Apocryphal SWO stories out there.......
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TTN, talking of SWO during initial training reminds me:
I did something wrong one night but he gave me some officer hints and let me off. Never forgotten that lenience is also a useful tool.
He also used to march alongside the entire contingent of the school as we marched - he would start at the back and march, in-step, until he reached the front of the contingent. All this while marching backwards!
I borrowed some kit after graduation and returned it a couple of weeks later before the nav school started.
I was in civvies, IIRC, and he was drilling a course. He brought them all to attention, announced in a loud voice, officer present, and threw up an immaculate salute. One brand new APO duly doffed his hat!
Style.
I did something wrong one night but he gave me some officer hints and let me off. Never forgotten that lenience is also a useful tool.
He also used to march alongside the entire contingent of the school as we marched - he would start at the back and march, in-step, until he reached the front of the contingent. All this while marching backwards!
I borrowed some kit after graduation and returned it a couple of weeks later before the nav school started.
I was in civvies, IIRC, and he was drilling a course. He brought them all to attention, announced in a loud voice, officer present, and threw up an immaculate salute. One brand new APO duly doffed his hat!
Style.
I seem to recall a church parade for laying up of the old squadron standard and our co-pilot got about half a pace inside the church with his headgear still in place. The SWO bawled from the other side of the church:
"Mr XXXXXX, get yer feckin hat off in the House of the Lord, Sir."
"Mr XXXXXX, get yer feckin hat off in the House of the Lord, Sir."
Out of interest, is a SWO still a SWO in the horrid biz-speak of today? Or is he/she now the Base Human Resources Co-ordinator or something equally repellent?
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A crew turned up at FJ station to collect a large 4 jet that had diverted to it. Unfortunately, FJ station had called an exercise just before they arrived and the large crew were treated with great suspicion. Their entry to the FJ station was greatly delayed by the SWO running the main gate. He would not even phone Ops for confirmation of their mission and they were all lined up as suspected intruders for a long time until their home station started to make noises to FJ station hierarchy about their take-off time.
It was a mission in support of the civil power and the large crew included several very hairy members of another civilian force but wearing standard flying suits. Group was very irate at delay in launch, the FJ SWO was spoken to at length by higher paid help. In retaliation he reported on the scruffy and deplorable state of NCO members of the crew to their home station SWO. Home station SWO did not check the facts, the NCO’s had been on AOCs parade 3 days earlier, and he dully spoke at length and in derogatory terms to the 4 jet crew NCOs about their standards etc etc
I will never forget the Sqn Cdrs face when a very irate NZ captain asked loudly how he could charge the SWO. It was eventually all resolved amicably, but I have always wondered what damage it did to the SWO mafia.
It was a mission in support of the civil power and the large crew included several very hairy members of another civilian force but wearing standard flying suits. Group was very irate at delay in launch, the FJ SWO was spoken to at length by higher paid help. In retaliation he reported on the scruffy and deplorable state of NCO members of the crew to their home station SWO. Home station SWO did not check the facts, the NCO’s had been on AOCs parade 3 days earlier, and he dully spoke at length and in derogatory terms to the 4 jet crew NCOs about their standards etc etc
I will never forget the Sqn Cdrs face when a very irate NZ captain asked loudly how he could charge the SWO. It was eventually all resolved amicably, but I have always wondered what damage it did to the SWO mafia.
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I had a SWO at a secret Oxon base that really went off the rails. His son was having an 18th birthday bash in the NAAFI, all arranged by the SWO. Unfortunately it all went pear shaped with comotose drunks, drug taking, smashed furniture, naked shagging in the surrounds etc etc. As the SWO was in attendance at his son's party he had to appear before me the following morning (allowing sufficient time for sobering up).
Not a pleasant experience - either for him or me.
Not a pleasant experience - either for him or me.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
IIRC by the 90s most dress orders became optional and you could, if hardy enough, wear shirt sleeve order when you chose and not by the date on the calendar.
Obviously in places like Akrotiri they needed a date to avoid a mix of blue and browns. I was surprised though to see they allow KD and DPM even when the DPM wallahs are working in an office and simply want a free uniform.
We couldn't wait to get in to shorts come summer. Now many seem happier wandering around in trousers all the time. Now a RAF (F) in a brown tent, bare legs and sandals
Obviously in places like Akrotiri they needed a date to avoid a mix of blue and browns. I was surprised though to see they allow KD and DPM even when the DPM wallahs are working in an office and simply want a free uniform.
We couldn't wait to get in to shorts come summer. Now many seem happier wandering around in trousers all the time. Now a RAF (F) in a brown tent, bare legs and sandals
At school the PSI of the CCF was a chap called Johnny Carr. RSM Carr, formerly, IIRC, of the Irish Guards, was great preparation for the DIs and SWOs I came across in the RAF.
We had one of those in the CCF at school too.. 'Tug' Wilson.. Ramrod straight, he could put the fear of God into you.. think he was an ex-Guardsman RSM. No DI or SWO I ever encountered in the RAF had his persona.
