As a helicopter crew, we always deployed into the field, away from any proper facilities (unlike the Harrier Force who usually took most of the contents of the Officers' Mess with them). On longer exercises the problem of clean underwear became an issue. My crewman told me how he had solved the problem. He'd been to Hong Kong and found disposable underpants for sale. He'd brought a packet of these with him and not bothered with any conventional ones.
He was pleased as punch until late afternoon on day one, when he dropped his flying suit for a latrine stop - only to discover to his horror that he was now wearing nothing underneath but three rubber bands, one round his waist and one at the top of each leg. The pants had disposed themselves into tiny shreds and were now falling out onto his boots as if he had a very serious skin disease.
