P-3B Radio Call Signs

[Antonio]

I have two listing for them
NZ4201:  ZMZMA / ZMZEL
NZ4202:  ZMZMB/ ZMZEM
NZ4203:  ZMZMF / ZMZEN
NZ4204:  ZMZMG / ZMZEO
NZ4205:  ZMZMH / ZMZEP

The first ones being from adf serials while the second ones I think came from Paul Harrison possibly in The Aero Historian.
Can anyone confirm of one or both are correct?

[tbf2504]

Orion Radio Callsigns. When the P-3B were introduced in 1966 the RNZAF was using internationally registered VHF/HF radio callsigns for all its aircraft. The first three letters were ZMZ, the fourth letter indicated the type (E for the Orions) and the fifth letter the individual airframe. NZ4201 was ZMZEL. (The ZMZMA range of callsigns were never allocated to any RNZAF aircraft). The reason for the allocation of L onwards for the Orions was to avoid confusion with ATC in that the TEAL Electras were ZK-TEA, ZK-TEB etc. when using the callsigns the first calls were made using the full callsign, but subsequent calls were abbreviated to the last three letters (ZEL) for example. In 1970 the RNZAF adopted self-evident callsigns for all of the aircraft using ATC VHF/UHF/HF, so NZ4201 became ORION 01. The older callsigns were still used on HF morse comms until that was withdrawn in the late 1970s. Variations: For tactical/Operational flights coded callsigns were used for each aircraft such as "Flatcar 231. These could be applied to an individual sortie, sometimes with the callsign changing during the flight to confuse the enemy. If an Orion was transiting overseas, then they could use an allocated callsign for that mission allocated by the RNZAF Movements staff. For example an Orion transiting to Australia could be designated the task number as NAO341 (N for a National Task, A for Australia, O for Orion) From 1970 onwards their ATC callsign would be for that flight KIWI 341. Hope that clarifies the use of callsigns for the P3B/K

[Antonio]

Brilliant.
Thanks for the clarification

[grant]

NZ4204 was ZMZEO NOT ZMZGO.

[Antonio]

Oct 4, 2024 20:12:17 GMT 12 grant said:

NZ4204 was ZMZEO NOT ZMZGO.

Oops.
Finger trouble.
Amended thanks