What is the best piece of kit ever issued
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Surely the best, most valuable, and most useful bit of kit ever issued - if ever the QM would let you get away with "losing" one - was the get-out-of-jail gold sovereign. Morphine vials weren't bad either
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
and not the best, the black barrelled aircrew torch that ate batteries when it was OFF and cast a deep shadow when on. The next best thing to a cloak of invisibility.
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Apology for thread drift
I have just thought of another item (as I was holding it when reading this thread).
Not the best item of kit, but one of my very favourites, is the green plastic '58 mug (just like the black ones, but the green mug and water bottle are slightly smaller in size). I find it ideal for sipping a nice cool lemonade while reading these threads (ah nostalgia).
More thread drift alert:
I have just returned from the Bristol festival of remembrance night, and felt very at home, just like back in the day, while serving in the army. The band of the army air corps were very good, and the four Royal Marines present sat perfectly to attention throughout the entire night, without moving once
Not the best item of kit, but one of my very favourites, is the green plastic '58 mug (just like the black ones, but the green mug and water bottle are slightly smaller in size). I find it ideal for sipping a nice cool lemonade while reading these threads (ah nostalgia).
More thread drift alert:
I have just returned from the Bristol festival of remembrance night, and felt very at home, just like back in the day, while serving in the army. The band of the army air corps were very good, and the four Royal Marines present sat perfectly to attention throughout the entire night, without moving once
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Not all Issued but bloody essential ...
My Crewman - essential. The guy in the LHS was optional and I'd rather have had the extra 200lbs of Avtur most of the time. At night with the window open on NVGs an Arctic Smock was a godsend - worn over the Cold Weather Jacket and under the LCJ and armour. Never formally cleared as flying kit but it was brilliant. Lastly that Hekler & Koch HK 53 strapped snugly by the left shoulder - just in case Slab Murphy and his cohorts got off a lucky shot ... and we ended up in the bogs making a run for it. Wessex Hc2 - 30+ years SHFNI - indestructable - fine girl y'are!
Yes, Him
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Strange isn't it that there is a whole medley of foreign kit that we want(ed) to get hold of, ie Noggie shirts, German boots and US camp beds. Anything we have that the foreigners want?
Remember US troops in GW1 would swop just about anything, including a couple of said camp cots, for the NI gloves "with the secret escape kit in the padded knuckles, honest buddy".
Remember US troops in GW1 would swop just about anything, including a couple of said camp cots, for the NI gloves "with the secret escape kit in the padded knuckles, honest buddy".
Originally Posted by Gainesy
Anything we have that the foreigners want?
Well, 30mins worth.
Last edited by diginagain; 1st Nov 2009 at 12:16.
Addition to my earlier, for simplicity and usefulness when teaching/instructing/discussing features on the ground (from the ground), the "Staff Pointer", designed at the turn of the last century and still a first class piece of kit. In short, two strips of metal with a blade and aperture linked by parallel bars. Whatever I aim at, the student/No2 on the gun etc looks through the parallel blade and aperture over my shoulder and is looking at the same object. Simples.
Food...ok then:
Bacon & Halloumi rolls - Lady L's, Akrotiri.
Frik, Frites and Mayo - Chicken Inn, Gutersloh.
Mally breakfast (with Telegraph and Coffee on Sun Morning) - Gutersloh.
Baconburger and beans - Compo.
Ulster Fry - Scratch & Sniff Aldergrove.
Mmmmmm
Bacon & Halloumi rolls - Lady L's, Akrotiri.
Frik, Frites and Mayo - Chicken Inn, Gutersloh.
Mally breakfast (with Telegraph and Coffee on Sun Morning) - Gutersloh.
Baconburger and beans - Compo.
Ulster Fry - Scratch & Sniff Aldergrove.
Mmmmmm
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RAF issue ear plugs - ground crew for the use of. Acquired mine whilst on B Sqdn 230 OCU Finningley 1964, before ear defenders became the norm. Still in the original container. Very necessary with 4 Olympus donks giving it stick a few feet above your head on ORP. Still use them when neighbours having a party.
Biscuits - survival, airman for the use of. Green/khaki square tin with a round lid. Even after dunking them for five minutes in your tea, they would still break your teeth if not careful. All we had for a day whilst doing casevac with a couple of twin pins 100 k's south of Abu Dhabi in mid '60's.
Alison
Biscuits - survival, airman for the use of. Green/khaki square tin with a round lid. Even after dunking them for five minutes in your tea, they would still break your teeth if not careful. All we had for a day whilst doing casevac with a couple of twin pins 100 k's south of Abu Dhabi in mid '60's.
Alison
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The GS screwdriver for me...used to have competitions in the hangar throwing them to one another wearing thick leather/wooly gloves in case you caught one blade first. Still got mine issued in 1947.
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Well now, I think that the GS Screwdriver has failed so far to receive the accolades it richly deserves; any former engineer worth his salt could attest to that ! 
Had to chuckle (and certainly agree) at one listing for the worst "Issue KD"
Had to chuckle (and certainly agree) at one listing for the worst "Issue KD"