The 1 Gp Dining In Night at Waddington
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Recently we had a similar evening to the 1 Gp Dining In Nite as described.
A chap came into the bar and managed to get a splinter of wood stuck in his finger.
We closed the Stn down for 2 days whilst we removed the splinter, confirmed that we were covered by the Stn H&S policy, and that the individual had completed his AFT, IRT, CCS and EO trg.
Who says we do not how to enjoy ourselves any more!!!
In addition to all of the above on the LHR crash (Beagle, as always, is spot with his facts) I seem to rember a V Bomber book written by a chap called Andrews who stated that……That the crew co-pilot was in the rear crew compartment and was one of the 4 who perished in the accident. Apparently his death certificate indicated he was a navigator!
A chap came into the bar and managed to get a splinter of wood stuck in his finger.
We closed the Stn down for 2 days whilst we removed the splinter, confirmed that we were covered by the Stn H&S policy, and that the individual had completed his AFT, IRT, CCS and EO trg.
Who says we do not how to enjoy ourselves any more!!!
In addition to all of the above on the LHR crash (Beagle, as always, is spot with his facts) I seem to rember a V Bomber book written by a chap called Andrews who stated that……That the crew co-pilot was in the rear crew compartment and was one of the 4 who perished in the accident. Apparently his death certificate indicated he was a navigator!
High Spirits or Vandalism
A good example of the 'High Spirits' demanded of the best of the officer class.
What is needed now are similar examples of 'gross vandalism' committed by the Erks.
A great example to show to Joe Public, no wonder they are glad to see the RAF shrink.
What is needed now are similar examples of 'gross vandalism' committed by the Erks.
A great example to show to Joe Public, no wonder they are glad to see the RAF shrink.
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With reference to the 42 Sqn DI (75th Anniversary), it was a MAEOp who took the incoming salt pot from the deep field (Rumour has it it was the RN exchange wot did it). He fell, stunned, into his soup. Because I had inadvertantly arranged an hour of pre-drinks, (the hotel had moved start eat time to the right 30) we all thought he was under the influence. Saved from drowning in Spicey Mediteranean with croutons, he made a complete recovery. A year or so later, we held the disbandment DI. The MAEOp was on the top table, two down from CAS (desig). At the start of the meal the said Master donned a tin helmet. CAS (d) turns to the Sqn Cdr and says "That chap's wearing a helmet!" "So he is", said the Sqn Cdr. He waited for a follow up question, but it was unforthcoming.
PT,
Think you may mean Andrew Brookes?
He's written a number of good things - air accidents book; on the V-Force; Air War Over Italy; Air War over Russia; on the Vulcan and, IIRC, on the Victor.
ZH785 - I have a suspicion that those members of the public who actually have an opinion on this think that it's all part of being in the RAF - after all, it was in Aces High, 633 Squadron; the Dambusters and all the other documentaries [sic] that are shown about the RAF on the telly!
Think you may mean Andrew Brookes?
He's written a number of good things - air accidents book; on the V-Force; Air War Over Italy; Air War over Russia; on the Vulcan and, IIRC, on the Victor.
ZH785 - I have a suspicion that those members of the public who actually have an opinion on this think that it's all part of being in the RAF - after all, it was in Aces High, 633 Squadron; the Dambusters and all the other documentaries [sic] that are shown about the RAF on the telly!
Archimedes, I agree that stuff is shown on the telly, but I don't think Joe Public realises the extent of damage caused etc.
It still doesn't explain why it is 'High Spirits' for the Officers but 'Vandalism' for everyone else.
John Major's classless society will never exist, as long as blatant discrimination exists within the Forces.
It still doesn't explain why it is 'High Spirits' for the Officers but 'Vandalism' for everyone else.
John Major's classless society will never exist, as long as blatant discrimination exists within the Forces.
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Phinal Phantom Phling
A couple of pages back someone referred to the PPP that took place at Wattisham in (I think) 1991. The party was held at one of the HAS sites, so there was limited chance of damage to anything significant.
From what I remember, everyone was charge £1 for food (though no-one seemed to know of any plans to provide any). Beer was £1 per pint, and there was much fun had.
From the hazy recollections I have of the event, it involved stock car racing between 56 and 74 Sqns in cars that had been specially painted for the occasion, but were wrecks within about half an hour, astonishingly no-one was injured, despite each car carrying about 8 people at a time!
