RAF Uniform - What do you think?
Gentleman Aviator
Worst RAF uniform selection I saw was in Las Malvinas one time I was there (86 or 87-ish?) when the RAF Staff College visited.
Their prescribed uniform was as follows - and I'm not making it up!
Combat jacket and trousers, DMS boots and puttees (remember them!). "Elastics" on the puttees were apparently forbidden, so trousers were totally inside puttees for added elegance.
Wedgewood blue shirts, ties and blue vee-neck jumpers (then the latest thing, which many had to buy to conform!) .... and SD hats!
I may just have a picture somewhere .....
Brought tears to the eyes of this beret-wearing (working-class, grammar-school educated, non-graduate etc etc) SH bloke and took some explaining to the Army mates I was working with at the time........
... but I do not own any polyester - whatever that may be.....
Their prescribed uniform was as follows - and I'm not making it up!
Combat jacket and trousers, DMS boots and puttees (remember them!). "Elastics" on the puttees were apparently forbidden, so trousers were totally inside puttees for added elegance.
Wedgewood blue shirts, ties and blue vee-neck jumpers (then the latest thing, which many had to buy to conform!) .... and SD hats!
I may just have a picture somewhere .....
Brought tears to the eyes of this beret-wearing (working-class, grammar-school educated, non-graduate etc etc) SH bloke and took some explaining to the Army mates I was working with at the time........
... but I do not own any polyester - whatever that may be.....
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Britain
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A flying unit (probably clocking up far more hours than anyone in today's RAF).
2 x working No 1s
2 x old style barrathea battledresses
1 x old style "hairy blue" battledress
.......and not a grow bag in sight! oh, and drinking during working hours - now that wouldn't be allowed now - would it?
2 x working No 1s
2 x old style barrathea battledresses
1 x old style "hairy blue" battledress
.......and not a grow bag in sight! oh, and drinking during working hours - now that wouldn't be allowed now - would it?
ing grass!!
off with blues on under coveralls - trust me, you don't wanna see me out of mine
Nixor ut Ledo
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In a Beaut of a State
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tonka They were celebrating the placement of the new unit signboard in 1972 or 1973. Where did you want them to stand - a mile away on the concrete? 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Britain
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Waleshire
Age: 60
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
(And the fact that those working No.1s haven't seen an iron in about 5 years!)
Standards gentlemen.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North of England
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahh the good old days?
The worthy characters in the photo are notable by the absence of medal ribbons, compared with todays' average (sic) junior officer. However, bring back No 1s as an alternative to a suit, I say...
Now domociled in an Army Mess - turned up late from the office the other night and put a No 1 coat over my No 2s in order to enter the Dining Room after normal working hours. The expression amongst the Donkey Wallopers was one of incredulity...Why wasn't I wearing russet cords with my No 1s?
Now domociled in an Army Mess - turned up late from the office the other night and put a No 1 coat over my No 2s in order to enter the Dining Room after normal working hours. The expression amongst the Donkey Wallopers was one of incredulity...Why wasn't I wearing russet cords with my No 1s?
He's just standing in front of a tree, surely?
And what is wrong with standing on the grass? If cows can eat it, dogs can crap on it, aircrew can walk on it!
As for sartorial standards, these are mad GSU boffins. They probably have slide rules in their pockets, odd socks and curled up collars - so it's amazing that they are even wearing RAF uniform of a recognisable pattern at all!
By the way, one has one's No. 1 pressed by one's batman. Or by a dry cleaner. One most certainly does not 'iron' it!
And what is wrong with standing on the grass? If cows can eat it, dogs can crap on it, aircrew can walk on it!
As for sartorial standards, these are mad GSU boffins. They probably have slide rules in their pockets, odd socks and curled up collars - so it's amazing that they are even wearing RAF uniform of a recognisable pattern at all!
By the way, one has one's No. 1 pressed by one's batman. Or by a dry cleaner. One most certainly does not 'iron' it!
Inter Arma Enim Silentius Lex Legis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: England
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Those were the days when being the RAAAAF meant having fun, kudos, a good time, time to enjoy with your mates and family and above all a laugh.
Happy days long gone!
Happy days long gone!
TAC Int Bloke
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And their excuse for having hands in pockets, and the enormous bouffant in the centre?
Nixor ut Ledo
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In a Beaut of a State
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
....and yer didn't iron the hairy blues - yer hammered them! And to get the creases to stay in one put soap on the insides to glue them together! 'Twas a bugger in the rain. 
CS 95??? Fit for woozes only
CS 95??? Fit for woozes only
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Age: 76
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
...notable by the absence of medal ribbons,
As for desert rig, this is what a proper Bomber Squadron looked like when "in theatre" in 1970.
and this is a proper V Bomber crew haircut...
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: my own, private hell
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Republic of the Philippines ex L1011 GE
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Are you the stroker who's just told the Lo$$iemouth Stn Cdr that you've seen too many aircrew in Elgin wearing flying suits whilst doing their shopping? "
Why would you want to go to the supermarket or general shopping in any uniform? It makes you an obvious tarket for all kinds of nutters. Al Quieda, IRA,
etc etc
Why would you want to go to the supermarket or general shopping in any uniform? It makes you an obvious tarket for all kinds of nutters. Al Quieda, IRA,
etc etc
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
