RAF Uniform - What do you think?
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I just wondered why an Army Sergeant is wearing a CS95 shirt with a 'Royal Air Force' name plate thing on them.
Unless of course he is ashamed of his RAF Blue Rank Slide and is a wannabe pongo...
CC
Unless of course he is ashamed of his RAF Blue Rank Slide and is a wannabe pongo...
CC
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Naval eye - why does the RAF wear blue, your trivia question?
As I recall, the Tsar (of Russia) had ordered some new cloth for his Imperial Guard's uniform, unfortunately there was a revolution & he didn't need the cloth any more. Shortly afterwards the RAF formed, the cloth was going begging, & the RAF's tradition of doing everything on ther cheap was started when it snapped it up - that it was roughly the colour of the sky was only fortuitous.
As I recall, the Tsar (of Russia) had ordered some new cloth for his Imperial Guard's uniform, unfortunately there was a revolution & he didn't need the cloth any more. Shortly afterwards the RAF formed, the cloth was going begging, & the RAF's tradition of doing everything on ther cheap was started when it snapped it up - that it was roughly the colour of the sky was only fortuitous.
At least Clive is wearing proper aircrew apparel....
Not the bona-mate piss-flap boots, but his Breitling Aerospace!!
Does he really wear the Aircrew Leather Jacket with blunty-blues? Sound fellow!
Not the bona-mate piss-flap boots, but his Breitling Aerospace!!
Does he really wear the Aircrew Leather Jacket with blunty-blues? Sound fellow!
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I believe that when they were looking for a cloth for the soon to be formed RAF in 1918 they discover a huge stack of the stuff that had been ordered by the Tsar of Russia. It was and still is blue/grey as per the order. Obviously, he had at that point been deposed and the cloth was going nowhere!
Sorry Ken Scott, been sitting with the website open never saw your post until I came out of site and it updated as I went back in! At least we knew the answer!
Last edited by BeefyBoy; 24th Sep 2006 at 20:28. Reason: site updated after I posted
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Ditch the Blues
I for one believe that the RAF should ditch it's No 2 blue uniform and replace it with CS95 (and growbags for the stick monkeys). It would shock a few people into remembering that we are a fighting and deployable force. It would also save a bob or two on the old supply (sorry 'stores') chain and logistics (especially if the Navy adopted it aswell). We would still have our corporate identity through our No 1s and No 5s and the 'TRF'. Anyone who comes up with a good reason for wearing blues to work should have the x-factor payment removed from their pay packet.
TAC Int Bloke
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Tell my you're not in the RAF shawshank, if I'd wanted to be a pongo I'd have joined them!
we've got one, it's blue, and there's a matching rucksack - move on
corporate identity
we've got one, it's blue, and there's a matching rucksack - move on
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
CS 95 is a clever ploy by the Medical Branch - If it fits, you are in dire need of the services of a dietician or an orthopedic surgeon, thus removing the need to screen for these conditions.
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Always love crabs trying to dress up as soldiers. Famous Quote " The RAF does not have traditions - for they have only been established for less than 100 years, therefore they only have bad habits".
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Just to add to Beefy and Ken's reply's
... Also the name "Crab Fat" came from the colour of the uniform as it was the same colour as the cream (AKA Crab-Fat)that the trench-Soldiers used to use to de-louse themselves.
Where's my Anorak?
... Also the name "Crab Fat" came from the colour of the uniform as it was the same colour as the cream (AKA Crab-Fat)that the trench-Soldiers used to use to de-louse themselves.
Where's my Anorak?
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AM Sir Clive Loader
Once a single seat stick monkey always a single seat stick monkey. Saw him when he was OC Laarbruch in the early/mid 90's. Absolutley typical Harrier mate! I'll leave you to make your own minds up on that one. Notwithstanding that however, watch out for his immenent replacement; ex Bucc and GR1 SM what I used to fly behind, back in the middle 80's!! Wonder who that might be then?
Foldingwings might know though.
Foldingwings might know though.
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Althenick, Beefy and Ken.
At my mandatory Service history session at PEMBROKE, many, many years ago, we were told it was to do with the drums of crab fat that followed the RNAS around. The story was that it was used as a preservative on early flying machines. Accordingly, in the age-old tradition of banter, aviators and their riggers/mechanics/fitters were "Crab Fats". When the RNAS was subsumed within the RAF, the nickname went with it. That would predate any blue grey uniform, though.
Anorak dried and aired.
At my mandatory Service history session at PEMBROKE, many, many years ago, we were told it was to do with the drums of crab fat that followed the RNAS around. The story was that it was used as a preservative on early flying machines. Accordingly, in the age-old tradition of banter, aviators and their riggers/mechanics/fitters were "Crab Fats". When the RNAS was subsumed within the RAF, the nickname went with it. That would predate any blue grey uniform, though.
Anorak dried and aired.
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...The dude on the right avoided a slagging? He's a baboon. His heels are not together. His head is not high. His eyes are not forward. Don't let him near your kids - they'll be scarred for life. 
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation In particular..... RFC, RNAS & RAF Ranks and Insignia. See the interim, Initial and Final Uniform Designs.
The original proposal (by Lt-Gen Sir David Henderson) was to use a combination of Naval and Army ranks for the new service. However, the War Office felt that the new service should have its own rank titles and also that the original list gave senior officers naval ranks and junior officers military ones. On the other hand, the Admiralty objected to the use of naval ranks, even with the addition of the word 'Air', and also suggested that the RAF adopt its own titles.
The final choice of titles are those still in use today and shown below. However prior to arriving at these an initial list of titles was suggested:-
Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth-Ardian, Third-Ardian, Second-Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal.
Ardian was derived from the Gaelic 'Ard' meaning Chief and 'Ian' or 'Eun' meaning Bird...............
The original proposal (by Lt-Gen Sir David Henderson) was to use a combination of Naval and Army ranks for the new service. However, the War Office felt that the new service should have its own rank titles and also that the original list gave senior officers naval ranks and junior officers military ones. On the other hand, the Admiralty objected to the use of naval ranks, even with the addition of the word 'Air', and also suggested that the RAF adopt its own titles.
The final choice of titles are those still in use today and shown below. However prior to arriving at these an initial list of titles was suggested:-
Ensign, Lieutenant, Flight-Leader, Squadron-Leader, Reeve, Banneret, Fourth-Ardian, Third-Ardian, Second-Ardian, Ardian, Air Marshal.
Ardian was derived from the Gaelic 'Ard' meaning Chief and 'Ian' or 'Eun' meaning Bird...............
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I remember the 1st request from OOA for a set of brevets so the det cdr could have them on his combats - 96-97 IIRC - we laughed our bits off - how sad. Shame it has perpetuated.
Boots are either for flying in or walking in - and I doubt he is going to fly in that uniform. Sleeves are either up or down, not jauntily in between. Chip bags are for blues or flying suits, berets are for combats.
Boots are either for flying in or walking in - and I doubt he is going to fly in that uniform. Sleeves are either up or down, not jauntily in between. Chip bags are for blues or flying suits, berets are for combats.