The ONE piece of kit..
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
The ONE piece of kit..
.. the one, the ONLY one piece of kit you want (wanted) to leave with? And did you get away with it?
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Mine was a rather spiffing Seiko watch with lots of shiny dials on it and a compo tin opener (ok, thats two).
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Mine was a rather spiffing Seiko watch with lots of shiny dials on it and a compo tin opener (ok, thats two).
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
Two eh? did we run out of fingers to count them with or did you just get confused and panic? I take it you are very proud of your Aircrew Seiko watch? Will you be selling it on ebay?
I got issued one fair and square and seeing as I haven't worn one (or any other watch for that matter) for about 14 years, its a fair bet to say that, no.. I wouldn't be 'selling it on ebay' (how terribly gauche to do such a thing). That is, if I had one anyway, which of course, I don't. Seen below, a photographer's impression.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
Didn't everyone have Animal straps in the 90s? 
For general interest of course, I attach a link which may be of mild interest to all MoD Japanese wrist watch afficienados.
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9346
For general interest of course, I attach a link which may be of mild interest to all MoD Japanese wrist watch afficienados.
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9346
Joined: Aug 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
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From: Tennessee - Smoky Mountains
Helmet, plain old GS Mk 6. No, I didn't get away with it.
Almost everything else though. Can't for the life of me work out why, but the de-kit storeman wanted my green plastic mug, and my helmet.
Everything else was mine. After 15 years' total service, blagging left right and centre, and all he wanted was a worthless used green plastic mug, and the ONLY thing I really wanted to keep, since it kept me safe. If only I had just paid the bill and kept it.
Almost everything else though. Can't for the life of me work out why, but the de-kit storeman wanted my green plastic mug, and my helmet.
Everything else was mine. After 15 years' total service, blagging left right and centre, and all he wanted was a worthless used green plastic mug, and the ONLY thing I really wanted to keep, since it kept me safe. If only I had just paid the bill and kept it.
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Bit nosey aren't you
Got the helmet, g suit, leg restraints etc when they were written off by flying clothing. Seemed like a great idea at the time but apart from watching the odd 9 year old playing fighter pilot they just block up my wardrobe.
Joined: Sep 2006
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Somewhere flat
Ghostflyer:
Sell it to a fighter controller. The majority have the same mental age as a 9 year old and they would play with it more often.
Light blue touch-paper and retire to a safe distance.........
Sell it to a fighter controller. The majority have the same mental age as a 9 year old and they would play with it more often.
Light blue touch-paper and retire to a safe distance.........
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
I've still got my pusser's Mk2A bone dome, and just about everything else from Flying Clothing store
All except the string vests, which had to be returned, and the RAF blue boxer shorts, one pair missing which cost me £1.30
I'm sure that they re-issued the one pair that I returned 
All except the string vests, which had to be returned, and the RAF blue boxer shorts, one pair missing which cost me £1.30
I'm sure that they re-issued the one pair that I returned
Red On, Green On
Joined: May 2004
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From: Between the woods and the water
I've still got a compo tin opener, and a pair of long johns issued to me in 1978 that were made in 1953. A compo tin opener is a great "what's this for" quiz item.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: United Kingdom
There was a time (Seiko) that I would have 'lost' my watch, but now that it has been replaced with a cheap Pulsar; when the day comes, they can have the lot back.
I in turn will rejoice at getting the ammount of garage space that is presently filled with crap that I cannot meanwhile return. Such as AR5, issued in 1987 and timex decades ago, but cannot be returned as nobody on my unit can 'service it' before the blunties will take it.
I in turn will rejoice at getting the ammount of garage space that is presently filled with crap that I cannot meanwhile return. Such as AR5, issued in 1987 and timex decades ago, but cannot be returned as nobody on my unit can 'service it' before the blunties will take it.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
Aaah, the long johns. I lied of course, I have more than one item. I have (annoyingly) just the one puttee (still beautifully pressed), a ghillie suit (great for hide and seek), and a few other odds and ends.. 
. 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. They should have come to me instead.
Ok, you mentioned quiz questions. What is the proper term for a compo sweet? In fact, don't waste valuable time fretting, I'll tell you. Its 'Confectionary/ General Service Issue/ Hard boiled/ Colour various/ Suck or chew'.
. 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. They should have come to me instead.Ok, you mentioned quiz questions. What is the proper term for a compo sweet? In fact, don't waste valuable time fretting, I'll tell you. Its 'Confectionary/ General Service Issue/ Hard boiled/ Colour various/ Suck or chew'.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: @exRAF_Al
Bouy says: The specification for "Stop Watches 1992" is a riveting read.
http://www.dstan.mod.uk/
Hows this for a catchy strapline? Is not 'Achieving Interoperability Through Standardization Excellence' a right royal belter? Aside from their inability to standardise standardization with the rest of the MoD, I would have a little more confidence in them if they could at least standardise use of the fullstop on their home page.
Red On, Green On
Joined: May 2004
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From: Between the woods and the water
'FoFaD'
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Kammbronn
The only item I handed in when I demobbed was my No2s. Since they'd lasted 18 years, with several tailorings, they weren't missed.
The storeman at Lisburn couldn't find any of my records. Probably because they were handed to me several years earlier. To be fair, the growbags had only sentimental value, and the two bonedomes only collect dust these days. The watch became a birthday gift for a mate, but the socks, both aircrew and G10 are still in use 11 years after leaving.
The storeman at Lisburn couldn't find any of my records. Probably because they were handed to me several years earlier. To be fair, the growbags had only sentimental value, and the two bonedomes only collect dust these days. The watch became a birthday gift for a mate, but the socks, both aircrew and G10 are still in use 11 years after leaving.
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Originally Posted by diginagain
but the socks, both aircrew and G10 are still in use 11 years after leaving.
My flying boots, issued 1974, are still used for aviating
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Kammbronn
Very funny, John. The big surprise is that they've survived repeated boiling in the rig laundry.
On reflection, the biggest prof has to be a certified copy of my complete medical records, very handy when it came time to make a disability claim, as the originals had 'disappeared'.
On reflection, the biggest prof has to be a certified copy of my complete medical records, very handy when it came time to make a disability claim, as the originals had 'disappeared'.