Why Is It That We Have To Speak English?
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Why Is It That We Have To Speak English?
An officer in the U.S. Naval reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the U.S. Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies.
The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned
Many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: "Maybe it's because
the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German."
The group became silent.
The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned
Many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: "Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?"
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: "Maybe it's because
the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so that you would not have to speak German."
The group became silent.
The local Greens near Wildenrath learned that the Harriers were being moved to Gutersloh and that F4s were moving in to replace them. They wrote letters to various local mayors, including to one just over the border in Holland, pointing out that the noise of the Phantoms would be very unpleasant.
Allegedly they received a reply along the lines of:
"We note your concern about aircraft noise. We agree that both the Harrier and Phantom are very noisy; however, we prefer such noise to the noise of the Stuka!"
And that was that!
Allegedly they received a reply along the lines of:
"We note your concern about aircraft noise. We agree that both the Harrier and Phantom are very noisy; however, we prefer such noise to the noise of the Stuka!"
And that was that!
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Quite a long time ago BBMF took the Lancaster to Cologne and there were several local moaners who claimed it was in poor taste in view of the damage inflicted on the city by bombers. They were effectively silenced by the retort that the other 999 had been left behind this time.
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Sounds just like the old BOAC Captain from the mid 70s whilst on approach to Frankfurt.
After the roll out he was given the vectors to the stand that was allocated.
The aircraft taxied off the runway, and stopped briefly whilst the captain checked with the co pilot, the airfield ground plan, to ascertain the correct route to said stand.
Frankfurt ground control called the BA aircraft
“BA XXX, FRA ground, why have you stopped just off the main active?
“FRA ground, BA XXX. Just checking our airfield plan for the best direction to the stand”.
“BA XXX, FRA ground. Why have you not been here before?”
“FRA ground, BA XXX. Yes I have, several times, but it was 1944 and I didn’t stop”.
After the roll out he was given the vectors to the stand that was allocated.
The aircraft taxied off the runway, and stopped briefly whilst the captain checked with the co pilot, the airfield ground plan, to ascertain the correct route to said stand.
Frankfurt ground control called the BA aircraft
“BA XXX, FRA ground, why have you stopped just off the main active?
“FRA ground, BA XXX. Just checking our airfield plan for the best direction to the stand”.
“BA XXX, FRA ground. Why have you not been here before?”
“FRA ground, BA XXX. Yes I have, several times, but it was 1944 and I didn’t stop”.
Let it not be said, though, that our NATO allies have no sense of humour...
When the wall came down and all the Trabbie-travellers poured over the border, they were very efficiently housed in transit camps before they were able to sort themselves out and continue onwards. I asked a Tcherman chum whether this was a long-prepared plan, or just Teutonic efficiency.
"Vell, you see ve haff had plenty of practice. Ve Tchermans know a zing or two about camps...." he replied with a wry smile!
When the wall came down and all the Trabbie-travellers poured over the border, they were very efficiently housed in transit camps before they were able to sort themselves out and continue onwards. I asked a Tcherman chum whether this was a long-prepared plan, or just Teutonic efficiency.
"Vell, you see ve haff had plenty of practice. Ve Tchermans know a zing or two about camps...." he replied with a wry smile!
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Same captain as noted earlier.
Now on the stand at Frankfurt.
A couple of stands down is a Lufthansa aircraft, which is nearly ready to push.
“FRA ground, LH XXX. Please can you check with the despatches at the gate, as my cabin crew have a discrepancy on the head count? We seem to be missing three passengers”.
Quick as a flash, before ground control can reply, a stiff upper-lipped British accent comes over the air.
“Have you checked your ovens?”
Now on the stand at Frankfurt.
A couple of stands down is a Lufthansa aircraft, which is nearly ready to push.
“FRA ground, LH XXX. Please can you check with the despatches at the gate, as my cabin crew have a discrepancy on the head count? We seem to be missing three passengers”.
Quick as a flash, before ground control can reply, a stiff upper-lipped British accent comes over the air.
“Have you checked your ovens?”
Our deutsche allies do have a sense of humour:
The scene - line hut at Cottesmore in the heady TTTE days, German major walks in to sign out a jet having just moved into OMQs a few days before:
Major: "Your houses - zey are so small! No wunder we couldn't hit zem during ze war!!"
Few months later, in August, when the stubble burning by the local farmers was in full swing, said major signs a jet back in.
Major: "It would have done my poor old father's heart good to see England in flames like this!"
Naturally, the groundcrew loved him!
The scene - line hut at Cottesmore in the heady TTTE days, German major walks in to sign out a jet having just moved into OMQs a few days before:
Major: "Your houses - zey are so small! No wunder we couldn't hit zem during ze war!!"
Few months later, in August, when the stubble burning by the local farmers was in full swing, said major signs a jet back in.
Major: "It would have done my poor old father's heart good to see England in flames like this!"
Naturally, the groundcrew loved him!
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The first Tornado Sqn was to be 617. The Boss [designate] spent a few days with 617 [Vulcan] Sqn to discuss the transition. For example, the '3 lightning' symbol representing the dams raids was to be carried on the Tornado [as it is today].
However, some knurled gnome of a civil servant decided that to base 617 Sqn in Germany would be offensive to the Germans. So 9 Sqn it was - the first Tornado Sqn, based in Germany.
Er... 9 Sqn did far more damage in WWII that 617...!
However, some knurled gnome of a civil servant decided that to base 617 Sqn in Germany would be offensive to the Germans. So 9 Sqn it was - the first Tornado Sqn, based in Germany.
Er... 9 Sqn did far more damage in WWII that 617...!
