Originally Posted by
Tankertrashnav
Goes off to sulk!
(@tankertrashnav
)
Always a danger when you decide to thank people individually!
So sorry @tankertrashnav and THANK YOU
Originally Posted by
Pontius Navigator
This is probably as patchy too. By curious coincidence I was not on-base when any of the IX Vulcans crashed but there was another tradition you haven't picked up on and that was the dead man's sale. The Effects Officer would recover all Service issue uniforms and kit such as flying kit. The rest of the kit, such as hats and gloves, uniforms and mess kit, would, with NOK permission, be auctioned off people often paying well over the odds. The rationale was that death in service benefits were not generous and a 'wife of' in quarters had 62 days to vacate. She could also become ab outcast as a living reminder of the vulnerability of their men.
There was a 'chick lit' novel written be a British journalist about such fatalities on a USAF F100 Sqn in UK. She got under the skin of the matter and I could read the parallels.
Had never heard of that tradition. So pleased you mentioned it.
Originally Posted by
MPN11
Well, as you’ve mentioned it, ditto!
@MPN11
Whilst not exactly relevant to the book, I was on a staff visit to Binbrook in the 80s when they lost one of their Lightnings. FlyPro cancelled, and all and sundey repaired to the Bar to drink his farewell. Proceedings were well under way by the time I’d finished my task. Unless my memory has fogged, one of his flying boots (presumably from a spare pair in his locker) was nailed to the Bar ceiling to join others sadly displayed there.
Thank you @MPN11, and sorry