I also remember the biggest home-made canon I have ever seen. It was constructed from the large catering bean tins held together with about half a tonne of bodge tape and mounted on (I think) a wheelbarrow. The projectiles were white cabbages, wrapped on newspaper and yet more bodge tape. It was placed at the entrance to the HAS where the party was and the doors were closed leaving only enough gap for the muzzle of the canon to fit through. When it was fired, f&&k me! The ball flew the length of the HAS and smacked with a thud against the end wall. One of the guys was then put into the HAS to retrieve the ball and escape without being kicked to death. This process was repeated until the canon/ball or both exploded.
An excellent p**s-up, and the food did eventually arrive. The guys had gone to McD's (by prior arrangement) to pick up a couple of hundred Big Mac's and Fries - very inventive!
From what I remember, everyone was charge £1 for food (though no-one seemed to know of any plans to provide any). Beer was £1 per pint, and there was much fun had.
From the hazy recollections I have of the event, it involved stock car racing between 56 and 74 Sqns in cars that had been specially painted for the occasion, but were wrecks within about half an hour, astonishingly no-one was injured, despite each car carrying about 8 people at a time!
I also remember the biggest home-made canon I have ever seen. It was constructed from the large catering bean tins held together with about half a tonne of bodge tape and mounted on (I think) a wheelbarrow. The projectiles were white cabbages, wrapped on newspaper and yet more bodge tape. It was placed at the entrance to the HAS where the party was and the doors were closed leaving only enough gap for the muzzle of the canon to fit through. When it was fired, f&&k me! The ball flew the length of the HAS and smacked with a thud against the end wall. One of the guys was then put into the HAS to retrieve the ball and escape without being kicked to death. This process was repeated until the canon/ball or both exploded.
An excellent p**s-up, and the food did eventually arrive. The guys had gone to McD's (by prior arrangement) to pick up a couple of hundred Big Mac's and Fries - very inventive!
Last edited by SirToppamHat; 11th Feb 2004 at 06:14.
Archimedes, I have made my point, but a lot of it may stem from jealousy that our do's do not sound half as much fun as yours.
I believe that damage is paid by mess subs so if you break it you pay for it so why not enjoy the night.
I believe that damage is paid by mess subs so if you break it you pay for it so why not enjoy the night.
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Re the Tirpitz bulkhead. 617 and 9 regularly stole it from each other. The event alluded to viz-a-viz lobbing into Wittering is true. A 9 Sqn crew on a UK ranger from Cyprus nicked the bulkhead from 617, crated it and had it transported to Wittering via the stores empire for 'collection' but 9 Sqn reps. When 617 found the bulkhead missing, they tore off to Waddington and stopped the ac from starting until they searched every inch of the airframe. They then escorted it to the runway to make sure it wasn't loaded prior to t/o.
The captain declared a PAN and diverted to Wittering. He didn't stream the chute even though he was considerably overweight [he was fuelled for non-stop to Akrotiri]. He had exceeding hot brakes after the landing run. After the bulkhead was loaded in the pannier, the crew chief declared the 'problem' that caused the PAN call fixed and they legged it to Akrotiri.
Some years later, after the Sqn returned to Waddington, the bulkhead was bolted to their crewroom wall. A raiding party, including the Scampton junior plod, raided 9 in the middle of the night and jack-hammered the bulkhead off the wall and took it back to Scampton. 9 were enraged and descended on Scampton and scoured every inch of the station. Except, of course, the one place they were not authorised to enter under any circumstances - the nuclear bomb dump. Guess who had authorisation, though? The junior plod! And guess where the bulkhead was??!!
I believe the bulkhead was subsequently presented to the RAF Museum.
A few years later, the I saw a draft of the Wittering story that the captain tried to flog to the newspapers for vast sums of money. Fortunately for the RAF, it fell into the hands of a senior journalist, whose son just happened to be a captain on 617. He realised the story was dynamite and could leave the Service with serious egg on face and bad publicity, so the whole thing was squashed - it's one thing to bust up an Officers' Mess at a DiN, but a totally different kettle of fish placing in jeapordy several tens of millions of taxpayers money as part of a stupid prank. The man was a prat, especially abusing the emergency system and placing his ac in danger by doing a crazy non-chute overweight landing.
