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campbeex
26th Dec 2021, 13:57
I only post this as the television series, "Squadron", has been mentioned a number of times on here in various posts. However, during a Boxing Day clear-out (which I've been bullied into), in the bookcase I found none other than the original book.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/591x443/20211226_143621__6b33ddb6646d4acd54a691f18c5f91e68f2c1b4d.jp g https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/591x443/20211226_143636__8ef6ca8db5b361f9bbaf68bee9550b11bce77df5.jp g

Free to a good home (perhaps in exchange for a wee donation to a charity).

BEagle
26th Dec 2021, 16:49
Around the time that programme aired, there was a rumour that some wag had put that unit down as a 1369 choice for next posting, on the grounds that "You can have a beer in the Mess bar at lunchtime wearing a flying suit"!

That was around the time that 11 Gp fun detectors had ordained that mess bars mustn't serve alcohol at lunchtime - and miseries sich as The Scottish Officer had dictated that people had to change into blues when not flying....

At Neatishead, Aunty Joan offered a couple of 11Gp visitors a beer in the pub at lunchtime and they looked rather worried about whether to refuse - until she told them it was non-alcoholic lager!

NRU74
26th Dec 2021, 21:00
Beags,
Obviously they'd never staged through Istres a 'demi' of Kronenbourg, possibly a second before going in the Dining Room for a quarter litre of red before setting off for Luqa ! (in the sixties).

Four Turbo
27th Dec 2021, 10:56
You should have seen the Transit Mess bar at Luqa at lunchtime in the 70s. All ranks in all uniforms not drinking in THEIR Mess!

Ascend Charlie
28th Dec 2021, 02:33
mess bars mustn't serve alcohol at lunchtime

Wow, that would have made the Blunties upset!

MPN11
28th Dec 2021, 10:05
That was around the time that 11 Gp fun detectors had ordained that mess bars mustn't serve alcohol at lunchtime - and miseries sich as The Scottish Officer had dictated that people had to change into blues when not flying....In the 80s I was required to go to Australia on duty for a week or so. On arrival at RAAF East Sale, after a long-ish drive [passenger] from Melbourne, my escorting colleague and I pitched up in the Bar at lunchtime. My request for a pint of OZ Practice Beer was met with a slightly shocked look ... "Errr, we don't usually drink at lunchtime." No worries, mate, I do!

teeteringhead
28th Dec 2021, 10:59
I recall in the 80s at the Secret Shropshire Helicopter Base, I was involved in the organisation of the Wings ceremony. A one- or two-star was usually par for the course; Reviewing Officer gets his bonus hours GH in the morning, late morning presentation, then posh Mess lunch with MumznDadz.

My involvement was finding and booking the Reviewing Officer; it was a popular gig for them, there was precious little admin to be done before taking Sir flying and examining the Shropshire countryside - quite closely - in the GT model Gazelle.

Was in the process of booking one Sir to do it, when bag-carrier I was talking to said:

Bag-Carrier: "And of course, being at lunchtime, there will no alcohol served".

Teeters: "And of course, being the most important date in the young men's (only men then) flying career, there WILL be alcohol served. Thank you, if that is the case, I will find another Reviewing Officer". That was the case and I duly went looking for a new Sir.

Which I did find, shortly followed by a one-on-one with the Staish, who - to his credit, had extreme difficulty keeping a straight face while "counselling me on my error of judgement".........