The ONE piece of kit..

[It's Not Working]

My father's 'housewife,' I think that's the right term. Issued to him when he joined the RAF during the war (39-45) and in use by me on every posting since joining in early 70s albeit with newer contents. Still got a couple of years to go until we both retire (the housewife and I not my father and I - oh never mind).

[BEagle]

Most useful - the superb comp can opener! Also some nearly new combat highs which they didn't want back.

Oldest - the astonishingly resilient 1968-issue black nylon socks which are still intact nearly 40 years later.

Still have the green plastic mug, mess tins - but proper BA cutlery to go with it as befits han hossifer!

Really miss the S10 gassie........NOT!!

[Al R]

.. respirator!!

[Oggin Aviator]

My grandfather managed to keep the bullet that shot away his tongue in WW1. However he never spoke about the incident.

[BOAC]

Mine is my bang seat - and yes.

[4mastacker]

"Who remembers 'FoFaD'? This ('F#ck off, fire at Donnington') was the answer you always used to get from the stackers in the early 80s whenever you went to Stores to get something. "

Gentlemen, if I may elaborate on that. Yes, the two (at least) fires at Donnington did queer the pitch a bit with a lot of the kit the Army were meant to provide, especially if you drove tanks. I suspect it was their rather quaint way of resolving stocktaking discrepancies...

There was, however, a one-man crime wave at a Hampshire helicopter base which had a devastating effect on the availability of flying clothing. The culprit was flogging all the good stuff in and around Odiham, Aldershot and at a stall at Blackbushe. He even kept a book of who bought what and when, which made for good reading at the Summary of Evidence. He got 3 and a half years for burglary but the impact of his deeds resounded for a long time afterwards, much to the frustration of our (legitimate) customers.

[Fg Off Max Stout]

That must be why I had a couple of flying suits on order for over 2 years. When 'they' arrived it was one flying suit, wrong size, wrong mark, wrong colour. Still waiting for the reorder.

[4mastacker]

Still waiting since the 1980's??? Have you upset somebody?

[Fg Off Max Stout]

Bit more recent than that, but I'm sure some jaffa cake bribery would have greased the wheels!

[barnstormer1968]

hmmm, dare I tell?

I will admit that there is a rumour, that I have not just loads of tin opener's, but also body armour, combat suits (several), webbing, helmet, respirator, lots of boot's. the list is endless (it's rumoured anyway)but there is an item that somebody took (supposedly) that beats any so far. I just checked on the G10 watch I seem to be wearing, and there is time to type this one out.
Once upon a time, a fox armoured reconnaissance vehicle broke down while on a training exercise, so it was towed to a military base, and left for collection by it's parent unit. Somehow the paperwork got mis-layed, so it just sat there for six months. A REME craftsman sussed it would just stay forever, and decided that would be a waste, so he took it home, where it is to this day. It's rumoured that it appears regularly at military shows. Now this is only a rumour of course. But it does look good now it's been repainted!.

[4mastacker]

Jaffa cakes?? Sorry, that's possibly the wrong currency...may I suggest changing to dealing in 'slabs'... that usually worked .

[Al R]

Good effort. I salute you. I live near this lot;

http://www.witham-sv.com/Gallery/Gallery.htm

I do like the idea of this for 7.5 k.. a 1947 Meteor powered Centurian with low miles. Did they just forget about it do you think?

http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=361&Overide=1

I gave this the once over. Typical cheapo MoD spec. Naff Spax shocks on it.

http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=1089&Overide=1

Green Goddess sir? Even the Africans don't want 'em.

http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=372&Overide=1

[Maple 01]

I met an East German Engenering officer who walked off with most of JG9 including two Mig 23s, a Mig 21, a Mig 19 and a Mig 15. He hid them on the third floor of a powerstation he was 'looking after' - they now form a large part of the museum at Penemunde

[Al R]

Well done that man Mapes. I almost forgot. Prizing the cannon from this little honey, over the course of a month or two took a bit of an effort. Covertly dissmantling the local sim however, was totally beyond the two of us.

[Maple 01]

Spotters will note the early model MiGG21 UTI* - Herr Proffer (EGAF) was good, but not that good
I know this because I was reading my recci books, rather than down the gym....

[ShyTorque]

There was, however, a one-man crime wave at a Hampshire helicopter base which had a devastating effect on the availability of flying clothing. The culprit was flogging all the good stuff in and around Odiham, Aldershot and at a stall at Blackbushe. He even kept a book of who bought what and when, which made for good reading at the Summary of Evidence. He got 3 and a half years for burglary but the impact of his deeds resounded for a long time afterwards, much to the frustration of our (legitimate) customers.

I sat in his court martial , as an "officer under instruction"! He had his own set of keys and was nicking huge amounts of stuff to order.

I got ripped off by the system regarding my watch. I lost a clockwork one I'd had for years during an NBC trial crashout "Scramble" and got charged for an all singing all dancing electric one, which I had to give back when I left.

The only useful thing I seemed to gain was my trusty chinagraph propelling pencil and a nearly full packet of the coveted brown wax refills. They will probably last me out until I retire, the pencil still works after nearly fourteen years. Much better than the watch, as it happens!

[parabellum]

When I left I had to hand in the watch, it was an Omega then, couldn't keep anything, not even a pair of well worn 'gloves, cape leather'. The QM had a full list of everything and demanded every item back, miserable sod.
Have several compo tin openers though, and a stable belt!

[Al R]

Spotters will note the early model MiGG21 UTI* - Herr Proffer (EGAF) was good, but not that good
I know this because I was reading my recci books, rather than down the gym....

' morning Mapes,

.. you're quite possibly right about the variant! But where and when were the fots taken ? There are some obvious clues in there.. I'd be interested to see which ones you pick up on.

With regards to the kit, I forgot about my Belstaff biking gear. Rubbish in cold weather, but it'd keep you drier than a nun in a Libyan brickyard. Great for driving small open 2 seaters too if a squall seems likely.

An early start to the day in the garden if I'm to watch the GP later with a clear conscience. A pot of tea, doves cooing through the French windows, a Porkinsons butty, the onset of a cracking day, peace and quiet.. who could ask for anything more?

[SSSETOWTF]

The S10 has to be the thing to go for. It's far and away the best dust mask with built in eye protection you could ever want when you're DIY-ing. (scares my cats though)

[PICKS135]

trying to recoup some money from the SoA fiasco ??

http://www.witham-sv.com/Gallery/Exh...exibishion.htm