Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
When CCS was GDT and you could 3 years( or more) between doing it. Duty airmen Duty staff wearing black armbands with big red letters on them, O.O, O.SGT, O.CPL A weeks fire piquet. Having to wear ties during the winter Buying your own short sleeve shirts from the NAAFI. Only allowed to have your sleeves rolled up at your place of work. Taking 8 officers from work to the bring a boss night in the NAAFI Tin hats ! Putting claims in and getting the money the same day, in cash !
Last edited by scarecrow450; 14th Aug 2012 at 21:08.
Reason: Earlier description of shiney bog roll !
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
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HP,
When I joined, and the Binbrook system had not been adopted, we had Flying Wing and hand brake house, I think it was commanded by the S Ad O.
Engineering was actually Tech rather than Engineering and commanded by the STO. In both cases S stood for Senior and usually a sqn ldr. The Air Force was run by aircrew and assisted by support staffs.
If you think about it, Engineering Wings used to be populated largely by Techinicans rather than Engineers.
In fact who remembers the Binbrook System, now largely defunct.
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In fact who remembers the Binbrook System, now largely defunct.
Ah yes, the easy-to-understand Flying / Engineering / Admin Wing set up.
The 'Flying' became 'Ops'. Except, I was pleased to discover, at RAF Chivenor when it re-opened in 1980. The late 'Wally' Wilman refused to have any 'Ops' wing, so he became Wg Cdr (Flying) and had a deputy Sqn Ldr 'DOC FW', or 'Dog Food' to most of us. The Fg Wg Ops building was termed the 'White Elephant', for obvious reasons..... Which was rather confusing for one visiting pilot when someone said to him "Dog Food wants to see you over in the Elephant"...
Who allowed all those stupid biz-speak wanque-words come into vogue - such that the Education Section became 'Force Development Squadron'..... And people such as OC GD and the SWO had silly new titles?
Quote from a QFI, when asked who did what on the station:
"Dunno, mate. My chain of command stops at OC 'B' Flt!".
Engineering was actually Tech rather than Engineering and commanded by the STO. In both cases S stood for Senior and usually a sqn ldr. The Air Force was run by aircrew and assisted by support staffs.
The Binbrook Model came back of sorts following Haddon-Cave. So OC Eng Wg, OC Admin Wg and OC Ops Wg are back in favour at many stations these days and that draedful Trenchard Model is being killed off
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
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We had a few station bikes at Gutersloh, much better looking than that...
One of the daft signatures required on the blue clearance card was from 'OC Station Bicycle Store'....
The innocent joy of telling people, who didn't know where it was on the station, to ring a number which just happened to be for the Queen Bee..... aka 'OC WRAF' for younger viewers. Grumpy old moose never did see the funny side..
The concept of OC Eng Wg and OC Admin Wg may be back in, but they are still using wanque-words to describe them in places. On my last station these roles were known as OC Forward Support Wing and OC Base Support Wing respectively.
I recently attended (not through choice) a Human Factors course at another flying base (in the UK, a 9-5 Mon-Fri station). When discussing distractions, and how to avoid them, the SNCO presenting the course took great pride in stating that OC Ops Wg on that station wasn't distracted by e-mails coming in because as part of his "battle rhythm" he only checked his e-mails at two specific times of the working day... The instructor seemed to take great pride in this shining example, personally I could only shake my head in despair....
I wonder if he only answered his phone at certain times of day so as not to disrupt his battle rhythm?
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
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'Battle rhythm' - what a wonderful example of wanque-wordsmithing!
Mind you, if you Google (other serach engines are available, though usually cr@p) for 'six sigma battle rhythm', it comes up with wonders such as:
Quote:
The article explains “Yellow Belt certification provides an overall insight to the techniques of Six Sigma, its metrics, and basic improvement methodologies. The Green Belt provides participants with enhanced problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) model. Black Belt provides participants with a thorough knowledge of Six Sigma philosophies and principles (including supporting systems and tools), according to sixsigmaonline.org, and Master Black Belt level focuses on advanced Six Sigma statistic methods.” All these different levels enhanced the Marines battle rhythm, planning process, and execution of the thought out plan. Applying all those strategies at the levels in which they are learned allows the Marines to “support warfighting excellence with well-managed operations that are both effective and efficient, said Gen. James F. Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps.” Through the use of Six Sigma implementation, the Marines are reaping the benefits of a better planning and execution process which minimizes discrepancies and improve their mission readiness whether it be in combat or in garrison.
