Prince William and the RAF
PN
4th May 1972 was the date that Basil and all his mates got their second stripe ie scrapping of B exam'.
Just picked up a copy of The List for Spring 1973 so that I can show people that this long-haired scruffy layabout really was an officer!
Just picked up a copy of The List for Spring 1973 so that I can show people that this long-haired scruffy layabout really was an officer!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Brian, I remember two professional fg off. One Dinger Bell (what else) who was a nav plotter, the other was an ex-Neptune AEOp commissioned, divorced, and effectively colour balled.
One day in the mess - lounge suits - he turned up in an avantgarde suit for the day; I remember it well. It was a 4 button affair with pseudo straps to a pseudo belt. It had black buttons, IIRC, similar to the old No 2 black buttons, and the whole set off with a magnicent scarlet wool waistcoat.
The PMC, who had hung on to the job of PMC for almost his full tour, just for the box tick, threw him out of the mess. Shame really as I like them both. The PMC, aka OC Admin, ex-Observer and ex-OC 7, and current Lancaster Nav, eventually made gp capt.
The fg off, AFAIK, never made flt lt
One day in the mess - lounge suits - he turned up in an avantgarde suit for the day; I remember it well. It was a 4 button affair with pseudo straps to a pseudo belt. It had black buttons, IIRC, similar to the old No 2 black buttons, and the whole set off with a magnicent scarlet wool waistcoat.
The PMC, who had hung on to the job of PMC for almost his full tour, just for the box tick, threw him out of the mess. Shame really as I like them both. The PMC, aka OC Admin, ex-Observer and ex-OC 7, and current Lancaster Nav, eventually made gp capt.
The fg off, AFAIK, never made flt lt
Some time around 73-74 our squadron commander had a load of us into his office, told us he understood none of us had put in for the 'C', and virtually ordered us all to do it. As far as I recollect we all applied, and I think we all passed. Mind you it didn't do me any good as I came out on the great 1975-76 redundancy scheme - like to think I might have eventually have scraped a scraper, but it's all academic now.
"Brian, I remember two professional fg off. One Dinger Bell (what else) who was a nav plotter, ".
Is this the Dinger who served on staff at RAF Finningley c. 1970? A very entertaining gent., both in the coffee bar and the mess.
As I recall, one morning he read aloud from the newspaper that outed homos were to be dismissed the service [it matters not if true or false] and said that they were being sent to a holding unit pro tem. A very young student asked him where the unit was. "FINNINGLEY, darling!" and he caressed the lads knee ........ a lot of coffee was spilled.
Is this the Dinger who served on staff at RAF Finningley c. 1970? A very entertaining gent., both in the coffee bar and the mess.
As I recall, one morning he read aloud from the newspaper that outed homos were to be dismissed the service [it matters not if true or false] and said that they were being sent to a holding unit pro tem. A very young student asked him where the unit was. "FINNINGLEY, darling!" and he caressed the lads knee ........ a lot of coffee was spilled.
...and I told him in literally the previous post to his that it was still going in 86 or 87. It couldn't have been earlier as I didn't start my second tour until then. Still, you can't tell some people........
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
ghost, I took the B while I was on the OCU. They were rather miffed but decided they couldn't stop me - I had only just got fg off. One paper was Air Ops - I hadn't got a clue; skipper told me about AP1300. I read it one night took the exam and passed
Langley, it may well have been; short and portly?
TTN, as I recall, Supplementary List officers were not required to pas the C as a prerequisite for promotion to sqn ldr. With the advent of single list and spec aircrew there were mixed messages. IIRC ex-supplementary list officers remained exempt but sqn cdrs, keen for the necessary tick in the box, pushed all unqualified officers to take the C.
I recall once requesting one of the drinking courses at Shawbury, JOCS or something similar only to be told that having passed the ISS I was too senior. Four years later, numbers at Shawbury were down and there was a 3-line trawl for all flt lt to do the course. I duly put to the boss that if I was too senior 4 years earlier . . .
Langley, it may well have been; short and portly?
TTN, as I recall, Supplementary List officers were not required to pas the C as a prerequisite for promotion to sqn ldr. With the advent of single list and spec aircrew there were mixed messages. IIRC ex-supplementary list officers remained exempt but sqn cdrs, keen for the necessary tick in the box, pushed all unqualified officers to take the C.
