How did your wings parade go?
Join Date: Nov 2000
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November 1976 and the first RN fixed wing contingent in centuries - OK, several years Messrs Covington,Brown and Slade, were also being presented with their wings as part of our RAF Grad. The Reviewing Officer was an Admiral Roberts as I recall.
Whether he had been briefed or not was a moot point as he proceeded to inspect us, the Graduating Flight, then the 2 supporting flights of the remaining 1FTS studes, then the band.............one at a time, stopping for the odd chat here and there.
The inspection was only interrupted by the odd collapse as peeps gave up the will to live and fainted from heat exhaustion in the hangar!
Whether he had been briefed or not was a moot point as he proceeded to inspect us, the Graduating Flight, then the 2 supporting flights of the remaining 1FTS studes, then the band.............one at a time, stopping for the odd chat here and there.
The inspection was only interrupted by the odd collapse as peeps gave up the will to live and fainted from heat exhaustion in the hangar!
Join Date: May 2006
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705 Wings Parade mid-80’s:
QHI 1: Mate, I’ve left my GSM at home, as you are doing the flying display, can I borrow yours?
QHI 2: Yes you can, but it’s on the same bar as my Falklands medal. Furthermore, My GSM has a Northern Ireland Clasp, yours is Gulf. What if the Admiral talks to you?
QHI 1: Don’t worry, I’ll stand next to the Crab; the VIP always talks to the Crab!
Later, on Parade, the Admiral walks straight past the Crab and says to QHI 1:
Admiral: When were you in Northern Ireland?
QHI 1 panics and bluffs by assuming the identity of QHI 2 and replied:
QHI 1: I did an AAC exchange in 1983
Admiral: Fascinating, and what ship were you in during the Falklands?
QHI 1 (feeling more confident now): Hermes Sir.
Admiral: Really? I didn’t see you there. (The Admiral was Captain of Hermes during the war)
QHI 1: Gulp!
QHI 1: Mate, I’ve left my GSM at home, as you are doing the flying display, can I borrow yours?
QHI 2: Yes you can, but it’s on the same bar as my Falklands medal. Furthermore, My GSM has a Northern Ireland Clasp, yours is Gulf. What if the Admiral talks to you?
QHI 1: Don’t worry, I’ll stand next to the Crab; the VIP always talks to the Crab!
Later, on Parade, the Admiral walks straight past the Crab and says to QHI 1:
Admiral: When were you in Northern Ireland?
QHI 1 panics and bluffs by assuming the identity of QHI 2 and replied:
QHI 1: I did an AAC exchange in 1983
Admiral: Fascinating, and what ship were you in during the Falklands?
QHI 1 (feeling more confident now): Hermes Sir.
Admiral: Really? I didn’t see you there. (The Admiral was Captain of Hermes during the war)
QHI 1: Gulp!
Gentleman Aviator
Indeed so chippy63, 'twas the penultimate course grad out of 2 FTS Syerston, and so the last with a decent enough size student contingent to make up a parade. 
Sir Gus had lost his arm as Staish at Syerston in the war, so it was an emotional occasion - as a course project we did a "This is Your Life" on him - many locals still remembered him as it was only 24 years
after VE day ....
Quite a coup to get a 4-star in them days - par for the course was a groupie or a 1-star at best .... but then there were 3 (or was it 4?) different JP FTSs awarding wings .....
Sir Gus had lost his arm as Staish at Syerston in the war, so it was an emotional occasion - as a course project we did a "This is Your Life" on him - many locals still remembered him as it was only 24 years
after VE day ....Quite a coup to get a 4-star in them days - par for the course was a groupie or a 1-star at best .... but then there were 3 (or was it 4?) different JP FTSs awarding wings .....
