OCU and Flying Training
Having once had the task of trying to fathom out some of the squadron history of the days 20 years before I joined the squadron, it became clear to me that details of even the most mundane (at the time) activities of the crews of those days would have been of considerable interest to those who followed them in later years.
Which is perhaps why Courtney's journal is such a gem.
jinda', your account (elsewhere) of your Hunter incident in 1965 is a classic description of RAF activity in a theatre which, even now, is largely forgotten.
Remember how 'I learned about flying from that' was one of the more popular sections of 'Air Clues', when the RAF could still afford that excellent publication?
In earlier days, there were many well-written anecdotes about life in the RAF of yore. Sadly, few people seem to bother with such things these days....
Those who would write about their personal lives in the RAF should be encouraged, rather than ridiculed.
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Anyway, back to the topics of OCUs.
After completing a JP refresher following my sojourn at RAF Biggin Hill, I turned up at 230 OCU RAF Scampton with a feeling of uncertainty. Book in to the OM, then the arrival brief with the chaps who I'd met at RAF North Luffenham a week or so earlier....
What a gentlemanly world then followed! Groundschool was reasonably simple, then the simulator phase at RAF Finningley with an aged ex-Lincoln pilot teaching us how to fly the Vulcan. His tales of the late 1940s and early 1950s were a fascinatin insight into a little-known world though.
When we moved to the flying phase, I once remarked "You know, we've met all the 'soft' men, I'm still waiting for the 'hard' man to show his face and tell us we're all useless!". But he never did appear. They were happy for students to live out whilst on the course, so I had an extremely pleasant laid-back summertime in a shared house with 3 other mates in a nearby village. After the OCU, life on the squadron was equally enjoyable and I think I can honestly say that the lifestyle of a 'VFW' (as some termed us) was probaly the best I ever had in the RAF.
Which is perhaps why Courtney's journal is such a gem.
jinda', your account (elsewhere) of your Hunter incident in 1965 is a classic description of RAF activity in a theatre which, even now, is largely forgotten.
Remember how 'I learned about flying from that' was one of the more popular sections of 'Air Clues', when the RAF could still afford that excellent publication?
In earlier days, there were many well-written anecdotes about life in the RAF of yore. Sadly, few people seem to bother with such things these days....
Those who would write about their personal lives in the RAF should be encouraged, rather than ridiculed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, back to the topics of OCUs.
After completing a JP refresher following my sojourn at RAF Biggin Hill, I turned up at 230 OCU RAF Scampton with a feeling of uncertainty. Book in to the OM, then the arrival brief with the chaps who I'd met at RAF North Luffenham a week or so earlier....
What a gentlemanly world then followed! Groundschool was reasonably simple, then the simulator phase at RAF Finningley with an aged ex-Lincoln pilot teaching us how to fly the Vulcan. His tales of the late 1940s and early 1950s were a fascinatin insight into a little-known world though.
When we moved to the flying phase, I once remarked "You know, we've met all the 'soft' men, I'm still waiting for the 'hard' man to show his face and tell us we're all useless!". But he never did appear. They were happy for students to live out whilst on the course, so I had an extremely pleasant laid-back summertime in a shared house with 3 other mates in a nearby village. After the OCU, life on the squadron was equally enjoyable and I think I can honestly say that the lifestyle of a 'VFW' (as some termed us) was probaly the best I ever had in the RAF.
Last edited by BEagle; 30th Aug 2012 at 21:56.
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F4 Groundschool
My time on 228 OCU brings back memories of the ground school exam which I failed twice - my final report said "Pilot Officer xxxx understands the answers but doesn't understand the questions"! I'm forever in debt to Tony Down who conducted my systems exam orally - stopping sniggering Courtney
Block 101 could tell so many such tales, if only it could talk!
And it was so kind of the RAF to install those rotary hand fire alarm bells around the block, which were so perfect for opening Keo beer bottles!
And it was so kind of the RAF to install those rotary hand fire alarm bells around the block, which were so perfect for opening Keo beer bottles!
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Thank the sweet baby Jesus it can't! - the worst story I heard involves the aged Cypriot cleaner- a Squadron mates room - and a picture of his misses
The louvred glass windows I also seem recall didn't offer an officer quite the privacy one deserved after a squadron party !
My lasting memory of block 101 was deploying to Gulf War1 via Akrotiri night stop last chance to drink myself into oblivion - before operation certain death in BAes Bristol Bluebottle - only to find some middle aged Nimrod Scopie had pinched my bed but worse his totally naked body ( BMI around 45) was face down on my pillow - thank goodness senior matron took pity on me
The louvred glass windows I also seem recall didn't offer an officer quite the privacy one deserved after a squadron party !
My lasting memory of block 101 was deploying to Gulf War1 via Akrotiri night stop last chance to drink myself into oblivion - before operation certain death in BAes Bristol Bluebottle - only to find some middle aged Nimrod Scopie had pinched my bed but worse his totally naked body ( BMI around 45) was face down on my pillow - thank goodness senior matron took pity on me
Good job there weren't mobile phones and social media in those days. Can you imagine the poo hitting the rotary air cooler when holders of the Queens Commission, possibly even bachelors, were seen to be (possibly) getting naked with single members of the opposite sex in the privacy of their room. Oh the horror. I hope they were all forced to resign immediatly 
Can't have been that great.
I distinctly remember a first tourist on my squadron trying to throw a naked lady out of his Block 101 room.
She protested that she was the Senior Matron and that he was in the wrong building entirely, but he was having none of it.
Unlike the brandy sours, of which he'd had quite a lot.
p.s. that Matron got about a lot that year didn't she?
I distinctly remember a first tourist on my squadron trying to throw a naked lady out of his Block 101 room.
She protested that she was the Senior Matron and that he was in the wrong building entirely, but he was having none of it.
Unlike the brandy sours, of which he'd had quite a lot.
p.s. that Matron got about a lot that year didn't she?
Last edited by Fox3WheresMyBanana; 30th Aug 2012 at 23:32.
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CRIMINAL INCITEMENT
OK lets change the thread name to:
Sex, Block 101 and Akrotiri.
Sex, Block 101 and Akrotiri.
Have you no shame, sir?
In an attempt to drag the thread back on topic, Detachments, and how to conduct oneself thereon, were an integral part of flying training in the '80s. I benefited enormously from Group Captains demo'ing 3am kitchen raids through the roof skylight, and knarled old Flight Lieu'es showing the finer points of "whale-dodging" at nurses' parties. The only course without one was the OCU - time I think was the reason.
p.s. what about Two Tacans From Home Act (1979) ?
p.s. what about Two Tacans From Home Act (1979) ?
