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Old 14th Dec 2009, 21:37
  #18 (permalink)  
BEagle
 
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Posts: 26,871
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What was annoying was that it was classed as a formal station royal visit. This meant the Officers' Mess was so full of wheels and social climbers...
That takes me back to a certain Graduation at RAFC. A Royal Personage was due to be the Reviewing Officer, so the flunkies of Officer Training Wing sent round a questionnaire to establish who amongst the graduating officers had a suitable pedigree to Meet The Royal during pre-lunch drinkies... Questions such as 'Where did you go to school?' and 'Did your father serve in the war? If so, in which rank?'

They even held a practice 'standing around in formal groups' session, so that all we plebs knew our place.

One graduating mate wrote 'Yes, my father was in the army during the war and served as a major until he was taken prisoner in North Africa in 1943'. The oikish Flt Cdr seized on this as perhaps an opportunity to worm his way into the Royal Circle. "Right, Bloggs, which regiment?", was the next question...

"Eighth Panzer Regiment, Deutsches Afrika Korps, sir!"

"You're taking the p*ss - GET OUT!"

"But sir, if I'm half-German, I'm probably a distant relative of the Royal!"

"GET OUT!!"
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