By the 4th morning of a TACEVAL at Marham the fleet had been generated to strike missions, when the signal came to the Ops room to launch. Tensions rose and people started opening blisters. A moment before the strike controller started hit set piece of releasing and authenticating, a Chief from Eng Ops got up from his seat at the front and noticeably caught everybody's eye when he walked from left to right across the very front of the tote boards. Odd timing to go for a wander was the general opinion.
Ten minutes later the finale still hadn't started; enter Chief again, following reverse route, only this time carrying a large paper plate stacked with food. Watched by the Stn Cdr and his senior battle staff, he sits down and starts tucking in, until fellow Eng WO is seen to lean towards him and says something like 'wtf are you doing'? Slight pause, then situation dawns on Chief, who says out loudly, "I thought he said it was a mass lunch!"