1980s RAF Recruiting Picture

[Compressorstall]

Does anyone remember the RAF Germany photo that showed all the support elements on the station that contributed towards getting the Tornado crew airborne? It was a very neat pyramid and showed the contribution that everyone made. Most importantly, does anyone have a copy or know where to find one? It was a factor in my choice of career.

[StuartP]

"If it wasn't for the officers on the left the officers on the right couldn't get off the ground" (or possibly vice versa).

I remember it but I can't find an image for you, sorry. I thought it was a Phantom with the pilot and nav one one side and everybody else and a load of equipment on the other, but I could be wrong.

[ExRAFRadar]

Wasn't there another poster that said something along the lines of

"The aim of the RAF is to fly and too fight. The aim of those who don't is to support those who do"

My fav was the Air Safety one that listed the PK of Warsaw Pact systems and then the ground. Something like (% made up)

ZSU23-4 - 40%
SA-6 - 55%
Ground - 100 %

Think there was a picture of a Harrier on it...

[Peter Carter]

I have a scan of the photo to which I think you refer. It shows 25 Tornados with a full complement of firetrucks, engineers etc, with the Staish in front of all his personnel. Unfortunately I 'may not post attachments'..:hmm:

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

The ground has a Pk of about 99.999%, not 100%; e.g.

21st March 1984
RAF Hawk T.1 XX251 CFS
Red Arrows
RAF Akrotiri Cyprus Hit the ground during display practice at Akrotiri, Cyprus
The impact forced the ejection seat through the canopy and deployed the chute dragging the pilot out
Flight Lieutenant Chris Hurst Inadvertent ejection

"You lucky, lucky, bastard!"

[Dave Clarke Fife]

Haven't got the one you requested but this is the one that inspired me as a 14 year old Air Cadet...............

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5ks50kIU41qd4ufdo1_1280.jpg

[Tiger_mate]

The Phantom with Pilot & Nav booklet was entitled:

"Into the seventies with the Royal Air Force"


...so I guess it was before the eighties :E

I have a copy :}

How different the RAF is now.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2041/2266265407_8d65a68bfc_z.jpg?zz=1

Apologies to Dii viewers who will not get this.

[CoffmanStarter]

Here's some historic gems ... Sadly only goes up to the early 80's though ...

RAF Recruit Adverts (http://www.aviationancestry.com/RAFRecruit/)

http://www.aviationancestry.com/RAFRecruit/1968-1972/1968_1972-Aircrew-1972-5.jpg

Coff.

[60024]

DCF,

I still have my copy of that:ok:

[Geehovah]

I remember the Tornado ad but dont have a copy.

Here's another from the series of Phantom adverts. They were taken at Wattisham in '77 on 56 Sqn and quite a few of our aircrew were featured at the bottom. The most famous was the "Want to take part in a supersonic battle of wits" advert.

JW and AP in this one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/DeeGee/TelegraphAd.jpg

[sisemen]

This one did it for me....

http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu283/halflingleaf/rafposter.jpg (http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=RAF+recruiting+posters+WW1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=v8rTZferFGeOYM&tbnid=vE60X7QeULHtvM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.raf74.com%2Fforums%2Fshowthread.php%3F8 33-WWI-RAF-Recruiting-Poster&ei=Zu1BUZLCJ4bgkAXt1oDQAQ&bvm=bv.43287494,d.dGI&psig=AFQjCNHYp6BZH-mxak6qsd2t2TFy_0vDMQ&ust=1363361494139806)

[Geezers of Nazareth]

I can remember one magazine advert that showed the cockpit of a fast-jet with a name on the edge of the canopy, and the strap-line saying something about having your name painted on your office door.

[Stuff]

What nobody tells you is that this great honour happens just before the jet becomes a hangar queen, robbed to hell and never to see the light of day again :(

[ricardian]

I can remember one magazine advert that showed the cockpit of a fast-jet with a name on the edge of the canopy, and the strap-line saying something about having your name painted on your office door.
There was a spoof advert portraying a steely-eyed pilot in a Hunter with all the usual blurb about short-service commissions etc. Someone had added a think bubble over the pilot's head "But I only wanted to be a cook".

[CoffmanStarter]

GoN ... I remember that one ... It was a Harrier :ok:

[NutLoose]

http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/images/online_exhibitions/WRAF-poster.jpg

They lied, I never saw a Fit WRAF when I was in... :{

[polecat2]

One that struck a chord with me was a 1970s (I think) advert consisting of a large photo of a young boy running around with his arms outstretched. A headline asked "Who wants to be an accountant when they grow up?"

[Lima Juliet]

The Harrier advert was from 1974...

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS5RbF-c4fKq8fK8iSBfNUGuPSrdrLmTh_98RKUie1S8dl_lHTJ

[Lima Juliet]

Let's not leave the Army out of this one... :ok:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=32021&stc=1&d=1269539689

[Willard Whyte]

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2041/2266265407_8d65a68bfc_z.jpg?zz=1

Into the '70s with the royal air force?

It hadn't reached the '60s when I left last year.

[SOSL]

I did, twice.

Rgds SOS

[Compressorstall]

This was in the days when we had aircraft.
If anyone has a copy of the picture, that would be great as it shows where everyone fits in to get the aircraft airborne. It even had some RAF Regt in it...

[ICM]

I fear the one that made me cut out the coupon and start the process was one of the "Deserved it" series of circa early 1963 with, I think, a very moody Vulcan-by-night picture. Terribly effective at the time, I recall, but sometime later, having had a quick look at the interior of same on a Nav School visit to Finningley, I decided that I was probably cut out for the more expansive interiors of the AT Force .... and never looked back. But I repeat, it was that damned ad that made me do it! 50 years on, no regrets at all.

