The Fat Lady Has Sung
Canot read the name of the guy dismissed by CM - anyone know the name - I was arond the, in UK
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When I PVR'd in '74 my Flt Cmdr. shook my hand said ''all the best Chief' and that was it, apart from a few beers in the mess with some mates. I felt it was quite sufficient.
In contrast, a few years later, a Ch/Tech, who is still a good mate of mine, when he PVR'd he booked the Sgt's Mess for a private dinner, attended by serving and ex-serving friends (all accommodated in the Mess). Two WO's flew in from Germany to attend. The Wing/Co. Eng. popped in to propose a toast and during the subsequent p!ss up in the bar the Station Commander also popped in to have a parting drink. In his time my mate was a legendary hard drinking rugby player, who was absolutely supurb at his job and well respected and admired by all.
In contrast, a few years later, a Ch/Tech, who is still a good mate of mine, when he PVR'd he booked the Sgt's Mess for a private dinner, attended by serving and ex-serving friends (all accommodated in the Mess). Two WO's flew in from Germany to attend. The Wing/Co. Eng. popped in to propose a toast and during the subsequent p!ss up in the bar the Station Commander also popped in to have a parting drink. In his time my mate was a legendary hard drinking rugby player, who was absolutely supurb at his job and well respected and admired by all.
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Originally posted by Lightning Mate
So now you're unilaterally banning all forms of sentiment and nostalgia. Well good for you, now take your own advice and leave the rest of us to our memories.
CB,
Get over it.
What do you want - a
g
column in a national newspaper?
Like me, you are (were) a totally expendable asset, so why don't you just go forth and multiply and enjoy your time in the real world!!!
Get over it.
What do you want - a
g column in a national newspaper?
Like me, you are (were) a totally expendable asset, so why don't you just go forth and multiply and enjoy your time in the real world!!!
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I departed the RAF in 1974 of my own volition; I had a good time while serving and learnt a lot, but just felt Id seen the best and wanted to move on. My last station was Chivenor and having not spent very long there anyhow and knowing few people, my departure was very low key with no brass band lining the street as I departed, though I did not really expect one anyhow.
However, what has been rather nice is that from time to time I have been in touch, one way or another ,with a few who remembered me and most seemed to be genuinely pleased to be in contact; a couple in fact thanking me for some little help or guidance I had given them a long time back. A former commanding officer of mine who was later a contract officer in the Qatar AF when I was working at a nearby location was kind enough to give me a day of his time (and quite a few beers) to bash out a letter I needed to help clear some doubts as to my capabilities in certain areas. A former squadron commander (I was a line NCO then) later worked with me at a Middle East flight department, our rapport was immediate. Over the years Ive had reason to work with a number of RAF units or sections helping with arrangements for one thing or another and once it was known I was ex Air Force we immediately had a solid base for mutual respect. Oh yes, a former pal from ATC cadet days who had risen to become a onetime CO of QF was one I came to catch up with as a civvie and the beer flowed heavily on the couple of occasions we got together; most likely in fact, had I still been serving, we would not have enjoyed the same freedom to imbibe.
What Im getting at is that CB might well find his time in the service hasnt just evaporated without any residual good will; there is a real possibility of situations down the line where his worth is proclaimed. I certainly hope so.
As I near my 70th year a long way from the UK I have the unique pleasure of being one of only two members of a rather informal Manila group of former 33rd entry Boy Entrants; we schedule a choir practice every now and then on a Sunday lunchtime at a local Brit pub. Its good fun and quite often a few other aviation types turn up along with occasional dark blues and brown jobs, all of whom who add a bit of extra colour to our gatherings; I expect at the next assembly we shall rattle the can a little on behalf of Hounds for Hero's, which seems to be a worthy cause.
I have been out a long time now, but never totally lost touch and still have many good memories. Look for the good and rewarding in what you shared while serving and consider there might be a reasonable probability some pleasant chance encounters may follow; above all, dont get bitter and twisted. As for me, the clock is inevitably gradually running down and I still have a lot of goals to kick, I dont have time to harbor any chips on my shoulders, too much to do.
However, what has been rather nice is that from time to time I have been in touch, one way or another ,with a few who remembered me and most seemed to be genuinely pleased to be in contact; a couple in fact thanking me for some little help or guidance I had given them a long time back. A former commanding officer of mine who was later a contract officer in the Qatar AF when I was working at a nearby location was kind enough to give me a day of his time (and quite a few beers) to bash out a letter I needed to help clear some doubts as to my capabilities in certain areas. A former squadron commander (I was a line NCO then) later worked with me at a Middle East flight department, our rapport was immediate. Over the years Ive had reason to work with a number of RAF units or sections helping with arrangements for one thing or another and once it was known I was ex Air Force we immediately had a solid base for mutual respect. Oh yes, a former pal from ATC cadet days who had risen to become a onetime CO of QF was one I came to catch up with as a civvie and the beer flowed heavily on the couple of occasions we got together; most likely in fact, had I still been serving, we would not have enjoyed the same freedom to imbibe.
What Im getting at is that CB might well find his time in the service hasnt just evaporated without any residual good will; there is a real possibility of situations down the line where his worth is proclaimed. I certainly hope so.
