QRA and TACEVAL were never good bedfellows......
Indeed. I was on Q at Wattisham once during an exercise - I think it was a MAXEVAL. In the late evening there were raised voices and polite calls of "F*** Off, we're exercise exempt!" from the groundcrew lads as someone tried to enter the Q-compound in a vehicle.
It seems that the exercise scenario had reached that point where they were supposed to pre-provision rations at various sites, including the Q-shed. OC Cats and Rats, being a sensible fellow, had realised that anything good would soon be scoffed, so he'd sent us 6 large cases.......of tinned green beans...
So the DFC shrugged his shoulders, signed for the things and told them to...."Go away!". Needless to say, the beans remained untouched.
In later, more civilised Q times on the FunBus, I recall one mixey-blob in the North Sea which consisted of a Phantom, a Lightning, a Victor and a VC10K with a pair of F-16s.....and 2 Bears enjoying the show!