Pull up a sandbag ~ "I remember when..
Wasn't ex-SFC Stirrup an ex-Apprentoid and member of 97 B? The entry with the lemon-and-corkscrew 'bitter and twisted' entry tie? Not a nice bunch generally, but Jock was one of the better guys, it has to be said.
The most deplorable thing about the whole UAS dumbing-down was that the outcome of the so-called 'UAS survey' had been decided beforehand. But at least one Gp Capt of high moral values resigned in protest - a very nice chap and utterly stitched up by a system he'd naiively trusted and believed in.
It wasn't all that long ago that the RAF had an efficient flying training system second to none. UAS, BFT for all (not that FJ prima donna nonsense known as 'BJFT'), AFT, TWU and OCU. Now look at it - an utter disaster with clapped out old aeroplanes, increasing numbers of elderly civvie instructors and the appalling prospect of 'we can't afford it' MFTS looming on the near horizon.....
When did it begin this death spiral? Roughly 1992, as far as I can work out. May those responsible forever boil in hell in a vat of their own excrement.
Still, NetJets are snapping up those few people who might otherwise have joined the RAF as pilots. Hardly surpising really.....
The most deplorable thing about the whole UAS dumbing-down was that the outcome of the so-called 'UAS survey' had been decided beforehand. But at least one Gp Capt of high moral values resigned in protest - a very nice chap and utterly stitched up by a system he'd naiively trusted and believed in.
It wasn't all that long ago that the RAF had an efficient flying training system second to none. UAS, BFT for all (not that FJ prima donna nonsense known as 'BJFT'), AFT, TWU and OCU. Now look at it - an utter disaster with clapped out old aeroplanes, increasing numbers of elderly civvie instructors and the appalling prospect of 'we can't afford it' MFTS looming on the near horizon.....
When did it begin this death spiral? Roughly 1992, as far as I can work out. May those responsible forever boil in hell in a vat of their own excrement.
Still, NetJets are snapping up those few people who might otherwise have joined the RAF as pilots. Hardly surpising really.....
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"and then there was........"
Saturday morning parade ( yes that's what I said ) and the lad who couldn't find his RAF blue gloves - it was a greatcoats parade - so he pulled on a pair of socks. It would have been ok except that he hadn't completely fastened the top button of his overcoat When the inspecting officer told him to do it up.............
And Greene King draught bitter in the Mess at 11p per pint.
Better than a real job
And Greene King draught bitter in the Mess at 11p per pint.
Better than a real job
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Better than a real job
). I gave up going home after a couple of years, there was nothing there I "knew" any more... 
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As a LAC MTD
Driving the CO of Coltishall G/C Roger Topp around all the Stations in East Anglia in a Standard Vanguard to the Inter Station Boxing Competitions.
Prior to the fights going to the back door of the Officers Mess and being fed superb Meals.
COs Drivers perks extra Best Blue without it was being charged to your clothing account.
Having your kit inspected at the end of March so you could get back what you had not spent of your clothing account in your pay.
Seeing the huge pay rise when the Military Salary was introduced in April 1970 and then the realisation that all the extras we had taken for granted free food, free accommodation, living out ration allowance, cheap quarters rent etc etc had disappeared.
Prior to the fights going to the back door of the Officers Mess and being fed superb Meals.
COs Drivers perks extra Best Blue without it was being charged to your clothing account.
Having your kit inspected at the end of March so you could get back what you had not spent of your clothing account in your pay.
Seeing the huge pay rise when the Military Salary was introduced in April 1970 and then the realisation that all the extras we had taken for granted free food, free accommodation, living out ration allowance, cheap quarters rent etc etc had disappeared.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Hear hear... I remember going home for weekends and walking into the pub on Saturday lunchtimes and there were all my "mates"... Same barstool, same pint, same bag of crisps in the same job, with the same boss and still never having left the county. They were astonished by the tales of my travels, (Catterick to Otterburn, Catterick to Thetford, Catterick to Aldergrove, Catterick to... Sennelager ). I gave up going home after a couple of years, there was nothing there I "knew" any more...
). I gave up going home after a couple of years, there was nothing there I "knew" any more... 
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Finningly main mess. Massive shower room with line of shower separated by curtains.
Instructor casts off towel, goes into shower.
Another body arrives and uses next shower.
Instructor humming away in tenor, barritone or whatever.
Soprano behind the curtain
He said he had never had such a long shower - on his own. We believed him!
