Crabs
Crabs
Derogatory term used by the Royal Navy when referring to the RAF. The blue RAF uniform is similar in colour to the grease (known as 'crabfat') used on Navy gun breeches. The grease was so called because it in turn resembled the colour of the ointment used to treat sailors for 'crabs' (genital lice!).
But why are army types called 'pongos'?
The best anti-RAF nickname I heard was from someone on this site who told of some utter ar$e RAF officer who was on an exchange with the Army Air Corps. Where he earned the nickname 'Lobster'; he thought that this was because he was rather a 'superior crab'. Whereas in fact it was merely because, like a lobster he had a thick shell and had his bowels in his head!
The best anti-RAF nickname I heard was from someone on this site who told of some utter ar$e RAF officer who was on an exchange with the Army Air Corps. Where he earned the nickname 'Lobster'; he thought that this was because he was rather a 'superior crab'. Whereas in fact it was merely because, like a lobster he had a thick shell and had his bowels in his head!
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Please allow me.
Apparently "Where ever the Army goes the pong goes with them". Hence the term Pongo's.
I think it originates from the Royal Marines but I could be wrong.
Incedently why do they call them booties ?
[edited because it was early in the morning]
[ 11 October 2001: Message edited by: dwaynedibley ]
Apparently "Where ever the Army goes the pong goes with them". Hence the term Pongo's.
I think it originates from the Royal Marines but I could be wrong.
Incedently why do they call them booties ?
[edited because it was early in the morning]
[ 11 October 2001: Message edited by: dwaynedibley ]
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I was told that onboard carriers, RAF "crab" pilots walked sideways on ship because they hadn't got their sea legs unlike their fishead colleagues.
Genital lice puts a different meaning on the word "carrier"!
Genital lice puts a different meaning on the word "carrier"!
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Simple really. The reason RAF types walk sideways on naval ships is that having a solid surface behind you is the only safe way to be. Didn't Churchill say the Royal Navy ran on "rum, sodomy and the lash"?
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That can't be true these days, Herod.
I understand the lash is no longer used and the rum ration was taken away some years ago and...
AHA! That'll be it. RAF types walk sideways onboard ship so they can keep their backs to the bulkhead!
ShyT
[ 11 October 2001: Message edited by: ShyTorque ]
I understand the lash is no longer used and the rum ration was taken away some years ago and...
AHA! That'll be it. RAF types walk sideways onboard ship so they can keep their backs to the bulkhead!
ShyT
[ 11 October 2001: Message edited by: ShyTorque ]
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ShyTorque,
You have stumbled on an old but serviceable joke:
Matelot (visiting MO with unpleasant condition):
"Doc, I think I've got Hermes."
MO: "I think that you mean herpes, don't you?"
Matelot: "No, I'm a carrier."
BOOM BOOM
You have stumbled on an old but serviceable joke:
Matelot (visiting MO with unpleasant condition):
"Doc, I think I've got Hermes."
MO: "I think that you mean herpes, don't you?"
Matelot: "No, I'm a carrier."
BOOM BOOM
Back in the 1970s there was a flight safety poster around which purported to show all those everyday items that were deemed to be dangerous and therefore forbidden to be carried as a pax on Her Majesty's aircraft. This poster was primarily aimed at brown jobs whose luggage apparently routinely contains matches, cigarette lighters, hexamine blocks, methylated spirit, hand grenades etc, etc.
The wonderful RAF movers had, in their wisdom, decided that aerosol deodorants should be placed on this dangerous items list. (Quite why I have never worked out as in over 30 years of flying as a pax not once has an aerosol deodorant exploded in my luggage).
The poster had a photograph of all these dangerous items, but with "sanitised" brand names. It has always amused me that the aerosol deodorant sported the name "Pong-Go".
The wonderful RAF movers had, in their wisdom, decided that aerosol deodorants should be placed on this dangerous items list. (Quite why I have never worked out as in over 30 years of flying as a pax not once has an aerosol deodorant exploded in my luggage).
The poster had a photograph of all these dangerous items, but with "sanitised" brand names. It has always amused me that the aerosol deodorant sported the name "Pong-Go".
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Herod, I think WC was more forthright. "Rum, Bum and the Lash" were his words. I believe the pejorative USAF expression for all who are clothed in brown and stamp around in boots is "Grunt", which is far more graphic than "pongo" or "brown job".
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Ah Master methinks its a bit chicken and egg. Has not the SAC been made into sideways ambling creature because of the nickname CRAB and not the other way round. Otherwise the RAF would simply be known as TW*TS 
Churchill's reference varies with the telling, but I was often reminded the Andrew existed for "Rum, bum & gramophone records".
Anyone heard the expression, and anyone know why the reference to gramophone records? (I remember they're those flat black bits of bakelite that you rotated and dragged a needle over to make a noise similar to a worn CD....
)
Anyone heard the expression, and anyone know why the reference to gramophone records? (I remember they're those flat black bits of bakelite that you rotated and dragged a needle over to make a noise similar to a worn CD....
)
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Mr Brockman,
Nice to see the fishead subtle wit is still as good as it always was....
Keep it up chaps (pardon the Navy pun). They are beginning to bite.
ShyT
Nice to see the fishead subtle wit is still as good as it always was....
Keep it up chaps (pardon the Navy pun). They are beginning to bite.
ShyT
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ShyT, who's biting? It's all been done before, y'know.
Rum, bum and gramo...? Google found these two sites (amongst others) and these quotes from them.
http://hubris.engin.umich.edu
080/Beer/Threads/HBD/2 000/3458
"In my early years I spent quite some time in the bush and having been used to a city life of wine ,women and song, I was shocked to find there was nothing out there but rum, bum and gramophone records."
http://www.colinp.telinco.co.uk/who.htm
"For some unknown reason I then joined the Lighthouse Service, as a lighthouse keeper. (No Navy type jokes please: They don't have wine, women and song; they have rum, bum and gramophone records)."
[ 12 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
Rum, bum and gramo...? Google found these two sites (amongst others) and these quotes from them.
http://hubris.engin.umich.edu
080/Beer/Threads/HBD/2 000/3458 "In my early years I spent quite some time in the bush and having been used to a city life of wine ,women and song, I was shocked to find there was nothing out there but rum, bum and gramophone records."
http://www.colinp.telinco.co.uk/who.htm
"For some unknown reason I then joined the Lighthouse Service, as a lighthouse keeper. (No Navy type jokes please: They don't have wine, women and song; they have rum, bum and gramophone records)."
[ 12 October 2001: Message edited by: fobotcso ]
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If I remember my US history, US Marines got the nick name "Leathernecks" because of the leather thoat pieces they wore to protect them from sabre cuts. Is my recollection correct?
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Back in the sixties I served with a large contingent of RN folk, the younger ones said, "Rum, Bum and Gramaphone Records", but the older ones amongst them, some with WW2 medals, said the correct expression which had been in the Navy for years and years was,
"Rum, Bum and Baccy", ('baccy' being tobacco), any really old ex RN types out there who can comment?
"Rum, Bum and Baccy", ('baccy' being tobacco), any really old ex RN types out there who can comment?