Just found the "
Song of the A 25" on Google (All True Blues to note). Had to copy this verse as it exactly describes the clamour of the Wright "Cyclone" power plant. Double Cyclones (ie, two of 'em stuck back-to-back), which in former times dragged me round the Burma skies, just sound twice as bad !
Without further ado, then, and with full acknowledment to the anonymous composer (to the tune of 'Toodle a Roodle a Roodle a Ray')
"I swing down the deck in my Martlet Mark Four,
Loud in my ear-'oles the Cyclone's smooth roar:
"Chuff-clank-clank, chuff-clank-clank, chuff-clank-clank-clink!'
Away wing on pom-pom, away life in Drink"
(Chorus)
"Cracking Show ! - I'm Alive !
But I still have to render my A 25 "
For the benefit of the puzzled, the "A 25" was the Form the unfortunate Fleet Air Arm Pilot had to fill in after a prang (you know the sort of thing:
"Who, why, when, where, what for ?") - the RAF equivalent was/is (?) "Form 765c" .
And I'm sure
Geriaviator (and many others) will appreciate:
"I came back to England and much to my wrath
They gave me some dual in an old Tiger Moth,
Which does fifty-five knots or something fantastic,
Which is bloody good-o on some string and elastic".
And I cannot leave out:
"When you come o'er the round-down and see Wings' frown
You can safely assume that your hook isn't down.
A dirty great barrier looms up in front,
And you hear Wings shout, "Switch off your engine, you fool!"
Just thought it might amuse.
Danny.