Unrecognisable RAF

[J.A.F.O.]

Do you ever wish you'd just not asked?

[Tim Mills]

Good thread though, J.A.F.O. Only just seen it, and want to say it was ever thus. Horsham St Faith 1953, sitting in Meatbox on ORP waiting to be scrambled on some exercise or another. Party of MPs including Defence Minister, Duncan Sandys, looking bored, waggled ailerons to amuse them, got scrambled to chase Canberras, or B45s, both of which could go faster than us. Great fun, none the less. Couple of years later, same gentleman says manned aircraft no longer required, and many squadrons disbanded, including the Hunter squadron I had nearly got myself posted to from the staff at Sylt. So ended my only chance to be a fairly fast jet pilot, rather than a pretty slow jet one.

I must admit, I reckon I was in during the best time, lots of aeroplanes, good overseas postings, and all the rest, and wouldn't have missed it for anything. But we still thought it wasn't the same as when we had joined even then, and I imagine that it will always be like that.

[J.A.F.O.]

Thanks Tim, you've probably summed it up there; nostalgia ain't what it used to be.