Help needed identifying someone who is potentially lying about RAF experience
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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A few years back I had the ?pleasure? of sitting next to a LHR BA FO in a restaurant in Napoli (a rare piece of 'sub-species mixing'
) who apparently had spent a whole year flying with the Red Arrows in EXACTLY the same cockpit as a chap I know - and he never noticed. Said bull****ter also claimed to have flown Lightings and Concorde. Probably a Captain now with ISS time. It's amazing what some people think they can get away with.
) who apparently had spent a whole year flying with the Red Arrows in EXACTLY the same cockpit as a chap I know - and he never noticed. Said bull****ter also claimed to have flown Lightings and Concorde. Probably a Captain now with ISS time. It's amazing what some people think they can get away with.
A couple of years after I'd hung up the helmet I was chatting to a guy down at the harbour who was interested in buying a yacht. He didn't want too expensive a yacht since, as his wife said, his first love was 'aviating' (his words too!). My colleague with whom I was working mentioned that I too had been an 'aviator' and he proceeded to inform me that he knew several RAF pilots really well and I might know them. He dropped a couple of names....I pointed out that I was one of those names (and later recalled that I'd shown him around the A/C once during a refuel at the local airfield). He was memorable because I'd never seen so many badges on a flying suit - not even at Culdrose! 
Last edited by Al-bert; 11th May 2013 at 11:18.
Gnat, offset TACAN - great memories. Found a photo on the net of Gnat going round (and down) the Lllyn Ogwen turn - sent it to my sons (41,40 and 24) and said that was what the old man had done in his youth - didn't believe me, but quite impressed I am solo in glider again after 45 years!
London Gazette
Sorry for being boring, but I've just spent about 30 minutes trying to find my entries in the Gazette. The most recent one was a change of Commission in 1990 - no subsequent promotions, change of Branch etc listed. (I'm still serving...).
Does anyone know when the RAF stopped listing in the Gazette? It has been an invaluable source for tracing family histories, along with the Single Service lists that used to be available in public libraries. The RAF List is now a excel spreadsheet, only available on DII, and, as ever, full of inaccuracies. In years to come, it will become increasingly difficult to obtain information on forbears (or for academic research) from authoritative sources.
Does anyone know when the RAF stopped listing in the Gazette? It has been an invaluable source for tracing family histories, along with the Single Service lists that used to be available in public libraries. The RAF List is now a excel spreadsheet, only available on DII, and, as ever, full of inaccuracies. In years to come, it will become increasingly difficult to obtain information on forbears (or for academic research) from authoritative sources.
It must be down to someone in manning sending (or not) the data to the Gazette. When I look myself up I see my University Cadetship in the late 90s through IOT graduation, all the time-based promotions and a very recent promotion a few months ago.
My change of branch is missing but was this ever shown for anyone?
My change of branch is missing but was this ever shown for anyone?
When
Have you tried your service number? I just did mine in the search function on the Gazette home page and it found all of my promotions including the last one in 07. Tried searching for a few mates and found one who was promoted in Jan 12.
Have you tried your service number? I just did mine in the search function on the Gazette home page and it found all of my promotions including the last one in 07. Tried searching for a few mates and found one who was promoted in Jan 12.
<embarrassed face>
Um, yes, Service number (or staff number, according to JPA) seems to work, but some of the pages are truncated, but I put that down to viewing on iPad ...
Um, yes, Service number (or staff number, according to JPA) seems to work, but some of the pages are truncated, but I put that down to viewing on iPad ...
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Service number seems to be the way forward, even worked for me (VRT).
Of course we are all (quite rightly) listed as Fg Offs regardless of acting rank. When did honours start to be listed as acting ranks? Until recently any VRT getting an honour (e.g. for 30+ years in service) was listed as Fg Off, but recently I've seen Wg Cdrs and Sqn Ldrs. As there are no substantive ranks above Fg Off in the VRT this seems a bit waltish.
Tim
Of course we are all (quite rightly) listed as Fg Offs regardless of acting rank. When did honours start to be listed as acting ranks? Until recently any VRT getting an honour (e.g. for 30+ years in service) was listed as Fg Off, but recently I've seen Wg Cdrs and Sqn Ldrs. As there are no substantive ranks above Fg Off in the VRT this seems a bit waltish.
Tim
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11th May 2013 12:20 Start by stop prating about - grow a pair and just ask the dude outright. If he was in the service he would appreciate the frankness.
10th May 2013, 23:55 Evening gents
Update: Our mystery man was confronted and now admits that he was UAS and the Hawk stick time was back seat and once only (apparently, it was the ride of a lifetime...)
I also (subtly) checked colleagues plus the on-file CV - no inflated RAF claims, so no risk to the wider project.
Our hero is chastened and knows that he is under scrutiny. Case closed.
Thank you all for your kind advice and PMs.
Update: Our mystery man was confronted and now admits that he was UAS and the Hawk stick time was back seat and once only (apparently, it was the ride of a lifetime...)
I also (subtly) checked colleagues plus the on-file CV - no inflated RAF claims, so no risk to the wider project.
Our hero is chastened and knows that he is under scrutiny. Case closed.
Thank you all for your kind advice and PMs.
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BOAC
A few years back I had the ?pleasure? of sitting next to a LHR BA FO in a restaurant in Napoli ..... who apparently had spent a whole year flying with the Red Arrows....
Ooooh, that might well ring bells with a few folk around here - if it's who think it is he's toned his act down a bit, and whilst he is a captain now I don't think even he has dared put ISS on his CV.