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And Boggie Street and Change Alley, Strait Street, TakiJamSheet (sic?) in Tehran, Black Mac's Track, Lazy Leopard Lounge (Omaha), Dirty Dick's in Lalinea, Nairobi
II Sqn RAF Regiment were no longer "world travellers" when I got there. I did NI, NI, NI with a lot of Brecon, Thetford, Salisbury Plain, Sennelager, Otterburn etc. amongst them and, as a special treat, we had a Cyprus thrown in somewhere.
33 Sqn was better... That was Belize, Belize, Belize, Belize, Belize with Germany, Denmark, Norway amongst them in varying amounts and, as a special treat, we had a Jamaica thrown in somewhere.
Luckily, all locations had beer...
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I Remember etc...
When me and the rest of the "Sigs Det" walked into the Local bar at Nanyuki (Was it the Sporting Farmer)? I await to be corrected, and we all got the once over from the "Local Ladies" and were all immediately called
"Fresh Meat" and had to get the "VodiKa" and "White Top" drinks in!!
Always remeber Big Grace Though!! (I was set up)!!
"Fresh Meat" and had to get the "VodiKa" and "White Top" drinks in!!
Always remeber Big Grace Though!! (I was set up)!!
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Always remeber Big Grace Though!! (I was set up)!!
Hope you feel better now...
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- Michael Heseltine at Greenham Common in body armour.
- John T losing a 40mm M203 grenade and being charged.. 40 cents.
- Racing Chevy Blazers over the bunkers at Greenham Common.
- HTV (you really need to have walked the wire there to understand that one).
- Ok, I'll tell you. Heads Tents Vehicle checks at each camp.
- Being visited by a Group Captain who was wearing DPM.. with puttees and shoes.
- Seriously snogging some bird in the bus stop a mile outside camp late one night, and a police car pulling up.. with her dad driving it.
- Walking back, alone.
- Being spat at by a peace bitch and being called a traitor to my country.
- Accidentally opening the Chevy door in her face and asking her if she was ok.
- Generally, the warmth of the Americans at Greenham.
- PSP.. the Personal Reliability Programme (say buddy, we're gonna pull your PRP or hang your ass with an Article 15 if you continue to suggest President Reagan is dangerous).
- Redneck Doug Lassiter and his chewing tobacco.
- Doug filling 2 paper cups with baccy and phlem and putting them on the dash infront of him to compare with his buddies later.
- Marveling at the rapid acceleration of the Dodge Ram.
- Sorry Doug.. but it is a minging habit mate.
- Speaking on the internet with someone in Alaska, sometime in 1984.
- Video jukeboxes, 25 cents a pop.
- Southern Comfort and coke, in a plastic tumbler. Yum.
- American range management. (Is the line ready? Then.. aahhh, just.. go for it!!!).
- Firing the M203 practice rounds at Welford, and the wind catching the rounds and depositing them.. in the playground. The sight of day glo talc all over the kids slides was quite disturbing.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
When quarters were really really dire.
When really dire quarters were better than what was available in civvie street
When you couldn't afford a house in civvie street
When you had to live in a hiring if there were no quarters
When you had to live in a caravan on a dispersal if you were too young to marry.
When officers could not get mariage allowance until they were 25
When flt lt could captain a V-bomber at age 23.
When Chiefs ran the line
TY 3Putt, as well as age I plead illness.
When really dire quarters were better than what was available in civvie street
When you couldn't afford a house in civvie street
When you had to live in a hiring if there were no quarters
When you had to live in a caravan on a dispersal if you were too young to marry.
When officers could not get mariage allowance until they were 25
When flt lt could captain a V-bomber at age 23.
When Chiefs ran the line
TY 3Putt, as well as age I plead illness.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 15th Sep 2007 at 11:09.
I thought it was £250-ish marriage allowance pre-25 and £425-ish over 25?
Per annum, of course.
I remember as well when Officers had to ask their CO's permission to get married. A chap did that at Scampton - when the boss asked him if he was sure, he responded "Well, boss, do you want an invite to the wedding....or the christening?"
I remember when you had to be Sqn Ldr or over 30 to be allowed to have a bottle of alcohol in your room in the OM.... Nothing mentioned about the boot of your car or a disused air radi shelter, of course.
I remember when a 49 year old Specialist Aircrew Sqn Ldr wasn't allowed to have any alcohol in his possession on a Timmy trip to the Malvinas.... But some Turners' oaf could, of course...
Per annum, of course.
