Apocrypha is clearly alive and on this thread!
Thanks for your post Wyvern. I guessed it had happened but equally thought it might be an urban/military myth.
Regarding Wwyvern and A2QFI's tale, they may not be aware that an even earlier version of that type of "story" actually goes back to the First World War and a Punch cartoon. It shows a very large bearded, seaboot-stockinged, and submarine-sweatered submarine officer standing in the control room of his command alongside a rather puny looking chinless wonder of a rupert (in current parlance), complete with riding breeches and swagger stick, looking at at the myriad of piping, dials and controls, and saying words to the effect of, "I suppose you've got some sort of sergeant johnny who knows how all this works"!
Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose ....
Good luck to Jamesman next week - BomberH could be on the right track!
Jack