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I joined the Air Force early 1958 as a Boy Entrant (33rd Entry) at Cosford. After initial training I was moved to the “wings” under the very watchful eye of a Flight Sergeant Norris, normally a fairly quiet spoken man who always seemed reasonable though certainly could draw lines in the sand and woe betide those who crossed them. Some months later I had decided I was not cut-out for the trade I joined and applied to re-muster into a trade that had their Boy Entrant training at St. Athan. My request was granted and I was graded CT (Ceased Training) while the administration side of things caught up with the needs. I was placed in the wing general office as a general run-around which included making tea for the SNCO’s, including FS Norris. At home I had been taught to add about half a teaspoon of sugar into the pot before pouring in the boiling water, a process I repeated. On being observed by the good FS he bellowed out that I was not to add sugar into the tea pot. I explained what I had done was a process that was believed to help the tea brew and not for sweetening and the intervention of an elderly Sergeant who was familiar with what I had done mollified him somewhat. I went on to St. Athan and my new trade, a tour in Akrotiri, a fitters course and then later, towards the end of 1966 as a Junior Tech was posted to Masirah, which involved a transit stop at Khormaksar. On arrival in Aden we were instructed to report to the SWO’s office the following day for a briefing on the local security situation and duly reported the following morning. On being wheeled in I immediately recognised the SWO as the former FS Norris. He looked us all up and down, spoke individually to those he identified from a cheat sheet as former Boy Entrants, then handed us over to a Sergeant for the actual briefing but just as I was leaving his office, he briefly glanced at me and told me to report back to him after the briefing. After an hour or so of unsuccessfully wracking my brains as to what the implication behind the summons was I returned as instructed.
WO Norris – Richards, I seem to remember years ago at Cosford you told me half a teaspoon of sugar in the pot helped the tea to brew.
Me (standing at ramrod attention) – Yes Sir, I did Sir.
WO Norris – And, may I ask, what was the source of that little gem ?
Me – My Mother Sir, My Mum taught me that.
WO Norris (Looking up at me and slowly nodding his head) – Well, in that case lad, it’s most likely correct; I had occasionally wondered about that. Off you go and have a good tour at Masirah. Oh, I suggest you go shopping this afternoon and get some decent KD, that issue stuff looks awful. If you need some money give me your pay book and I'll arrange it.
Me - (Silent sigh of relief) Thank you SIR.
What amazed me was his recall, some eight years on, of such a minor event. I understand he was decorated for his service at Khormaksar. Could be a pretty tough individual when required but very fair and a top guy.
WO Norris – Richards, I seem to remember years ago at Cosford you told me half a teaspoon of sugar in the pot helped the tea to brew.
Me (standing at ramrod attention) – Yes Sir, I did Sir.
WO Norris – And, may I ask, what was the source of that little gem ?
Me – My Mother Sir, My Mum taught me that.
WO Norris (Looking up at me and slowly nodding his head) – Well, in that case lad, it’s most likely correct; I had occasionally wondered about that. Off you go and have a good tour at Masirah. Oh, I suggest you go shopping this afternoon and get some decent KD, that issue stuff looks awful. If you need some money give me your pay book and I'll arrange it.
Me - (Silent sigh of relief) Thank you SIR.
What amazed me was his recall, some eight years on, of such a minor event. I understand he was decorated for his service at Khormaksar. Could be a pretty tough individual when required but very fair and a top guy.
Last edited by Q-RTF-X; 22nd May 2011 at 11:24.
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I remember a day at Rhien'd 89-90, pissing it outside so in the NAFFI doing rifle drill for some up and coming parade. I had a bit to much the night before, very unusual in RAFG I know.... SWO was female, more man than I'll ever be. So mid drill pratice my stomach decides it time for me to throw up, SWO right in the way for me making a bee line for the toilets, never seen a SWO move so quick out the way of a SAC. No I made it to the toilet sorry... Oh she didn't like her SWO stick getting taken apart at the xmas mess bash either, dep CnC RAFG did like having to jummsing though as we had an extra glass at the table SWO was fuming he he ... Great memories....
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I remember turning up at HQ STC in about mid-93, where the SWO had gone walkabout south of the equator for a few months. In his place was a cardboard cut out of the man positioned at the gate to remind everyone that even if he wasn't there in body, his presence could still be felt!
I remember turning up at HQ STC in about mid-93, where the SWO had gone walkabout south of the equator for a few months. In his place was a cardboard cut out of the man positioned at the gate to remind everyone that even if he wasn't there in body, his presence could still be felt!
Whilst helping a station, which had formerly not been too troubled by TACEVAL, drag itself into the (then) real world, I watched some control of entry work being undertaken.
The SWO was also on hand and after an officer had been cleared through, the guard was given a major bl*&king for: 'not saluting the officer'.
As we walked away I gently reminded said SWO that in the First World War, it became very obvious, very quickly, who the officers were 'cause they wore ties, carried pistols on a lanyard, and sometimes even brandished a sword. The only thing they did not do was wear a sign saying 'I am an officer, please shoot me first'. Very soon officers in the trenches dressed as their troops and carried rifles.
