RAF 1918-2018

[ricardian]

RAF 100 - some details (https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/)

[Bob Viking]

Start the timer...

[oldbeefer]

That'll be 50 years to the day from when I joined the RAF.

[Top Bunk Tester]

When I first looked at the title I thought it was an epitaph.

My thoughts are that it may turn into just that, with the Royal Air Force being almalgamated into the Army Air Corps as a cost saving measure once our Lords & Masters have let us celebrate the centenery .

[BEagle]

The current trend seems to be for these trite 3 word phrases; 'Agile Adaptable Capable' is bad enough, now there's 'Commemorate Celebrate Inspire' for the 100th

What next? Arbeit macht frei? Or perhaps 'Kraft durch Freude'?

Incidentally, how many aircraft will there be in the mass flypast? There will be one, won't there?

[Top Bunk Tester]

Incidentally, how many aircraft will there be in the mass flypast? There will be one

Answering your own question, BEags?

[DODGYOLDFART]

That'll be 50 years to the day from when I joined the RAF.

And Al Pollock flew a Hunter through Tower Bridge to protest at what a low key event was being planned by the brass for the "50th.

Very much doubt that there is anyone left in the air force these days up for such a wheeze!::O

[JOE-FBS]

This is an RAF 100 celebration activity:

RAF Centenary Flight of the Navigator - Home (http://www.rafcentenaryflightofthenavigator.org.uk/homepage)

[gijoe]

'My thoughts are that it may turn into just that, with the Royal Air Force being almalgamated into the Army Air Corps as a cost saving measure once our Lords & Masters have let us celebrate the centenery .

Now there is an idea - give the useful bits to the FAA and AAC and get rid of the rest including the RAF Regiment and Handbrake Houses.

Think of the cost savings achieved not having to supply a uniform similar to the Royal Auto Club. Combats, surv equipment and sea going needed only.

:ok:

[Herod]

That'll be 50 years to the day from when I joined the RAF.

And 53 from my commissioning. Time flies when you're having fun (?)

[DunWinching]

I presume the celebrations will be outsourced to Ascent?

[Haraka]

Some might recall the request some time ago from the serving "100th RAF celebration" team for suggestions .

I did submit written suggestions in detail,(twice) as illustrated mini papers, as did at least one other( Rtd,Wg Cdr) PPruNer.

Anybody get a constructive (if any) feedback to their efforts ? ( We didn't).

[Bob Viking]

I thought I'd leave it a couple of hours before checking back. It took as long as post #4 before someone brought up the 'end of the RAF' line and one more until the size of flypasts was mentioned.

I'm glad you didn't let me down folks.

BV

[Trim Stab]

RAF 100 - some details (https://www.raf.mod.uk/raf100/)

It would be pretty awesome if they could try to get every airworthy ex RAF airframe into a day-long fly-past, in order of service introduction time, over a suitable airfield (Duxford?).

[Tankertrashnav]

I remember going to a 50th anniversary do at Tengah but can't for the life of me remember anything about it other than the location.

Still that was 49+ years ago :(

[Ken Scott]

'My thoughts are that it may turn into just that, with the Royal Air Force being almalgamated into the Army Air Corps as a cost saving measure once our Lords & Masters have let us celebrate the centenery .

Now there is an idea - give the useful bits to the FAA and AAC and get rid of the rest including the RAF Regiment and Handbrake Houses.

Think of the cost savings achieved not having to supply a uniform similar to the Royal Auto Club. Combats, surv equipment and sea going needed only.



What utter tripe. The FAA & AAC have 'best' parade uniforms and, I suspect administrative facilities, the latter would be unlikely to have the capacity to cope with the influx of ex-RAF personnel so would at least need expanding. Most likely the ex-RAF admin would also have to crossover too, along with ATC, engineers etc. The airfields (the FAA & AAC would need additional airfields to cope with the extra aircraft) would require guarding as well so extra regiments would be needed from the army & the Marines to guard them in time of war.....or just keep the RAF Regiment, rebadged.

The number of times I hear this b***ocks about how much would be saved by getting rid of the RAF - just changing the uniforms won't save anything, there might be some rationalisation of support but you can't just scrap the lot & pass it to existing HQs without having to expand them negating any saving. The only way to save buckets of money would be to get rid of capabilities- aircraft, squadrons etc. Which roles currently supported by the RAF do you consider redundant, gijoe, and so needn't be provided by the FAA or AAC.

[kintyred]

What utter tripe. The FAA & AAC have 'best' parade uniforms and, I suspect administrative facilities, the latter would be unlikely to have the capacity to cope with the influx of ex-RAF personnel so would at least need expanding. Most likely the ex-RAF admin would also have to crossover too, along with ATC, engineers etc. The airfields (the FAA & AAC would need additional airfields to cope with the extra aircraft) would require guarding as well so extra regiments would be needed from the army & the Marines to guard them in time of war.....or just keep the RAF Regiment, rebadged.

The number of times I hear this b***ocks about how much would be saved by getting rid of the RAF - just changing the uniforms won't save anything, there might be some rationalisation of support but you can't just scrap the lot & pass it to existing HQs without having to expand them negating any saving. The only way to save buckets of money would be to get rid of capabilities- aircraft, squadrons etc. Which roles currently supported by the RAF do you consider redundant, gijoe, and so needn't be provided by the FAA or AAC.

