@PFR thanks for that. Am I the only one who gets goosebumps reading it?
I work over here with the European Neighbours you speak of, and can confirm stories similar to BEagle's. If you know your audience, you can speak very candidly and draw some very sharp, black humour out of them wrt their darker days.
Old Warbirds day: 'Is that a Me109 coming in?'
'Can't be, hasn't got a Mustang in front of it....'
Health warning: Don't try it with every one you meet though....