When I suggested that an airman saluting an officer at a checkpoint was an open invitation to any sniper nearby to put the officer's 'lights out' fairly swiftly, the SWO got the point. He had the good grace to return to the checkpoint and tell the airman that he had made a mistake and - of course - it was unwise to draw attention towards any potential hi-valu target and saluting was off!
Old Duffer
The SWO was also on hand and after an officer had been cleared through, the guard was given a major bl*&king for: 'not saluting the officer'.
As we walked away I gently reminded said SWO that in the First World War, it became very obvious, very quickly, who the officers were 'cause they wore ties, carried pistols on a lanyard, and sometimes even brandished a sword. The only thing they did not do was wear a sign saying 'I am an officer, please shoot me first'. Very soon officers in the trenches dressed as their troops and carried rifles.
When I suggested that an airman saluting an officer at a checkpoint was an open invitation to any sniper nearby to put the officer's 'lights out' fairly swiftly, the SWO got the point. He had the good grace to return to the checkpoint and tell the airman that he had made a mistake and - of course - it was unwise to draw attention towards any potential hi-valu target and saluting was off!
Old Duffer
Airpolice
The SWO at Boulmer had been my Drill Sgt at Swinderby, a smashing bloke, Jack Shiel where are you now?
I believe Jack (not that I ever called him that) passed away some years ago. My first acquaintance with him was when he was at RAF Hereford in 1966. He did produce a very pretty daughter though :-))
With regard to Larry Higgins (not that I ever called him that) I last saw him in South Luffenham where he was landlord of a pub, can't recall which one. He had been at Waddo during one of my tours there, apparently returning there after a Masirah tour.
The SWO at Boulmer had been my Drill Sgt at Swinderby, a smashing bloke, Jack Shiel where are you now?
I believe Jack (not that I ever called him that) passed away some years ago. My first acquaintance with him was when he was at RAF Hereford in 1966. He did produce a very pretty daughter though :-))
With regard to Larry Higgins (not that I ever called him that) I last saw him in South Luffenham where he was landlord of a pub, can't recall which one. He had been at Waddo during one of my tours there, apparently returning there after a Masirah tour.
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These posts bring back lovely memories from long ago so please keep them coming. The most notable SWO for me was Guthrie late of Brampton in about 1968. A most commanding prescence and a true gentleman (as long as one did not incur his wrath) with an absolutely delightful command of the English language!
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"With regard to Larry Higgins (not that I ever called him that) I last saw him in South Luffenham where he was landlord of a pub, can't recall which one. He had been at Waddo during one of my tours there, apparently returning there after a Masirah tour."
I remember him as being absolutely correct on duty, and a mainstay of the Horse and Jockey in Waddo village in the evenings
I remember him as being absolutely correct on duty, and a mainstay of the Horse and Jockey in Waddo village in the evenings
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I'm not afraid of the SWO (well maybe a little) #1
Having spent 24yrs (now retired) at Her Majesty's Pleasure in The World's Finest Air Force, I had ample opportunity to incur the wrath of some notable holders of the Royal Warrant.
My earliest memory is of WO Fred Cattle, Wing WO of 2 Apprentice Wing at Halton in the early 70's. This gleaming example of his craft was able to induce abject terror in his youthful charges with a mere glance. Fred would add a high-volume order to "STAND STILL!" after (almost) every drill command, as the testosterone-laden spotty boys arrayed before him fidgeted & twitched. Our morning parade to Schools/Workshops featured c2,500 Apprentices marching across Main Point (deep joy for local motorists) behind one of our 3 Bands. The Brass Band would often play 'Liberty Bell' by JP Sousa (Monty Python theme), which has an ascending note section. On the highest of these notes, we would all rise on the toes of one foot whilst on the march. WO Cattle would invariably be marching (immaculately) alongside we horrible youths, and would be driven insane by this.
More to follow.
My earliest memory is of WO Fred Cattle, Wing WO of 2 Apprentice Wing at Halton in the early 70's. This gleaming example of his craft was able to induce abject terror in his youthful charges with a mere glance. Fred would add a high-volume order to "STAND STILL!" after (almost) every drill command, as the testosterone-laden spotty boys arrayed before him fidgeted & twitched. Our morning parade to Schools/Workshops featured c2,500 Apprentices marching across Main Point (deep joy for local motorists) behind one of our 3 Bands. The Brass Band would often play 'Liberty Bell' by JP Sousa (Monty Python theme), which has an ascending note section. On the highest of these notes, we would all rise on the toes of one foot whilst on the march. WO Cattle would invariably be marching (immaculately) alongside we horrible youths, and would be driven insane by this.
More to follow.
Some questions are begged as these accounts are rendered.....RAF....discipline....marching....we are talking about the Royal Air Force....the British RAF....the off-blue clothed group of folks that are sometimes seen hanging about places where aircraft are seen? Pace Sticks....puhlees....pull the other one won't you!