The captain declared a PAN and diverted to Wittering. He didn't stream the chute even though he was considerably overweight [he was fuelled for non-stop to Akrotiri]. He had exceeding hot brakes after the landing run. After the bulkhead was loaded in the pannier, the crew chief declared the 'problem' that caused the PAN call fixed and they legged it to Akrotiri.
Some years later, after the Sqn returned to Waddington, the bulkhead was bolted to their crewroom wall. A raiding party, including the Scampton junior plod, raided 9 in the middle of the night and jack-hammered the bulkhead off the wall and took it back to Scampton. 9 were enraged and descended on Scampton and scoured every inch of the station. Except, of course, the one place they were not authorised to enter under any circumstances - the nuclear bomb dump. Guess who had authorisation, though? The junior plod! And guess where the bulkhead was??!!
I believe the bulkhead was subsequently presented to the RAF Museum.
A few years later, the I saw a draft of the Wittering story that the captain tried to flog to the newspapers for vast sums of money. Fortunately for the RAF, it fell into the hands of a senior journalist, whose son just happened to be a captain on 617. He realised the story was dynamite and could leave the Service with serious egg on face and bad publicity, so the whole thing was squashed - it's one thing to bust up an Officers' Mess at a DiN, but a totally different kettle of fish placing in jeapordy several tens of millions of taxpayers money as part of a stupid prank. The man was a prat, especially abusing the emergency system and placing his ac in danger by doing a crazy non-chute overweight landing.
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My fading memory has the famed Dining In Night occuring in the late 60s not early seventies - at least that was when we, in 3 Gp (Third Division South), were bollocked for the behavior of the First Division North!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The dining -in night was in 1965. We had just been on our annual refresher with pilots and AEO at Finningley and the two navs at Lindholme.
We were not seated in squadrons at all and that was part of the problem and a complete failure as an attempt to forestall trouble. We were sat so that there was no one next or opposite from the same squadron. Annonimity amongst 750 people.
The fire hose incident was in our bus. Robin Hardisty fed it in through the back window and the OIC bus, Joe Seivright pulled it out. Every time he got it moving we all took hold and cried Yo O Heave Ho and pulled him back in. Robin then tirned on the hose and a good natured plod turned it off and disconnected it. We took it back to Cottesmore.
If someone dived head first into the 1 Gp floral shield at the begining of the dinner it survived very well. It sat on my knee on the return journey too. Wasn't me guv, it was the IX Sqn copilot that sat next to me.
The 3* refered to above did not speak but was introduced as "A former distinguished Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir . . . " At this point the marquee erupted whereas Gus Walker was greeted with "We want Gus".
We were not seated in squadrons at all and that was part of the problem and a complete failure as an attempt to forestall trouble. We were sat so that there was no one next or opposite from the same squadron. Annonimity amongst 750 people.
The fire hose incident was in our bus. Robin Hardisty fed it in through the back window and the OIC bus, Joe Seivright pulled it out. Every time he got it moving we all took hold and cried Yo O Heave Ho and pulled him back in. Robin then tirned on the hose and a good natured plod turned it off and disconnected it. We took it back to Cottesmore.
If someone dived head first into the 1 Gp floral shield at the begining of the dinner it survived very well. It sat on my knee on the return journey too. Wasn't me guv, it was the IX Sqn copilot that sat next to me.
The 3* refered to above did not speak but was introduced as "A former distinguished Air Officer Commanding in Chief of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir . . . " At this point the marquee erupted whereas Gus Walker was greeted with "We want Gus".
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High Spirits ????? NO, NO, just Sheer Vandalism and Crimminality!!!!!
Gutersloh 79,,, Whirlybirds CO, name not disimilar to 'Humpty-Dumpty' pi$$ed out of his brains leaves Mess and tries to drive home, just off base, and nearly wrecks everything in sight, suspended, loses command, Court Martialed, fined, posted, loss of seniority, but later becomes Air Commodore and SRAFO Hong Kong!! Scandalous!! Should have been jailed and key thrown away.
Marham 86,,, Poor WRAF waitress is raped by Flt Lt after a Mess Bash!!!!!!!!! In court it was made out to be high spirits!!!!!! and the jury were fooled accordingly.. Disgraceful!!!! Disgusting!!!!!!!!
