A question - the "CAG?"

December 18th, 2003, 01:39 AM

I believe the head pilot (squadron commander?) was called the "CAG," correct? Assume this means something like Commander Air (please fill in the blank). In the battle scene, I could've sworn Adama told Starbuck to bring in the CAT though, which I found amusing as a cat-owner.

thomas7g · December 18th, 2003, 04:04 AM

Commander Air Group.

Several squadron makes up an Air Wing. The Commander of the Air Wing is the CAG. Technically he should be called the CAW, but that don't sound as good as CAG. So the military switched the title to Commander Air Group

Ara · December 18th, 2003, 04:05 AM

Yes, I took CAG as Commander Air Group.

The 'bring the cat home' banter established (quite nicely) Adama's professional experience with Starbuck- they've had a long working relationship as commander/pilot. When she says "Just listening to the rain" as the space debris hits her canopy, she knows she's speaking to a fellow pilot- and he gets it.

thomas7g · December 18th, 2003, 04:16 AM

Actually she's echoing the early dialog she says as she's jogging past him.

Soulmage · December 18th, 2003, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by conundrum7g
Actually she's echoing the early dialog she says as she's jogging past him.

Right, but Adama didn't pull that phrase out of nowhere in the initial conversation. Its apparently a common pilot phrase.

Early in the miniseries the exchange doesn't seem to make sense but there seems to be some significance to it. Later the audience realizes what was meant by the exchange. I think its just supposed to be a minor revelation that helps draw you a little more into the world.

beeker · December 18th, 2003, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Imagination
I believe the head pilot (squadron commander?) was called the "CAG," correct? Assume this means something like Commander Air (please fill in the blank). In the battle scene, I could've sworn Adama told Starbuck to bring in the CAT though, which I found amusing as a cat-owner.

I've wondered about calling him CAG, since it doesn't really make sense to have a Commander AIR Group for spaceships. I've been thinking of "A" words to replace air with, but that is not really my strong point (I hate word games

). The best I can come up with is "Attack" for Commander Attack Group.

The pharse "grab you gun and bring the cat in" was meaningless to me. It seemed to be a "in joke" type of thing. I liked it because it gave me a sense that these people had actually known each other for some time.

SAR Pilot · December 18th, 2003, 10:52 AM

CAG is a hold over to the days when Carrier Air Wings were known as Carrier Air Groups. CAW would sound too silly, plus it's developed into a tradition to use CAG. There are similar acronyms in the Navy, FRS (Fleet Replacement Squadron) used to be RAG (Replacement Air Group). Most of us still use the term RAG, though it is politically incorrect, mostly because it is easier to say "Rag" than "F-R-S", but also because of the tradition and lineage behind it.
I think CAG will be a term used even when we have a Space Fleet, for it has a long history, and it is cooler to say than "C-S-W" (Commander Space Wing).

lordpenquin · December 18th, 2003, 12:41 PM

"grab your gun" could refer to "grab your wingman" (in that case, apollo) and "bring your cat in" could mean "we are closing the landing bays, land now". Just my interpretation. It could be a common phrase for pilots to know that the Galactica is getting ready to jump, and not to leave anyone behind.

callsignfalcon · December 18th, 2003, 06:13 PM

that makes sense Lord Penquin! I was wondering about that!

thomas7g · December 18th, 2003, 07:26 PM

I have no evidence to support the cat theory, but I've heard on occasions "cats" was slang for F-14 Tomcats for a VERY long time in a carrier task force .