Originally Posted by
Zoom
Sorry, thing, the SATCO question was a spoof call. It was meant for Wee Jock.
It's good hearing from the blokes who worked on the machines; we flyers know most of the flying stories anyway, so let's have some more from you lads who kept the things going in the first place. BTW, I hope that you never felt under-appreciated because that was by no means the case. It might not have been said very often but it was all about teamwork at all levels; that's one of the many things about squadron life that I miss.
I don't think anyone felt under-appreciated, I certainly didn't. I always felt 'part of the team' as it were. There were always moaners and whingers but that's the same in any walk of life. I used to wonder why some blokes had joined TBH. Theirs was always a glass half empty. What used to nark me the were the few idle sods that you get on any squadron who seemed to maintain an air of industry, whilst always making sure that the WO's teacup was filled, leaving the rest of us to get on with the real work. They usually got promoted nicely on time too. Still, at least I knew I had done a shifts work when I went home.
I could never brown nose for some reason, I used to watch people who were good at it and try and take notes but it never worked for me. I don't think I put enough effort into it. Let's put it this way, the people who I classed as friends included an SAC who told a WRAF officer who had got on his wrong side (which was both sides) that she needed 'F...... with the rough end of a pineapple'. I was his escort at the ensuing charge and when the charge was read out the whole room went into 'I want to laugh but I can't so I'll just make my shoulders shake and speak in a very strained voice ' mode.. Although they tried very hard not to.
Perhaps I kept the wrong company...... Having said that, I had some excellent Chiefs as well as Sengo's and Jengo's. Well, maybe not Jengo's, they were just there for the learning process really and the signing of leave passes. Come to think of it, I was an escort at a court martial and I couldn't look a the defendant (who was a mate of mine) because we just kept creasing up, his counsel had the most appaling syrup and everytime he spoke the thing lifted off his head slightly.
Don't know if it was the same aircrew side.