Gibraltar 68,,, CO has punch up with Army officer after Mess bash,, posted home in disgrace 2 days later.. Had only been in post 3 months.. What an idiot!!!!!!
Will commisioned officers ever grow up....???
Will pigs fly?????????
Gutersloh 79,,, Whirlybirds CO, name not disimilar to 'Humpty-Dumpty' pi$$ed out of his brains leaves Mess and tries to drive home, just off base, and nearly wrecks everything in sight, suspended, loses command, Court Martialed, fined, posted, loss of seniority, but later becomes Air Commodore and SRAFO Hong Kong!! Scandalous!! Should have been jailed and key thrown away.
Marham 86,,, Poor WRAF waitress is raped by Flt Lt after a Mess Bash!!!!!!!!! In court it was made out to be high spirits!!!!!! and the jury were fooled accordingly.. Disgraceful!!!! Disgusting!!!!!!!!
Gibraltar 68,,, CO has punch up with Army officer after Mess bash,, posted home in disgrace 2 days later.. Had only been in post 3 months.. What an idiot!!!!!!
Will commisioned officers ever grow up....???
Will pigs fly?????????
Cunning Artificer
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When upset by the actions of our superiors, Other Ranks do not descend into committing random acts of vandalism, we stage dignified protests.
For example, shortly after that disgraceful episode of the infamous dining-in night, we erks at Waddington complained about the food in our dining hall by simply refusing to turn up and eat the disgusting filth. The result was an invasion by the RAF Police's SIB, intended to track down 'the ringleaders'. The SIB investigators were of course then obliged to partake of the disgusting filth themselves. The subsequent series of courts-martial saw off the Catering Officer, a mess-caterer, a cook and two MT drivers who were responsible for stealing our intended rations and substituting the offending rubbish.
Not a single piece of crockery broken - as I said, dignified protest.
On another ocasion, HM The Queen Mum came to present 50 Sqn with a new flag. I don't know what they did to the old one, they ought to have looked after it better - irreparably damaged during a bout of high spirits maybe? Anyway, to continue, during the Royal Banquet they were to have strawberries for afters. There was nowhere to store the said strawberries in the O.M. so they were placed in the salad bar in the Airmen's Mess, guarded by a RAF Police Corporal (Acting Unpaid, unwashed, unloved and unwanted). By staging a rumpus in the lobby, the white hatter was persuaded to leave his post to investigate, whereupon we pounced and devoured all the strawberries.
This was considered by higher authority to be an act of wanton vandalism. It was of course, nothing of the kind - simply an example of dignified protest, accomplished by sound strategic planning, carried out in difficult circumstances at short notice and executed with great skill and determination.
For example, shortly after that disgraceful episode of the infamous dining-in night, we erks at Waddington complained about the food in our dining hall by simply refusing to turn up and eat the disgusting filth. The result was an invasion by the RAF Police's SIB, intended to track down 'the ringleaders'. The SIB investigators were of course then obliged to partake of the disgusting filth themselves. The subsequent series of courts-martial saw off the Catering Officer, a mess-caterer, a cook and two MT drivers who were responsible for stealing our intended rations and substituting the offending rubbish.
Not a single piece of crockery broken - as I said, dignified protest.
On another ocasion, HM The Queen Mum came to present 50 Sqn with a new flag. I don't know what they did to the old one, they ought to have looked after it better - irreparably damaged during a bout of high spirits maybe? Anyway, to continue, during the Royal Banquet they were to have strawberries for afters. There was nowhere to store the said strawberries in the O.M. so they were placed in the salad bar in the Airmen's Mess, guarded by a RAF Police Corporal (Acting Unpaid, unwashed, unloved and unwanted). By staging a rumpus in the lobby, the white hatter was persuaded to leave his post to investigate, whereupon we pounced and devoured all the strawberries.
This was considered by higher authority to be an act of wanton vandalism. It was of course, nothing of the kind - simply an example of dignified protest, accomplished by sound strategic planning, carried out in difficult circumstances at short notice and executed with great skill and determination.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
To return to the Tirpitz bulkhead, at Wittering the aircraft was met by Staish, OC Ops, padre etc who were all told that the emergency had now been resolved.
Not only had the jet been fuelled for Cyprus it had also been flight planned as well.
