roger" Instead Of "Yes"?
Roger was one of the first words for 'R' in early aviation phonetic alphabets and it went on to mean 'message received.'
By Aaron SprayZimbabwe

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One of the most iconic aviation terms that has also become a household word is "Roger." The word comes from early radio transmissions and the US Army Signal Corps just before the outbreak of the First World War. The word persisted through the interwar period and was also adopted by the US Navy. The word rose to fame in the Second World War and the many subsequent movies about the air battles of the conflict. As the British and US deepened their cooperation with each other during the war, the word was soon adopted by the RAF.
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About this article
- Length
- 97 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 28, 2026
- Byline
- Aaron Spray
- Source
- Simple Flying