Thread drift continuing, and although still rather surprised at NutLoose's curious response to someone who it now appears can't have completely ignored him, because he said "... can I take some", then, when not unreasonably asked he was, introduced himself with a reply which seems to put his request and his presence in the hangar into some sort of equally reasonable context, I must say that it has always seemed much more fun not to let on about rank or rating achieved, or even that one has served. This has invariably led to some very humorous situations and much, sometimes embarrassed, laughter in the long run when one's cover is blown - and never a hint of rudeness or chippiness.
And yes, I have been on the other end of such situations, including meeting and chatting informally whilst very junior with someone I was led to believe was a middle-aged civilian whom I subsequently discovered - and not from him - that he was a serving admiral and, to come back to medals, a VC to boot!
Jack