This thread reminds me of a true event which happened in 1966 or 67.
Part of our squadron had a detachment to Washington for three weeks. Some bright spark in the MOD decided that airmen’s ‘Best Blue’ was not good enough, so all SNCOs and airmen on the detachment (about 25 of them) were sent to G & H to be fitted with an officer’s uniform, albeit with genuine badges of real rank, but on epaulettes (before this became de rigeur).
All went well during the detachment, but on their return, one Corporal, had a brainstorm and went to work in his. He was immediately arrested for ‘impersonating an officer’ and spent a week under open arrest until the situation could be sorted out.
On the next detachment to the U.S., everyone wore normal UK issue uniforms. The ‘25’ had to hand in their ‘bootleg’ uniforms and it was never mentioned again.