Oorah - I can just see John Wayne saying that sort of thing.....
The first lady in the G -Suit, have seen her on back cover of 'Dogfight' colour photo book, Ian Allan pub or Motorbooks circa 1988. I see she has the same name as one of the mentioned acknowledgements who was a Sqn Ldr. Nice to see pics of RAF exchange personnel including the current Deputy Commander-in-Chief Personnel then strapped into his backseat mount of an F-14A at Key West with obligatory Union Jack adorned HGU-53P bone dome!
Memorable with regard to RAF Hospitals, the nice white uniform dresses of the PMRAFN whom one saw at Church Fenton 2 decades ago, while queuing for food at the mess.
Legacy equipment
Wessex Phantom Gazelle Andover
The varied fleet of the various RAe establishments pre DERA/ Qinetiq days in lovely colours from Argosy to BAC1-11, Gazelle, Puma, Wessex, Comet, Buccaneer, Phantom, Twin Pioneer, Jaguar.
Not forgetting Sek Kong (briefly visited it in early 94 and have last ever Gau Lung station pub. The cover photo showed one of the USMC MEU Tarawa class LHD docking at HMS Tamar with 28's Wessex flying above it. IIRC, from a conversation with one of the 28 pilots, the MEU ACE pilots on deck could not help but grin or laugh as it reminded them that they retired its piston original being the C/UH-34 two decades earlier from fromt line service. Think it was a bit of nostalgia even though similar airframes but complete design on our side of the pond and under license for that matter.
60MU at RAF Dishforth in the mid '60s. The hangars were an aladdin's cave to a young air cadet resplendent in hairy blues.
Anson and Vampire belonging to the Station Flight and the resident Chippies of 9 AEF. All the different types in for servicing (the word maintenance hadn't been invented then): Hastings, Single and Twin Pin, Pembroke, Devon, Javelin, Hunter and Meteor to name but a few and I remember a Belvedere hovering outside doing HF radio trials.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 70
Posts: 9,355
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1.3VStall
60MU at RAF Dishforth in the mid '60s. The hangars were an aladdin's cave to a young air cadet resplendent in hairy blues.
........!
You bring to mind the bus ride we had through the stores hangar at Alconbury with all the B66 stores beautifully racked and a christmas tree outside robbed down to a skeleton; that's how I learnt what a real christmas tree was.
They obviously knew what havoc a load of air cadets could commit which is why they kept us in the buses.
Quote: The article explains “Yellow Belt certification provides an overall insight to the techniques of Six Sigma, its metrics, and basic improvement methodologies. The Green Belt provides participants with enhanced problem-solving skills, with an emphasis on the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) model. Black Belt provides participants with a thorough knowledge of Six Sigma philosophies and principles (including supporting systems and tools), according to sixsigmaonline.org, and Master Black Belt level focuses on advanced Six Sigma statistic methods.” All these different levels enhanced the Marines battle rhythm, planning process, and execution of the thought out plan. Applying all those strategies at the levels in which they are learned allows the Marines to “support warfighting excellence with well-managed operations that are both effective and efficient, said Gen. James F. Amos, the Commandant of the Marine Corps.” Through the use of Six Sigma implementation, the Marines are reaping the benefits of a better planning and execution process which minimizes discrepancies and improve their mission readiness whether it be in combat or in garrison.
I believe the British Army has similar, though they use coloured Smarties.
When we wore issued Viyella Aircrew Shirts all the time except in No 1 Uniform. Much better than the green polo neck things.
When Flying Suits were banned from the messes (except QRA crews at bedtime).
When you had to get changed back into uniform for lunch.
Not sure nostalgia is all that useful - I am utterly certain that the Typhoon is much much better than the Javelin/ Meteor/ Hunter and the Tornado GR4 better than the Canberra etc. Could do with a few more types though.
And people such as OC GD and the SWO had silly new titles?
and that draedful Trenchard Model is being killed off 
whom one saw at Church Fenton 2 decades ago, while queuing for food at the mess. 
