Guidance for those reaching Age 55
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NL, probably the same one as it was Air Clues that I recall. Just proves that "I learnt about . . . " certainly worked.
an unofficial trip
You could have an unofficial trip in an Annie? If auth'd it was surely official
We were only a couple of hundred yards from the Annie spots outside the tower. If there was nothing doing on the sqn I would nip across and see if I could cadge a ride. One day I was naving to Cottesmore. On rtb I looked back to see who the pax were. Gulp, my sqn cdr was looking forward
an unofficial trip
You could have an unofficial trip in an Annie? If auth'd it was surely official
We were only a couple of hundred yards from the Annie spots outside the tower. If there was nothing doing on the sqn I would nip across and see if I could cadge a ride. One day I was naving to Cottesmore. On rtb I looked back to see who the pax were. Gulp, my sqn cdr was looking forward
I remember flying the station Anson delivering or picking up Victor crews. Our one had Gee and the navigators used to refresh themselves on it. I would to listen to them muttering incantations to the set.
Some of the incantations were riper than others.
Some of the incantations were riper than others.
Gentlemen,
interesting though these posts are, the Anson was retired in 1968, a good 10 years before those approaching the age of 55 joined the Royal Air Force! Please allow those of us who are nearing 55 to reminisce without those who were old when we joined reminding us that we need to get some time in! Please now go and clean the remains of your last meal off your ties and let us youngsters indulge in memories of Taceval and ill-fitting tin hats with nylon liners and plastic spiders, attached to that awful press stud that bounced into your skull when forced to walk to the aircraft; just because MT had been closed due to a UXB or a deranged airman threatening to shoot the OC. The memory of the sight of an overweight beer-bellied florid-faced Chf Tech with blue jumper, wedgewood shirt and tie combined with baggy DPM trousers, puttees and DMS oxford pattern shoes trying to run a standby ops room is what this thread is about
interesting though these posts are, the Anson was retired in 1968, a good 10 years before those approaching the age of 55 joined the Royal Air Force! Please allow those of us who are nearing 55 to reminisce without those who were old when we joined reminding us that we need to get some time in! Please now go and clean the remains of your last meal off your ties and let us youngsters indulge in memories of Taceval and ill-fitting tin hats with nylon liners and plastic spiders, attached to that awful press stud that bounced into your skull when forced to walk to the aircraft; just because MT had been closed due to a UXB or a deranged airman threatening to shoot the OC. The memory of the sight of an overweight beer-bellied florid-faced Chf Tech with blue jumper, wedgewood shirt and tie combined with baggy DPM trousers, puttees and DMS oxford pattern shoes trying to run a standby ops room is what this thread is about
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You could have an unofficial trip in an Annie? If auth'd it was surely official
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Uniform, off camp! I remember how the SWO at Kinloss used to hide by the garage on the road to Forres to charge anyone with so much as their RAF shirt collar showing.
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Blimey how things have changed..
So down the pub outside Brize for a few sherbets with the rest of the shift wouldn't be allowed these days, seem to remember someone getting told to do his tie up lol.
Rememberance parade through Basingpoke with the Sally Ann band out front and the St Johns behind both playing a different beat with those in the middle marching like a bunch of Morris dancers always used to end up in the Ex Servicemans for several pints...
So down the pub outside Brize for a few sherbets with the rest of the shift wouldn't be allowed these days, seem to remember someone getting told to do his tie up lol.
Rememberance parade through Basingpoke with the Sally Ann band out front and the St Johns behind both playing a different beat with those in the middle marching like a bunch of Morris dancers always used to end up in the Ex Servicemans for several pints...
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Aug 2012 at 12:15.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Cynicalint, I did try and remind people earlier bit that's pprune
Stablex?
Climbing over the crash gate
Guards?
Guards armed with no ammunition.
Stablex?
Climbing over the crash gate
Guards?
Guards armed with no ammunition.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 17th Aug 2012 at 16:00.
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Armed guards with pick axe handles...
BFG plates and it being cheaper to fill the screen wash bottle with Vodka rather than Screen Wash.
Those real naff looking copper etched plates of aircraft the NAAF 1 used to sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post soe pictures of his collection
BFG plates and it being cheaper to fill the screen wash bottle with Vodka rather than Screen Wash.
Those real naff looking copper etched plates of aircraft the NAAF 1 used to sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post soe pictures of his collection
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Aug 2012 at 16:11.
CYNICALINT
The memory of the sight of an overweight beer-bellied florid-faced Chf Tech with blue jumper, wedgewood shirt and tie combined with baggy DPM trousers, puttees and DMS oxford pattern shoes
Aaron.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
He won the bet however as he was still holding the pipe.
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Those real naff looking copper etched plates of aircraft the NAAFI used to
sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post some pictures of his
collection
sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post some pictures of his
collection
A neighbour of mine (civvy) in Carterton used to make them and earned himself a few bob in the process
As I type I can see my copper picture of Britannia, ATVIA, on the wall.
Never realised they were naff.
I shall hang on to it...blimey just realised I've had over 40 years
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Ahh but knew their stuff...
Reminds me of watching a bunch of pilots and crewmen trying to bump start a dumper truck in muddy quarry...
