RAF Exchange Pilot upsets the yanks
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RAF Exchange Pilot upsets the yanks
Picture: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-say-long.html
He may be fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, but an RAF fighter pilot is facing a battle of a different kind - keeping his handlebar moustache.
RAF pilots have a proud tradition of showing off their facial hair, but Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball hit turbulence when an American General told him to reduce the length of his handlebar offering.
After he refused, Chris, on an exchange posting with the American Air Force and currently operating in his 1,500mph F-15 fighter-bomber in Afghanistan, was told that American pilots were only allowed to grow small moustaches.
With the other pilots of the 366 Fighter Squadron wondering what their English colleague would do, Mr Ball turned to the Queen for help in saving his facial hair.
No, not her Majesty personally, but Queen's Regulations to find out the permitted size of an RAF moustache.
He measured it and to his delight discovered that the whiskers did not contravene the regulations.
Chris said: 'The yanks are not allowed to grow a full length tash.
'After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code.'
He took his findings to the General and after an 'exchange of views', emerged with a victory roll of his handlebar moustache.
Pip Pip Old Chap!!
He may be fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, but an RAF fighter pilot is facing a battle of a different kind - keeping his handlebar moustache.
RAF pilots have a proud tradition of showing off their facial hair, but Flight Lieutenant Chris Ball hit turbulence when an American General told him to reduce the length of his handlebar offering.
After he refused, Chris, on an exchange posting with the American Air Force and currently operating in his 1,500mph F-15 fighter-bomber in Afghanistan, was told that American pilots were only allowed to grow small moustaches.
With the other pilots of the 366 Fighter Squadron wondering what their English colleague would do, Mr Ball turned to the Queen for help in saving his facial hair.
No, not her Majesty personally, but Queen's Regulations to find out the permitted size of an RAF moustache.
He measured it and to his delight discovered that the whiskers did not contravene the regulations.
Chris said: 'The yanks are not allowed to grow a full length tash.
'After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code.'
He took his findings to the General and after an 'exchange of views', emerged with a victory roll of his handlebar moustache.
Pip Pip Old Chap!!
He took his findings to the General and after an 'exchange of views', emerged with a victory roll of his handlebar moustache.
This thread wont last long hair today, gone tomorrow....
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Fantastic stuff - Sometimes the smallest victories are the most satisfying. Nice one Chris! 
Last edited by D-IFF_ident; 12th Jun 2008 at 17:29. Reason: spollinge
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Chaps - I think this is a first.
This 'story' was in the latest RAF News. Do you think the Mail has lazy journalism and took the story too? RAF News - always the first to know.
This 'story' was in the latest RAF News. Do you think the Mail has lazy journalism and took the story too? RAF News - always the first to know.
Spams with moustaches always seem to have something of the 'Blue Oyster' or 'YMCA' about them.....
...and they look like the pictures one used to see of 'spivs' in the 1950s!
...and they look like the pictures one used to see of 'spivs' in the 1950s!
I once worked with a moustachioed USAF exchange officer who would shave his off prior to having his annual 'fitrep' photograph taken. He told me that moustaches were seen as not main stream..
He also brought in his plastic wrapped No1 which was in the finest condition of any No 1 uniform I'd ever seen. Worn once a year, moustache-less, for the photo..
He also brought in his plastic wrapped No1 which was in the finest condition of any No 1 uniform I'd ever seen. Worn once a year, moustache-less, for the photo..
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A small amount of Google research unearths the USAF & RAF dress regs.
USAF - Mustache will not extend downward beyond the lipline of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corner of the mouth.
RAF - If a moustache is worn, the upper lip is to be unshaven and the moustache is not to extend below the edge of the mouth.
Appears to indicate the RAF allow 'taches of any length, as long as they don't droop.
USAF - Mustache will not extend downward beyond the lipline of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corner of the mouth.
RAF - If a moustache is worn, the upper lip is to be unshaven and the moustache is not to extend below the edge of the mouth.
Appears to indicate the RAF allow 'taches of any length, as long as they don't droop.
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An american colleague on exchange once explained that I would get nowhere within the USAF as I had a moustache and did not have a 'college degree' - nice to see they concentrate on the essentials! And I thought being able to fly competently would help...........
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Mnice,
Not strictly true, you must be able to get on in the USAF as I recently saw a Major with a tash.................pity really as apart from that she was as fit as a robbers dog
Not strictly true, you must be able to get on in the USAF as I recently saw a Major with a tash.................pity really as apart from that she was as fit as a robbers dog
Buttonpusher
The F15 is awesome. I love the GR4 but this beast is about 50 per cent bigger and armed to the teeth. It is a truly phenomenal plane."
I say....a flogging for the old boy right after tea....
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FLCH
Yes, but he was talking the truth - Strike Eagle vs GR4? Elephant raping a mouse is the analogy that comes to mind. But you are right though - you sort of picture clean, shaven young thrusting aircrew unstrapping from the jet, not some fat bloke with a slug balancing on his top lip.........................
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Small victories are important indeed.
Another one he could try is walking around a deployed US base in his own clothes, while 1799 Yanks all wear their official PT kit (which I'm sure he does).......Because wearing of US PT gear would not readily identify you as a member of a foreign military, which you must be at all times (Geneva convention, Laws od armed conflict etc). AFI 16-107 if you need a reference
Oh, and refuse the Anthrax shot. That would get the whole system wound up.......I'd imagine......
Another one he could try is walking around a deployed US base in his own clothes, while 1799 Yanks all wear their official PT kit (which I'm sure he does).......Because wearing of US PT gear would not readily identify you as a member of a foreign military, which you must be at all times (Geneva convention, Laws od armed conflict etc). AFI 16-107 if you need a reference
Oh, and refuse the Anthrax shot. That would get the whole system wound up.......I'd imagine......
Last edited by FFP; 13th Jun 2008 at 05:21.
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Chris earned the name "Safety Head" a few years ago, by using his bonce as a brake to protect the rest of his body in a kite flying incident.
I guess his tash is a further level of protection should the Safety Head be required again. Good thinking, Chris.
I guess his tash is a further level of protection should the Safety Head be required again. Good thinking, Chris.
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Some 40 years ago a US Navy Lt Cdr ops guy came across to our carrier at sea for a short visit, [I forget the reason]. He was preceded by a signal telling us we were NOT to remove his mustache [sic]. The gentleman concerned was adorned with a Kaiser Wilhelm type waxed structure on his upper lip, [unlike our full set only permitted items]. It also was unusual as it was quite curved at the ends, protruded a fair distance, like a warthog, and obviously it took considerable grooming to maintain the thing. It certainly would not have survived under a P2b mask, but he was not an aviator. A fair amount of discussion was carried out in the wardroom bar at lunchtime as to a:- the uses he put it to, perhaps as an aerial aboard, or some more exotic functions ashore......, and b:- whether removing one side only would contravene the signal! It is perhaps fortunate that he stayed on board only for a day, and so survived the attentions of our fighter squadron when the evenings' bar session was in full swing!! He could not have lasted a full tour with it, that's for sure.