So, I take it Aircraft recognition is not a strong point in the Senior Service.
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Someone needs to tell that chap he has left his canopy open
How else is he going to get rid of his pack lunch bag.......?
WG240, a DH110 prototype. This aircraft did not have wingfold capability nor was the undercarriage strengthened for carrier deck operations.
Well, they've still got it wrong. The photo shows a prototype DH 110, not a Sea Vixen....
The Microcell rocket packs didn't protrude very far below the fuselage - with them extended, it looked as though the aircraft was smiling!
Naval airspace co-ordination and recognition was always something of a joke on Ahhhrogerwaitout's JMC exercises. I well recall some U/T fighter director clearing a pair of Lightnings to engage the tanker from which they'd just refuelled...... At another debrief, the NATO AWACS representative was so fed up with the number of blue-on-blues that he announced that the next time they'd leg it, fly to the nearest AWACS base, fly an approach and then fly back again - this was before the days of those ugly haemorrhoidal SeaKings and after the days of Gannets, so pusser would be left without any long range radar cover whilst the AWACS was off-station. Best comment though came from the Dutch who, when asked who their biggest threat was likely to be in any future conflict, answered "The British Navy!".
Of course JMCs were only training exercises, so mistakes were often made. But good sources of banter!
On another occasion, a certain tanker captain, one Art Field as it happens, got so fed up with Ahhhrogerwaitout sending him into French airspace that he announced words to the effect of "That's twice you've turned us into French airspace without clearance, next time we'll dump and go home!".
The Microcell rocket packs didn't protrude very far below the fuselage - with them extended, it looked as though the aircraft was smiling!
Naval airspace co-ordination and recognition was always something of a joke on Ahhhrogerwaitout's JMC exercises. I well recall some U/T fighter director clearing a pair of Lightnings to engage the tanker from which they'd just refuelled...... At another debrief, the NATO AWACS representative was so fed up with the number of blue-on-blues that he announced that the next time they'd leg it, fly to the nearest AWACS base, fly an approach and then fly back again - this was before the days of those ugly haemorrhoidal SeaKings and after the days of Gannets, so pusser would be left without any long range radar cover whilst the AWACS was off-station. Best comment though came from the Dutch who, when asked who their biggest threat was likely to be in any future conflict, answered "The British Navy!".
Of course JMCs were only training exercises, so mistakes were often made. But good sources of banter!
On another occasion, a certain tanker captain, one Art Field as it happens, got so fed up with Ahhhrogerwaitout sending him into French airspace that he announced words to the effect of "That's twice you've turned us into French airspace without clearance, next time we'll dump and go home!".
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BEagle. As I said, "At least now it's more right than it was". In my note to them, I did emphasise "a prototype DH110" and made a point of not mentioning Sea Vixen. Still, there we go.
Finnpog. I got an acknowledgement from the Website bashers as well. They are certainly not Service of any hue, least of all dark blue. The response was quite funny as there was a certain amount of pricklyness showing through. Before you ask, I was to the point and very polite.
Finnpog. I got an acknowledgement from the Website bashers as well. They are certainly not Service of any hue, least of all dark blue. The response was quite funny as there was a certain amount of pricklyness showing through. Before you ask, I was to the point and very polite.
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Its not just the Royal Navy that has problems with aircraft identification; the current issue of Royal Air Force News identifies a Hurricane as a Spitfire.
You'll have to speak up a bit, I can't hear for all this wind!
Someone needs to tell that chap he has left his canopy open. 
Yes, Him
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However we have not yet resorted to bombing our own "runway"!
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Totally and utterly unrelated, but whilst your all there and in the spirit of inter service understanding. Why don't light blue greatcoats have a sword slit, as dark blue ones do? thus enabeling the wearer to keep his legs warm and dry on the odd occaision that you need to wear both items together.
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Mine does, but then it is an ex-QCS one.
I take it you are referring to HM Flt Lt Wales showing a bit of leg at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday?
I take it you are referring to HM Flt Lt Wales showing a bit of leg at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday?
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Your Royal Highness, Ministers,..... ladies, gentlemen and officers of the royal navy......
I thought you dark blue types had to drag you swords around anyway so you could always get at them from under your coat tails...... spithead and all that!
Also you submariners will need to change your "wings" to a representation of the King on his wedding night.........
I thought you dark blue types had to drag you swords around anyway so you could always get at them from under your coat tails...... spithead and all that!
Also you submariners will need to change your "wings" to a representation of the King on his wedding night.........
RN and aircraft recce
Going back to an earlier comment on target tugs, and Her Majesty's finest in dark blue. This is probably a well known tale, but here goes.
A certain Aussie pilot was dragging a big yellow sleeve up and down the South Coast, whilst the blokes in dark blue tried to make holes in it. After a while the gunners started to get a bit close to said Aussie.
Common sense, and better marksmanship, ensued after the following laconic radio call;
"I'd like to remind you dozy b**stards that I'm pulling this thing, and not bl**dy pushing it...."
He'd never be allowed to say that today would he? It's totally non-pc.....
A certain Aussie pilot was dragging a big yellow sleeve up and down the South Coast, whilst the blokes in dark blue tried to make holes in it. After a while the gunners started to get a bit close to said Aussie.
Common sense, and better marksmanship, ensued after the following laconic radio call;
"I'd like to remind you dozy b**stards that I'm pulling this thing, and not bl**dy pushing it...."
He'd never be allowed to say that today would he? It's totally non-pc.....
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Nuts
The RN media may have made a slight mistake on the identification of a long gone airframe, it is fortunate for us that a spotter like you exists to put them right. However we have not yet resorted to bombing our own "runway"!
The RN media may have made a slight mistake on the identification of a long gone airframe, it is fortunate for us that a spotter like you exists to put them right. However we have not yet resorted to bombing our own "runway"!
Fair play and credit where credit is due, however.............
The Fairey Swordfish
Fifteen Swordfish were launched by the carrier ARK ROYAL that day, but attacked the British cruiser SHEFFIELD by mistake. Fortunately, another error balanced the first: the aircrafts' torpedoes had been armed with magnetic detonators, which were hopelessly unreliable, and the SHEFFIELD, maneuvering wildly in rough seas, escaped unscathed.
And sadly HMS Trinidad that torpedoed and sank itself
HMS Trinidad