[AR1]

I only went to St Helens for some new shoes...

The Army spoof made me think of Billy Connolly lampooning the tv adverts of the time.. My names Private XXXXX and I earn 25 quid a week. You can buy thousands of smarties for 25 quid a week..

[CoffmanStarter]

400 New Aircraft :(

http://www.aviationancestry.com/RAFRecruit/1961-1967/1961_1967-Aircrew-1966-2.jpg

1966

Coff.

[18greens]

Great adverts ( i did like the two Everests in 3 minutes video)

What I don't understand is why did they need to advertise. I thought they had 9,000 applicants for every seat. Surely better to spend the money on better selection. Was it just inter service rivalry, who has the best advert.

Anyone got that pic of the two boysflying around the playground with their arms out and the line 'no one played accountants in school yard'

[NutLoose]

ICM the shot you refer to was probably

http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib/167/media-167618/standard.jpg

[sisemen]

What I don't understand is why did they need to advertise

You had to get a lot of bums through the door in order to select the best steely-eyed heroes for the front seat.

In the late 70s when I was on recruiting the officer and aircrew ads also had a flow-on effect for the very high requirement for ground trades. Many was the starry-eyed lad that came through my doors wanting to be a Harrier pilot and was signed up for RAF Policeman (and even then we probably had to fudge the aptitude scores to meet the target!)

[CoffmanStarter]

and even then we probably had to fudge the aptitude scores to meet the target !

Was that for his dog :E

[Willard Whyte]

Ice and a slice with the B&T Willard ?

B&T?

Nah, I just look back and laugh. At it, not with it.

[Warmtoast]

Marvellous selection of recruitments ads from 1919 onwards here:
Raf Recruit RAF Tradesmen 1919 RAF Tradesmen (http://www.aviationancestry.com/Recruitment/RafRecruit/RoyalAirForce-Tradesmen-1919-1.html)

In 1952 the quote below was the blurb accompanying an aircrew ad. Just think one could earn over £1,000 a year (including marriage allowance)!

There's a place for you in the RAF

In the air or on the ground.Keeping pace with the world to-day comes easily to these young men. At the age of 26 they can be earning over £1,000 a year (including marriage allowance). Their aircraft - a Canberra - is supreme amongst today's operational jet bombers. Their choice-of career, in which high pay rewards high endeavour, is given direction and purpose by the honour of The Queen's Commission. Compare their prospects with yours. Measure their daily life against your own. Then find out how you could be one of them through a Permanent, Short Service or National Service commission.

[NutLoose]

http://www.rafregiment.net/images/RAF_Regt_poster.jpg

:p

[CoffmanStarter]

Nutty ... I understand this was the alternate picture for that Rock Ad :}

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/images-8.jpg

[NutLoose]

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/ROBIN-DAY-large-RAF-recruitment-poster-/00/s/NjQwWDQ4MA==/$T2eC16FHJHgE9n0yDjnhBQfSbmv5Ug~~60_58.JPG

Hmmm 9 aircraft remaining, were nearly there now..

[CoffmanStarter]

Note .. No helicopters :}

[Rosevidney1]

In 1956 whilst still at college I thought the Meteor NF 14s were the most attractive aircraft I had ever seen! :sad:

[uffington sb]

Nutloose,


RAF Regiment in blue Hairy Mary's and shirt and tie, but at least his helmet was camouflaged.

And I am talking about his tin hat!

[NutLoose]

He does look like his hairy Mary's are itching like hell in the heat :)

Still could be worse, we could be batting for the other teams... Looks like the nurse isn't getting a look in.

http://www.vinmag.com/online/media/gbu0/prodlg/AP435-fag-day-bert-thomas-1917-war-poster.jpg

[CoffmanStarter]

Fag Day ... Really !

[Whopity]

I remember the Flying Officer who wrote to Group Captain Darcy and asked, "How can I join you Air Force because it looks better than the one I am in?"

That was in the days of Aerocrats and learning to speak "Cratise"

[CoffmanStarter]

Aerocrats 70's ...

http://www.aviationancestry.com/RAFRecruit/1968-1972/1968_1972-Officers-1968-7.jpg

[uffington sb]

Nutloose,

It would have been healthier to bin 'Fag' day and have 'Shag' day.
Quit smoking and shag a nurse.

Unless she had a dose then you could look forward to the 'umbrella' oooch!

Not that I'd know.

[phil9560]

Do any of the crews in the pics post here?

[sisemen]

I believe that the pilot in the pic on post #11 posts under the name of Beagle :E

[phil9560]

He's flying handsfree :)

[gr4techie]

Just out of interest why does the Jaguar in post #6 not have a chiselled glass nose with the laser ranger and marked target seeker?
Is it French or a T2 with a canopy closed ?

[gr4techie]

http://www.aviationancestry.co.uk/Humm/Sites/Main/Views/Database/Images/RAFRecruit/Recruitment-RAFRecruit-1971-4959.jpg

Welcome to the 2023 pay scheme. "Obviously any job that pays this kind of money takes some doing". The chap in the advert looks so impressed.

[wiggy]

Just out of interest why does the Jaguar in post #6 not have a chiselled glass nose with the laser ranger and marked target seeker?
Is it French or a T2 with a canopy closed ?

Not an expert on Jags, etc, but with ex-spotter hat on I think from fading memory the "glass nose" was a retrofit that came along a year or two or perhaps more after the type was introduced into RAF service. Standing by to be corrected.

[Pontius Navigator]

Navigator by 23 - age creep even then. A few years earlier you could be 20-21 and as a pilot a V bomber captain by 23.