Don't bite Ken.....just a reminder that the full title of the FAA is 'The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force'. The RAF is hardly likely to become a subsidiary of one of its former sub-divisions!

[pr00ne]

Seeing as it is so incredibly small now, and getting smaller, I would imagine that it is far more likely that the miniscule Army Air Corps will be merged into the RAF...

[MPN11]

I remember going to a 50th anniversary do at Tengah but can't for the life of me remember anything about it other than the location.

Still that was 49+ years ago :(As one who was present, it was an extremely good guest night, with AM Sir (Sidney Weetman) Rochford Hughes (http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Hughes_SWR.htm)(CinC FEAF) as the guest of honour.

During that Friday afternoon, one of 74's Lightnings 'had to divert to Changi'. It was recovered during the dinner. More accurately, with some fine comms between someone on the Mess roof, ATC and the pilot, it did a flypast ... which was perfectly timed. As CinC rose to speak, the Lightning passed low and fast above the Mess in full reheat, rattling the glass louvre windows high above the dining room and leaving CinC temporarily speechless.

I understand that nothing further was said, as it had been perfectly executed. :cool:

Does that trigger a memory now, Tankertrashnav, or didn't you get a seat at the Guest Night?

[DANbudgieman]

When I first looked at the title I thought it was an epitaph.

For heavens sake, don't give the government ideas!

[DANbudgieman]

I presume the celebrations will be outsourced to Ascent?

More like Airfix?

[treadigraph]

And Al Pollock flew a Hunter through Tower Bridge to protest at what a low key event was being planned by the brass for the "50th.

Very much doubt that there is anyone left in the air force these days up for such a wheeze!::O

Al Pollock's still around isn't he...? ...and Hunters have been cleared to fly again... :E

No, perhaps not...:(

[ricardian]

No expense spared! (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4166736/raf-to-blow-8m-on-birthday-celebrations/)

[26er]

Had an email from Al Pollock this morning so he is still around, though not too well.

I was prompted to look in my logbook to confirm my memory of the fiftieth anniversary, 01/04/1968, when the Chivenor Wing flew a formation of 32 Hunters and four Meteors plus a couple of airborne spares over Plymouth, Exeter and Barnstaple. ( I flew one of the Meteors on that occasion, there being very few current Meteor pilots there then) Happy days !

Did any other unit celebrate?

I guess the RAF would be pushed to get that number of aircraft in the sky together now and would find it difficult to get anyone to authorise the trip.

[Pontius Navigator]

Looking at the very small budget, so a very small Air Force (?), It seems blindingly obvious that lots of costs will be coveted by slight of hand. Training budgets will cover training for fly pasts, mess bills will cover banquets - guests free, Servicemen will pay.

[BEagle]

26er, sorry to hear that Al Pollock isn't too well.

In Apr 1968 I was on a Flying Scholarship at Cranfield. The day after Al's flight through Tower Bridge made the news, the CFI came in and said "None of you lot are to go anywhere near any bridges, OK?".

No doubt there'll be some Risk Assessment made which will result in the RAF's 100th anniversary flypast being conducted....in simulators :ugh:.

[jindabyne]

Hi 26er :ok:

From my logbook ----

1 Apr 68 - Chivenor

http://i.imgur.com/2NxOLvD.jpg

Also - Queen's Review Abingdon (Wittering) - 15 Jun 68

http://i.imgur.com/lZ1q93l.jpg

Hope Al is recovering ---

[26er]

Hi Jindabine,

I'm afraid that my facial recognition isn't too good now though one or two of the steely eyed killers in your photo seem familiar.

I notice that at the end of April '68 we were detached to Wittering for the Fighter Command disbandment flypast at Bently Priory. Quite a busy month in which I flew Hunters F6, T7, FGA9 and FR10, Meteor T7 and F8 and the Chipmunk. I have a photo of the parade with the aircraft overhead but all too small to pick out anything.

[CharlieJuliet]

Re # 24 above: 1/4/68 5 Sqn 6 aircraft fly past Grimsby

[jindabyne]

Sam,
Front row -
You, Price, Allison
Back row - Etheridge, Grosse, Dean, Kennedy, McKeon, Armstrong, Morris, Wharmby, Jennings

Regards - Mal

[Warmtoast]

Al. Pollock the pilot of the Hunter that flew through Tower Bridge in April 1968 wrote an article "Why I Flew my Hunter Through Tower Bridge - 5th April 1968" for "Flypast" magazine.


His article can be seen here: Jever Steam Laundry - 4 Sqn personnel Pollock 004 (http://www.rafjever.org/4sqnper004.htm)

[BBadanov]

Re #27
Hi Jindy, hard to recognise you with hair LOL
BB

[26er]

Mal,

I'm not Sam and I don't appear on the photo. It appears to have been taken on a detachment somewhere. The wing moved to St Mawgan in June 1969. By then Chris Golds had taken over 79 from Sam and I left the mob, my last flight being to position one of the Meteors there.

Mike

[Martin the Martian]

I guess £8m will cover a couple of sparkly paint jobs on Typhoon tailfins?

[jindabyne]

BBad,
Nice to hear from you mate!
But c'mon, you are/were the ugly one, regardless of the barnet ---

[jindabyne]

26er,
Look closely. We were detached from Chivenor to Wittering for around 10 days - from where we flew as part of the Queens thingy at Abingdon. A boozy time, wonderfully hosted by the Victor guys, with Nigel Price leading the way.
I'll PM you to catch up.