Happy Birthday RAF
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Happy Birthday RAF
And long may it continue.....
95 years young, if I haven't cocked up my maths
Nuff said
.
95 years young, if I haven't cocked up my maths
Nuff said
.
Last edited by NutLoose; 31st Mar 2013 at 23:39.
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I still think it was a stitch-up on the part of the RN & Army to have the date of inception as April Fool's day, but I wish the RAF "Happy Birthday" anyway!
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Maybe fools day, but those on the ground or on the seas over those 95 years when they have needed us would say otherwise..
Last edited by NutLoose; 1st Apr 2013 at 00:09.
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Early events
IIRC the first form the RAF adopted (RAF F1) was a seven day delay report and the second ( RAF F2) was a Board of Inquiry report. So we can surmise what the first 2 major events were!!
Still I had a long and happy time - think I'll have a small Lagavulin in memory of times past and old mates.
Rgds SOS
Still I had a long and happy time - think I'll have a small Lagavulin in memory of times past and old mates.
Rgds SOS
Last edited by SOSL; 1st Apr 2013 at 02:07.
Dwell on these inconsequential thoughts for a moment:
It was Jan Smuts whose studies led to the RAF being formed.
We had a female component in the form of a 'WRAF' until the end of the First WW.
The PMs survived, in part due to Royal patronage of the King's daughter.
There were two classes of warrant officer until about 1939 and sergeant majors until - not sure when.
The RAF wears a black tie because Nelson is dead.
Everybody knows of Trenchard but what about Sykes?
.......... and it was the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force; not the navy.
It was Jan Smuts whose studies led to the RAF being formed.
We had a female component in the form of a 'WRAF' until the end of the First WW.
The PMs survived, in part due to Royal patronage of the King's daughter.
There were two classes of warrant officer until about 1939 and sergeant majors until - not sure when.
The RAF wears a black tie because Nelson is dead.
Everybody knows of Trenchard but what about Sykes?
.......... and it was the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force; not the navy.
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Happy Birthday RAF.
It is also my parent's wedding anniversary. I am still waiting for them to tell me it is an April Fool and that I am a B-Starred.
It is also my parent's wedding anniversary. I am still waiting for them to tell me it is an April Fool and that I am a B-Starred.
Re PC's comments about the centenary bash.
The answer is that the job was probably given to a two star along with a million and one other things but he moved on and the job didn't.
I also suspect that current thinking is along the lines of; 'it's still five years away so no probs'. Someone, somewhere will be thinking 'well with BBMF, the Reds, and QCS' that takes care of a chunk of the day. The 'Boss' will get a lunch at the RAF's remaining flying station and in the afternoon she'll plant a tree. That evening, a shed load of stars past and present will have dinner at Sleaford Tech and that's it sorted - now where's my gong'.
What it really needs, of course, is an imaginative and wide ranging programme of events which not only traces the RAF's impressive past record but showcases what it does and involves everybody, including the air cadets etc. Past experience shows that the talent is out there but the service needs to get on with it pdq.
Old Duffer
The answer is that the job was probably given to a two star along with a million and one other things but he moved on and the job didn't.
I also suspect that current thinking is along the lines of; 'it's still five years away so no probs'. Someone, somewhere will be thinking 'well with BBMF, the Reds, and QCS' that takes care of a chunk of the day. The 'Boss' will get a lunch at the RAF's remaining flying station and in the afternoon she'll plant a tree. That evening, a shed load of stars past and present will have dinner at Sleaford Tech and that's it sorted - now where's my gong'.
What it really needs, of course, is an imaginative and wide ranging programme of events which not only traces the RAF's impressive past record but showcases what it does and involves everybody, including the air cadets etc. Past experience shows that the talent is out there but the service needs to get on with it pdq.
Old Duffer
Centenaries
It's a hundred years of flying at Halton this year...
3 Sqn RFC turned up at the Rothschild Estate in 1913 in a Belriot, a BE2, BE3, BE4 and the rest, as they say, is history...
There's also 100 years since the start of the Great War next year to get sorted first before we look at 1918 and 100 years of the RAF.
Happy 95th Birthday RAF
iRaven
3 Sqn RFC turned up at the Rothschild Estate in 1913 in a Belriot, a BE2, BE3, BE4 and the rest, as they say, is history...
There's also 100 years since the start of the Great War next year to get sorted first before we look at 1918 and 100 years of the RAF.
Happy 95th Birthday RAF
iRaven
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.......... and it was the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force; not the navy.
Happy birthday however and well done for keeping the sausage munchers from our shores - it's appreciated
Al