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Chinook 30th Anniversary Dining In Night - 9th Sep 2011
To celebrate 30 years of Chinook operations in the SH Force, there will be a dining-in night in the Officers' Mess, RAF Odiham, on the 9th of Sept 2011. All former and current aircrew not at RAF Odiham who would like to attend should PM me and I will forward your requests to the Proj Off. Places are limited but priority will be given to retired aircrew.
Old Duffer, the guy clearly mentions it is a dining in night. The Puma bash was a hangar party. I do not need to explain, I am sure, the difference in numbers that both venues can accommodate. So next time, can I kindly suggest you read the helpful post before bashing it on the following one, only because you cannot be bothered to read it properly.
I have arranged and/or attended all ranks Dining In/Guest Nights, during both my regular and reserve service. These events have always been great successes and have sealed the bond across the rank structure.
All those events have been held in an officers' mess and whilst I concede that it has usually been officers and senior NCOs in attendance, there was no rank barrier.
I think those who attended the Puma bash would take issue that it was a 'hangar party', however.
Whilst I'm being bitchy, I might say that the appalling organisation at Odiham, which characterised the arrangements for the dedication of the SH Memorial in July 2006 (?), probably has some bearing on why Odiham won't arrange a bigger bash for the Chinook's 30th birthday! I can tell you that an 'aircrew officers only' bash will give considerable offence to the guys/gals down the back and the gals and guys who keep it working.
As a further aside, the famous and much decorated Mr 'H' - who travels down the back in the chinny - was the guest of honour at the Gulf War Jaguar pilots annual dinner at the RAF Club this year and if anybody has the right to celebrate the Chinook's birthday, it's him.
Notwithstanding, I do hope the event is a success and I salute all those whose hard work is so much appreciated at the sharp end.
I resisted replying to your first post, as I understand your frustration and disappointment at the format, but as others have pointed out it is an OM function and the Stn Cdr had to set some limits on numbers. Clearly there will be commissioned ALM/WSOps at the event to represent the doorman, but with a potential attendance running to 500+ a decision had to be made.
Chinook240 does have a point ref numbers. We are at risk of missing the reason for the celebration! We still have a mess system in the RAF and there are plenty of other opportunities to party together. I assume the stn cdr at Odiham has no objections to a SNCO's event in the Sgts' mess.
In the CHF we don't even share crewrooms on a daily basis!!!
If my earlier posts have been taken as sour grapes, then I apologise without reservation.
As I hope I made clear in my second 'outburst', I hope the event is a success and nothing I wrote should be taken as a tilt at those 'doing the business'.
Now, if properly organised, with a few big cheeses from industry present, I sense the opportunity for acquiring a couple of nice new pieces of mess silver from Mr Boeing and Mr Vertol.
Please post when news of the hangar party is available!
Totally agree with you Old Duffer, the Puma event showed the way it should be, a minority of the people involved seem to enjoy a celebration party whilst forgetting those that were involved in it's success, when I think back to seeing one of the Chief's that came back from the Conveyor with bad smoke inhalation and him sitting on walls every few yards to get his breath... they are the people that should be invited, not "but priority will be given to retired officers". ............
Further to the earlier post, I have been informed that the DIN is open to all aircrew and not just Officers. I apologise for misleading any of you, this was due a misunderstanding and the event was always open to all aircrew.
Last edited by chinook240; 4th Aug 2011 at 13:52.
Reason: Open to all aircrew!!!!!!!!!
Quote: To be absolutly clear then........ Chinook Ground Crew are not welcome Just to allay your paranoia, there may well be ground crew at the DIN, so your statement is not correct
All former and current aircrew officers not at RAF Odiham who would like to attend
Quote:
but as others have pointed out it is an OM function and the Stn Cdr had to set some limits on numbers. Clearly there will be commissioned ALM/WSOps at the event to represent the doorman, but with a potential attendance running to 500+ a decision had to be made.
Quote:
Further to the earlier post, I have been informed that the DIN is open to all aircrew and not just Officers. I apologise for misleading any of you, this was due a misunderstanding and the event was always open to all aircrew.
Groundcrew not mentioned untill
Quote:
Just to allay your paranoia, there may well be ground crew at the DIN, so your statement is not correct
Just wanted some clarity. Nice touch with the 'doorman' reference. Bet the rearcrew love you.
I am not the organiser. I simply offered to publise the event on behalf of the the poor guy trying to pull it all together. The OP was an error and misunderstanding for which I have already apologised.
This is, after all, a private function that has been organised by a group of mates who would like to spend the evening in the company of friends, past and present to celebrate a landmark event. We had hoped to get in touch with friends we had lost touch with, not undergo the Spanish Inquistion! TBH I'm getting a little p#ssed off at being told who should be allowed to attend a private do!