I recall once requesting one of the drinking courses at Shawbury, JOCS or something similar only to be told that having passed the ISS I was too senior. Four years later, numbers at Shawbury were down and there was a 3-line trawl for all flt lt to do the course. I duly put to the boss that if I was too senior 4 years earlier . . .
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Am I correct in saying there was an age limit with the C when they gave up with you and you could be promoted regardless. I recall a friend (not aircrew I must add) who failed it 5 times and then was promoted as he had passed said age. This would be late 80s. It was to fill a post that everyone else was avoiding like the plague 
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
exascot it could be that once the C went all holds were off, or spec aircrew?
"Langley, it may well have been; short and portly?"
Yes, and a barrel of laughs!
Yes, and a barrel of laughs!
Dinger Bells c1970
There were 2 Herc navs of that name who possibly were at Nav School instructing then.
Both vertically challenged, John had a hint of East African accent, very nice guy and later I believe 1st nav CO of Lyneham - the other who I only met for the first time in France 5 years ago, really tiny, quite punchy after a drink and real name George.
Both vertically challenged, John had a hint of East African accent, very nice guy and later I believe 1st nav CO of Lyneham - the other who I only met for the first time in France 5 years ago, really tiny, quite punchy after a drink and real name George.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 11th May 2012 at 09:17. Reason: unwanted space
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PN
'...drinking courses at Shawbury.- JOCS or something like that....'
I think you mean the JC&SS course up the road a bit at Ternhill. IIRC that course was aimed at Flt Lt's who, in the case of aircrew, were about to take up a ground job where the abilty to string a sentence together and count to ten was desirable. I remember at the end of a gruelling afternoon on double entry book keeping, the DS saying to me, "I don't think you've got the hang of this, have you?" I had to admit he was right - which was a pity because I was about to become an OC Station Services Flt with all the non public accounts to look after.
I think the ISS course was meant to follow JC&SS. It was useful if you needed the ability to write an Op Order in five minutes flat or make brilliant decisions (...remember 'Essential' and Desirable' criteria and all that?). Then came the Basic Staff Course. That was a month at Bracknell spent chasing around trying to impress as a plausible staff office.
If Prince William has to do this sort of thing, I hope he can at least grasp double entry book keeping - I never did.
'...drinking courses at Shawbury.- JOCS or something like that....'
I think you mean the JC&SS course up the road a bit at Ternhill. IIRC that course was aimed at Flt Lt's who, in the case of aircrew, were about to take up a ground job where the abilty to string a sentence together and count to ten was desirable. I remember at the end of a gruelling afternoon on double entry book keeping, the DS saying to me, "I don't think you've got the hang of this, have you?" I had to admit he was right - which was a pity because I was about to become an OC Station Services Flt with all the non public accounts to look after.
I think the ISS course was meant to follow JC&SS. It was useful if you needed the ability to write an Op Order in five minutes flat or make brilliant decisions (...remember 'Essential' and Desirable' criteria and all that?). Then came the Basic Staff Course. That was a month at Bracknell spent chasing around trying to impress as a plausible staff office.
If Prince William has to do this sort of thing, I hope he can at least grasp double entry book keeping - I never did.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
IIRC that course was aimed at Flt Lt's who, in the case of aircrew, were about to take up a ground job where the abilty to string a sentence together and count to ten was desirable.
I think the ISS course was meant to follow JC&SS.
It was useful if you needed the ability to write an Op Order in five minutes flat
or make brilliant decisions (...remember 'Essential' and Desirable' criteria and all that?).
Now chose.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 11th May 2012 at 20:38.
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OCC course at Henlow mid 80s - inspirational introductory chat from an AVM. '40% of you in this room will become senior officers'. Anonymous voice from the back, 'may the rest of us leave now then please sir'.
Same course, we were asked to name the bomb which spread anti personnel mines on an airfield. In all innocence one potential senior officer said the JSP 101. Not a bad idea actually, I would avoid it.
Same course, we were asked to name the bomb which spread anti personnel mines on an airfield. In all innocence one potential senior officer said the JSP 101. Not a bad idea actually, I would avoid it.
