On my only real operational trip to provide top cover for the parachute drop at Port Said in 1956 we Hunter pilots were issued with fifty gold sovereigns, a goolie chit and a pistol. The only place for the gun was the bottom leg pocket of the flying suit (worn over the anti-g suit in those days) Mae Wests were worn so no chance of keeping it on the body. Of course had one to eject the gun would have stayed in the aircraft, and probably the sovereigns too as they were quite a solid lump in another pocket. I was cynically amused on taxying to a stop, as soon as the ladder was fitted to the aircraft, the AOC (AVM Paddy Chrisham) was elbowed aside by the accountant officer who was the first up the ladder demanding his gold back !
Last edited by 26er; 5th Jul 2012 at 08:37.