Barrow boy like I said it was a rumour I had heard and the fact it was an F4 shows how may times it's been through the mill before it was told to me a few years ago. Still even your version of events still highlights the show-boating that sometimes does go on. That was the point I was trying to make. I know plenty of RAF pilots and to say that they never push the envelope to impress people that extra litle bit would be a complete and utter lie.
That aside I think military aviators are a sterling breed and of all the ones I have known, chips on shoulders included, I don't think I would change any of them one bit. They are amongst the best in the world.
(oh and incidentally the person who told me the (wrong) story got it from attending RAF Cranwell as an officer cadet himself... obviously tall tales grow older and bolder there over the years!)