As I near my 70th year a long way from the UK I have the unique pleasure of being one of only two members of a rather informal Manila group of former 33rd entry Boy Entrants; we schedule a choir practice every now and then on a Sunday lunchtime at a local Brit pub. Its good fun and quite often a few other aviation types turn up along with occasional dark blues and brown jobs, all of whom who add a bit of extra colour to our gatherings; I expect at the next assembly we shall rattle the can a little on behalf of Hounds for Hero's, which seems to be a worthy cause.
I have been out a long time now, but never totally lost touch and still have many good memories. Look for the good and rewarding in what you shared while serving and consider there might be a reasonable probability some pleasant chance encounters may follow; above all, dont get bitter and twisted. As for me, the clock is inevitably gradually running down and I still have a lot of goals to kick, I dont have time to harbor any chips on my shoulders, too much to do.
Last edited by Q-RTF-X; 30th Aug 2012 at 06:40.
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Nice to see half a dozen former Boy Entrants on that list
Q-RTF-X.....
Last edited by Shack37; 30th Aug 2012 at 15:17.
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I miss it. What's not to miss? The money. The flying. The travel. The sense of "this has gotta beat the crap out of working for a living".
Don't understand the bitter and twisted brigade...never will. (Except those that have been royally screwed over financially...they have my every sympathy).
Were we not all volunteers?
Had a fantastic career; now having an equally fantastic retirement (mostly paid for by my fantastic career).
OP GL
Don't understand the bitter and twisted brigade...never will. (Except those that have been royally screwed over financially...they have my every sympathy).
Were we not all volunteers?
Had a fantastic career; now having an equally fantastic retirement (mostly paid for by my fantastic career).
OP GL
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TOFO, quite. Of course a lot of the gripes are about change. I have seen more change than almost everyone posting here. Some for the better and some not for the better.
But you only have to read the wanabee thread to see the number of keen young folk that want to join today's air force and intend to enjoy it every bit as much as we did ours.
PS
In my wildest dreams I never thought I would do what I did, go where I went and flew in what I did from Lancaster to AWACS and much in between.
But you only have to read the wanabee thread to see the number of keen young folk that want to join today's air force and intend to enjoy it every bit as much as we did ours.
PS
In my wildest dreams I never thought I would do what I did, go where I went and flew in what I did from Lancaster to AWACS and much in between.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 30th Aug 2012 at 17:34.
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Very similar to my own experience despite having enjoyed most of my 37 years. An interview from my ex Boss would have been nice. All very impersonal despite the rhetoric. That said, the resettlement process was outstanding! maybe I was influenced having seen the ceremonies that US colleagues enjoyed when they left the service.
The good news is that life is actually very pleasant once you move on.
The good news is that life is actually very pleasant once you move on.
Last edited by Geehovah; 30th Aug 2012 at 17:40.
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Shack
Your memory coincides with mine, letter first, mine being M1935***
I understand there was a method of working out the allocation of the letter, it was not a random thing, it was arrived at mathematically. Our WO Adj worked it out for me one time shortly after the letter prefix came out; I had lost the paper I had it noted down on and and had a totally blank memory just at the time I needed to complete some forms.
Your memory coincides with mine, letter first, mine being M1935***
I understand there was a method of working out the allocation of the letter, it was not a random thing, it was arrived at mathematically. Our WO Adj worked it out for me one time shortly after the letter prefix came out; I had lost the paper I had it noted down on and and had a totally blank memory just at the time I needed to complete some forms.
If my experience is typical I think you'll find the position of the letter relates to whether you are commissioned or not. I started with a 6 figure apprentice no. then acquired an R0 at the front of it, but on commissioning the R moved to the end with a 0 at the front to pad it to 8 digits.
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I understand there was a method of working out the allocation of the letter, it was not a random thing, it was arrived at mathematically. Our WO Adj worked it out for me one time shortly after the letter prefix came out; I had lost the paper I had it noted down on and and had a totally blank memory just at the time I needed to complete some forms.
Multiply the first number by 8
the second number by 17
the third number by 4
the fourth number by 16
the fifth by 2
the sixth by 13
and the last number by 1
Add the total of the answers (Answer A)
divide total by 23
reduce the number to the nearest integer (ie, 13.26087 would be 13)
multiply that number by 23 (Answer B)
take away Answer B from Answer A above
if your answer is
0 = A
1 = B
2 = C
3 = D
4 = E
5 = F
6 = G
7 = H
8 = J
9 = K
10 = L
11 = M
12 = N
13 = P
14 = Q
15 = R
16 = S
17 = T
18 = U
19 = V
20 = W
21 = X
22 = Y
23 = X
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When you consider a new posting could have been anywhere from Goose Bay to Labuan, from Macrihanish to Eastleigh or Gütersloh, with potential stopovers encompassing Bahrain, Gan or Seletar, then the exhilaration/excitement even apprehension relating to where you would next find yourself made my days in the RAF something very special.
Having been brought up by impoverished parents in Nottingham, a day at Skeggie, Cleethorpes or a trip to far away places like Blackpool had been my previous travel experiences, so joining the air force straight from school would have been akin to finding Aladdin's lamp on a beach. Can't be much fun these days. So whilst I enjoyed my times in the RAF immensely, glad I left when I did.
Having been brought up by impoverished parents in Nottingham, a day at Skeggie, Cleethorpes or a trip to far away places like Blackpool had been my previous travel experiences, so joining the air force straight from school would have been akin to finding Aladdin's lamp on a beach. Can't be much fun these days. So whilst I enjoyed my times in the RAF immensely, glad I left when I did.
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Any maths genius out there want to start with the letter and work backwards?