I remember as well when Officers had to ask their CO's permission to get married. A chap did that at Scampton - when the boss asked him if he was sure, he responded "Well, boss, do you want an invite to the wedding....or the christening?"
I remember when you had to be Sqn Ldr or over 30 to be allowed to have a bottle of alcohol in your room in the OM.... Nothing mentioned about the boot of your car or a disused air radi shelter, of course.
I remember when a 49 year old Specialist Aircrew Sqn Ldr wasn't allowed to have any alcohol in his possession on a Timmy trip to the Malvinas.... But some Turners' oaf could, of course...
I remember:
1. Folks being allowed to smoke on aircraft and the groundcrew got an extra payment to empty the ash trays added to the payment for emptying the toilets.
2. The Days when you put a travel claim in AM and most times it was ready for collection PM, or at the latest the following morning.
3. Exercises that were started at all hours and weekends and sometimes went on for a week or more.
4. Having pick axe handles as guns.
5. Having a piece of paper stating that you have an CPX NBC kit.
6. Minesweeping in the NAAFI bar when an exercise was called after all the keen people ran off immediately to go to work.
7. Not being allowed to use the HPS during exercises for more than one night/day due to H & S reasons.
8. Being able to strip search anybody during exercises regardless of the weather.
9. Being posted and there being quarters/accomodation readily available.
1. Folks being allowed to smoke on aircraft and the groundcrew got an extra payment to empty the ash trays added to the payment for emptying the toilets.
2. The Days when you put a travel claim in AM and most times it was ready for collection PM, or at the latest the following morning.
3. Exercises that were started at all hours and weekends and sometimes went on for a week or more.
4. Having pick axe handles as guns.
5. Having a piece of paper stating that you have an CPX NBC kit.
6. Minesweeping in the NAAFI bar when an exercise was called after all the keen people ran off immediately to go to work.
7. Not being allowed to use the HPS during exercises for more than one night/day due to H & S reasons.
8. Being able to strip search anybody during exercises regardless of the weather.
9. Being posted and there being quarters/accomodation readily available.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
- A 2-bed semi cost £32K in West Oxfordshire and Flt Lts were on about £15K per annum... Whereas now the same box costs £250K - I doubt whether Flt Lt pilots in the early 30s are on £117K though.
- 'During the afternoon, a Sabre of Fighter Command will break the Sound Barrier'. It did - 1954 RAF Merryfield At Home day.
- The RAF still had 'At Home' days....
- Where there were Officers' Mess enclosures with stewards serving drinks and luncheon.
- And the climax of the day was the 'Set Piece' battle with Rocks blatting away, blowing things up and charging around in lightweight Landrovers - and Hunters came in at warp lots to blow up the Baddies' castle at the end.
Gentleman Aviator
any lady whose nickname begins with "Big"
.....Templepatrick 319 rings a bell ............
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When:
Caravans were allocated as MQs at N Luff in early 60s - Thor days!
Four of us bought huge yankmobile (5000 cc engine - 5 galls/mile!) for £10
In 70, just round the corner from my downtown MQ in St Ives (Cambs) a 3-bed terrace was £3250, but being pre Military Salary, couldn't afford it!
Families Offices and Families Officers existed - at least you could speak to a face and get things sorted rather than the DHE helpline they have to put up with now! Yet another agency success story!!
Caravans were allocated as MQs at N Luff in early 60s - Thor days!
Four of us bought huge yankmobile (5000 cc engine - 5 galls/mile!) for £10
In 70, just round the corner from my downtown MQ in St Ives (Cambs) a 3-bed terrace was £3250, but being pre Military Salary, couldn't afford it!
Families Offices and Families Officers existed - at least you could speak to a face and get things sorted rather than the DHE helpline they have to put up with now! Yet another agency success story!!
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When the corporal used to come on in the Minstrels' Gallery in College Hall during port and coffee and play the Post Horn Gallop on a Lee Enfield rifle.
Gadget
Gadget
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Somebody mention Nairobbery. I remember when the Long Bar was still quite short.
Britannia detachment hiding/stealing a sick shack overnight cos the dripping oil embarrassed them.
Listening to the world Cup Final 1966 in the Spread Eagle hotel. Must try and find out who won sometime.
s37
Britannia detachment hiding/stealing a sick shack overnight cos the dripping oil embarrassed them.
Listening to the world Cup Final 1966 in the Spread Eagle hotel.
Must try and find out who won sometime.s37