I have never laughed so hard since.
Reminds me of watching a bunch of pilots and crewmen trying to bump start a dumper truck in muddy quarry...
I have never laughed so hard since.
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Aug 2012 at 18:19.
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Climbing over the crash gate
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Quote:
Those real naff looking copper etched plates of aircraft the NAAFI used to
sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post some pictures of his
collection
Nutloose
A neighbour of mine (civvy) in Carterton used to make them and earned himself a few bob in the process
As I type I can see my copper picture of Britannia, ATVIA, on the wall.
Never realised they were naff.
I shall hang on to it...blimey just realised I've had over 40 years
*
Those real naff looking copper etched plates of aircraft the NAAFI used to
sell... If you cannot remember them, Buster might post some pictures of his
collection
Nutloose
A neighbour of mine (civvy) in Carterton used to make them and earned himself a few bob in the process
As I type I can see my copper picture of Britannia, ATVIA, on the wall.
Never realised they were naff.
I shall hang on to it...blimey just realised I've had over 40 years
*
Are we talking the ones sold in all NAAFI shops? Such as the etched red arrows in colour?... Because he must have been a busy chap.... I thought the only thing they made in Carterton was giant traffic cones, behind the chinkie by the gate, if that is still there.
Pontious,
When I got onto the Sqn it was a crownex, not a stablex - that had fallen from grace.(By the way, the stables is no longer a drinking hole and the Culbin sands has been demolished)
Other memories are:
Compo sausages cooked in foil trays - the excess fat of which was wiped over the galley floor when the stick monkey had applied excessive power during a manouver and not warning us, resulting in the contents of the oven sliding onto the floor.
Stn cdrs driving into guardroom walls.
Dinghy drills outside the harbour followed by beers in the Harbour!
Having to carry heavy crew boxes stuffed with out-of-date food to make the rations monies go further.
Having to carry heavier crew classified bags - even when the GSU had forced us to memorise their contents.
GSU's annual vists - looked forward to with lesser anticipation than a visit to the dentist
Three day GDT when we were allowed to convert live ammunition into waste brass and breathe copious quantities of CS gas.
The introduction of the Mile and a half run, where at least one sergeant who was OS for that day, turned up in No1s, walking the distance nonchelantly while smoking and several masters hiding behind the changing rooms.
Blue-light taxis back to camp by pleasant RAF policemen.
Tapestries.
Everyone having 4 - yes 4 - annual leave warrants to claim rail tickets or motor mileage for leave journeys anywhere in UK without audit.
When I got onto the Sqn it was a crownex, not a stablex - that had fallen from grace.(By the way, the stables is no longer a drinking hole and the Culbin sands has been demolished)
Other memories are:
Compo sausages cooked in foil trays - the excess fat of which was wiped over the galley floor when the stick monkey had applied excessive power during a manouver and not warning us, resulting in the contents of the oven sliding onto the floor.
Stn cdrs driving into guardroom walls.
Dinghy drills outside the harbour followed by beers in the Harbour!
Having to carry heavy crew boxes stuffed with out-of-date food to make the rations monies go further.
Having to carry heavier crew classified bags - even when the GSU had forced us to memorise their contents.
GSU's annual vists - looked forward to with lesser anticipation than a visit to the dentist
Three day GDT when we were allowed to convert live ammunition into waste brass and breathe copious quantities of CS gas.
The introduction of the Mile and a half run, where at least one sergeant who was OS for that day, turned up in No1s, walking the distance nonchelantly while smoking and several masters hiding behind the changing rooms.
Blue-light taxis back to camp by pleasant RAF policemen.
Tapestries.
Everyone having 4 - yes 4 - annual leave warrants to claim rail tickets or motor mileage for leave journeys anywhere in UK without audit.
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Thefodfather wrote:
Just 15 to 20 years after wubble you wubble you two and we were still the good guys. That's how people got around in those days.
Uniform, off camp!
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Cynicalint
It's all very well to bellyache about the elderly hijacking the thread to go on about Stn Flt Ansons and the like. But we who are long retired have to do something.
I was going to recount for everyone the days when:
a. the main guardroom had an ET room
b. trainees returning from leave were lined up for an FFI inspecton (don't ask)
c. The resident RAF Regiment Sqn reduced to rubble the NAAFI every Saturday night.
d. you could distinguish a supplementary list officer from one on the general list because he wore his service raincoat instead of a dressing gown in the Mess living quarters.
I could go on, but you've quite put me off.
Anyway, I must go. They want to come in to tidy my room and there's bingo followed by a singalong down in the lounge.
It's all very well to bellyache about the elderly hijacking the thread to go on about Stn Flt Ansons and the like. But we who are long retired have to do something.
I was going to recount for everyone the days when:
a. the main guardroom had an ET room
b. trainees returning from leave were lined up for an FFI inspecton (don't ask)
c. The resident RAF Regiment Sqn reduced to rubble the NAAFI every Saturday night.
d. you could distinguish a supplementary list officer from one on the general list because he wore his service raincoat instead of a dressing gown in the Mess living quarters.
I could go on, but you've quite put me off.
Anyway, I must go. They want to come in to tidy my room and there's bingo followed by a singalong down in the lounge.