The Odd Hint to the RAF
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The Odd Hint to the RAF
I have in my possession a small book entitled 'The Odd Hint to the RAF' that was written by someone with the nom de plume of 'Wing Commander' and published in 1919. A rattling good read, it contains a wealth of good advice!
For example: 'Flying is the keystone duty of the whole Force. If we do not fly, there would be no Force. Therefore, fly, keep on flying, and encourage your officers and men to fly. But always have a definite object in view. Joy flying is merely a waste of Government petrol'.
And on the social side: 'There are only two classes in the world - the bounders and the others. There are, unfortunately, bounders in every stratum of society; but fortunately they all carry the same 'mark of the beast' and are easily detected by their very conspicuousness. Avoid them my son. There are nice people who will never make you conspicuous anywhere, and you will find them in all classes. But human nature being what it is, if you must go out with bounders culled either from the top or bottom of society, do so in plain clothes, and if possible - for the honour of your Service - wear a false moustache and deny your profession'.
And finally: 'There is one other curse which, if permitted in the Service, ruins efficiency as surely as uncontrolled drink, and introduces a thousand and one minor misfortunes sufficient to pave a primrose way for an army. And the name of this curse is - married junior officers'.
These and many of the other 'Hints' go a long way to explain why, 45-50 years later, we were told to wear hats when going off-Station at South Cerney (doubtless to differentiate us from the 'bounders' at the local Agricutural College) and informed that we had to write and ask our Sqn CO for permission to marry when under 25 yrs old.
For example: 'Flying is the keystone duty of the whole Force. If we do not fly, there would be no Force. Therefore, fly, keep on flying, and encourage your officers and men to fly. But always have a definite object in view. Joy flying is merely a waste of Government petrol'.
And on the social side: 'There are only two classes in the world - the bounders and the others. There are, unfortunately, bounders in every stratum of society; but fortunately they all carry the same 'mark of the beast' and are easily detected by their very conspicuousness. Avoid them my son. There are nice people who will never make you conspicuous anywhere, and you will find them in all classes. But human nature being what it is, if you must go out with bounders culled either from the top or bottom of society, do so in plain clothes, and if possible - for the honour of your Service - wear a false moustache and deny your profession'.
And finally: 'There is one other curse which, if permitted in the Service, ruins efficiency as surely as uncontrolled drink, and introduces a thousand and one minor misfortunes sufficient to pave a primrose way for an army. And the name of this curse is - married junior officers'.
These and many of the other 'Hints' go a long way to explain why, 45-50 years later, we were told to wear hats when going off-Station at South Cerney (doubtless to differentiate us from the 'bounders' at the local Agricutural College) and informed that we had to write and ask our Sqn CO for permission to marry when under 25 yrs old.
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I remember one Flying Officer who wouldn't salute a cortege as it passed. RAF Northolt being on the main route to West London's crematorium is no excuse - what a 'Bounder!' I expect he was married too!
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Ah! Fond memories of South Cerney and its barrage of b******t.
Fortunately we only experienced a short ex-UAS course in 1960 but still wore hats when visiting local hostelries on Sundays.
When a long weekend break was abruptly and cynically cancelled by an arrogant Sqn Commander for a minor indescretion on parade, a question raised by one of the course immedietly brought sanity to the situation.
As the son of a Duke, this coursemember enquired whether the Prime Minister could be informed as to the banned break since he was dining with him on the weekend!
All the course were released without further discussion.
My personal view is that if the same argument was deployed these days,with the present encombents of No 10 we would probably have endured
cancellations of all future course breaks!
Fortunately we only experienced a short ex-UAS course in 1960 but still wore hats when visiting local hostelries on Sundays.
When a long weekend break was abruptly and cynically cancelled by an arrogant Sqn Commander for a minor indescretion on parade, a question raised by one of the course immedietly brought sanity to the situation.
As the son of a Duke, this coursemember enquired whether the Prime Minister could be informed as to the banned break since he was dining with him on the weekend!
All the course were released without further discussion.
My personal view is that if the same argument was deployed these days,with the present encombents of No 10 we would probably have endured
cancellations of all future course breaks!
Last edited by Foul-Sudan; 27th Apr 2006 at 09:38.