The other half, and it may have been before or after this was the 617 raid in Cyprus. IX was broken into with, I think the help of an ex-Scampton plod, and the bulkhead duly shipped off the island. The theft was discovered before it could be flown and all the aircraft going to UK were searched to recover it.
Unfortunately the bulkhead had been loaded onto a Masirah bound Belslow with an ex-617 crew member. Of course when it came back about 3 weeks later no one was looking!!!!
There was a great stink about sloppy security at Akroterry and much mirth on XXXV
Not only had the jet been fuelled for Cyprus it had also been flight planned as well.
The other half, and it may have been before or after this was the 617 raid in Cyprus. IX was broken into with, I think the help of an ex-Scampton plod, and the bulkhead duly shipped off the island. The theft was discovered before it could be flown and all the aircraft going to UK were searched to recover it.
Unfortunately the bulkhead had been loaded onto a Masirah bound Belslow with an ex-617 crew member. Of course when it came back about 3 weeks later no one was looking!!!!
There was a great stink about sloppy security at Akroterry and much mirth on XXXV
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Hopefully not!!!! Well, not too quickly. You've heard it before, "Growing old is compulsory, growing up is not". 'Twas always thus, so whatever you think, please don't let this turn into a tiresome 'us 'n them' thread. But then I guess you're just teasing.
Hopefully not!!!! Well, not too quickly. You've heard it before, "Growing old is compulsory, growing up is not". 'Twas always thus, so whatever you think, please don't let this turn into a tiresome 'us 'n them' thread. But then I guess you're just teasing.
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When 617 was disbanded in 81, the Tirpitz bulkhead and the rest of the 617 Sqn museum was packed up and delivered in a 4 tonner for safe keeping to RAF Brampton, which if memory serves me was HQ Strike. As I was holding on 617 I was tasked as the officer accompanying it - an 8 hour round trip in a 4 tonner in winter.
I believe that junior plod later left the RAF and joined the army - he was one of the very few other livers in.
Stik
I believe that junior plod later left the RAF and joined the army - he was one of the very few other livers in.
Stik
Last edited by stiknruda; 23rd Feb 2005 at 12:16.
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Cracking thread... reminds me (at least partially!) of why I joined in the first place!
Now it's time to go and I had to decide where to hold the celebration... so, if tomorrow afternoon / evening / night you see a few ex-RAF drunks displaying the walking and intellectual skills of small children while wandering in and out of those places in London where ladies' clothes are apt to fall off, you know where the inspiration came from!
Such a pity that most of the fun to be had these days is with 'ex' air force types... seems that those still in are too busy / too frightened / too distracted etc etc. Happy days though!
Now it's time to go and I had to decide where to hold the celebration... so, if tomorrow afternoon / evening / night you see a few ex-RAF drunks displaying the walking and intellectual skills of small children while wandering in and out of those places in London where ladies' clothes are apt to fall off, you know where the inspiration came from!
Such a pity that most of the fun to be had these days is with 'ex' air force types... seems that those still in are too busy / too frightened / too distracted etc etc. Happy days though!
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The 'Black Mamba' mess cannon design is still alive and kicking, although it's hopelessly outclassed by a scaffold tube mated to an empty fire extinguisher. Use a can of drink as the projectile and Lynx deoderant for propellant. I can still see the Chief Instructor's face when it went off..
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'The Chief' - the scaffolding pole to which you refer has been handed down to the lighthouse painters and para-vets of North Yorkshire. I've not seen any better improvised artillery to date.
Its competition debut was a resounding success, and the staiche's car raised up on beer barrels was good to see. And getting it down provided a good test for the DFS's problem solving skills. Apparently that's going to be one of the new OASC leaderhip scenarios.
For those who fire 'The Chief' and others like her - a message from our ginger rotary bound H&S man: Always change your gloves after each firing - it is likely that the firts set has burned through, and to avoid covering the airfield with shrapnel try freezing the can.
Its competition debut was a resounding success, and the staiche's car raised up on beer barrels was good to see. And getting it down provided a good test for the DFS's problem solving skills. Apparently that's going to be one of the new OASC leaderhip scenarios.
For those who fire 'The Chief' and others like her - a message from our ginger rotary bound H&S man: Always change your gloves after each firing - it is likely that the firts set has burned through, and to avoid covering the airfield with shrapnel try freezing the can.