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Old 2nd Oct 2012, 15:44
  #70 (permalink)  
blaireau
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW PORTUGAL
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Blaireau

In my formative Hunter days, the breaking of wind had to be accompanied by the liturgy "BADGER BADGER BADGER, 123", Three whistles, and the words "one hundred and ten". (110 being the wingspan of the eponymous Russian bomber as wound into the Hunter gunsight). Until the full call was completed, all squadron mates could and would bash you. Try whistling whilst being pummelled.

The Fleet Air Arm were unfamiliar with this time honoured tradition at the time of my secondment in the early 70's, and soon my nickname and Air Defence callsign became "Badger".

In retirement, we lived for some years in SW France where a badger is "un blaireau".

Here in Portugal it is texugo, but I remain Badger to my old colleagues.
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