A long, long time ago, when the world and Pumas were young, and I was a JO, I had the role of running a TacDet - a half dozen Landrovers, some tents, and some mixed Gunners and Engs - to provide support for a flight of four Pumas. We deployed to the moors of south-west Wales , and set up camp in a long narrow wood, the helos on the field out front, while the single-track road wound across the moor, over the humpy bridge and along the back of the wood.
The machines were away doing tasking somewhere, when one of the Gunners called into my Ops Tent, in the middle between the Eng Empire and the Rockies, to tell me a police van was approaching. So I put my hat on to go meet what turned out to be the local sergeant. Lots of handshakes and courtesy noises, he asking what we were doing and where the aircraft were, and me walking him down to the Eng end, with the big fire, where we cadged a mug of tea from the perpetual urn.
The police sergeant was introduced to the half-dozen SNCOs around the fire, conversation limped along as it does in such circumstances, and I had to deflect the heavy hint of 'I'd love a ride in one of those helicopters', for there wasn't one around. Then I became aware of a strangeness in the comments and discussion, and that we were distinctly unwelcome around the fire. So I drew the 'polis' away up to my Ops Tent, to look at the maps and stuff, and to ask the siggie to find out if any C/S was nearby. There was something wrong....
Anyway, one C/s did say he was just a few minutes away, so I asked him if he couldn't 'drop back to base'. He did, I asked him if he'd take the local bobby for a brief flight, and that was sorted after a quick safety brief.
No sooner had the Puma got airborne again and lifted over the hill, policeman on board, than I was straight back to the Eng fire with "WTF's going on?" They sheepishly pointed to the large lamb roasting on a spit over the fire....
The 'polis' was delighted with his flip, and was escorted back to his van without passing near the offending roast lamb supper, and went happily on his way.
That was one of the very few occasions I got a 'Thank you, sur!' from the Sqn Eng Section - and a big plate of roast lamb for supper.
