Undue Deference to Senior Officers
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my mother's head was attached and it didn't need a spring clip either.
Gentleman Aviator
One once went to an impoverished provincial zoo that was in such a bad way that it only had one animal on display, and that was a dog!!
It was a ****zu .............
........... hat, coat, (fox fur stole?) etc......
It was a ****zu .............
........... hat, coat, (fox fur stole?) etc......
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A senior member of the Royal Family was undergoing the shipborne part of his flying training. Sat on deck, telebrief connected, following a sortie, the Instructor ( a lieutenant commander) concludes his hot debrief to the Royal sub lieutenant:
"You are a f***ing idiot! Sir. What are you?"
"I'm a f***ing idiot, Sir!"
"You are a f***ing idiot! Sir. What are you?"
"I'm a f***ing idiot, Sir!"
for shat read shar perhaps?
Perhaps not!
Perhaps not!
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Balance
Just for balance we might give credit where due. I can recall at least two V S offs who gained respect by their behavior.
Air Marshall Sowry, so called bent Fred, because a back condition from nasty accident had left him rather stooped. When he inspected my men at a parade he made a point, with difficulty, of looking every man in the face and chatting to the taller ones, that's class for you.
I tanked a v senior sailor in a Bucc to a red sea rat hole where he chatted to us as we filled her up and repacked the brake chute. we were sent to the back of the mess for a meal as they had a big cheese coming. The steward laughed because they had lost a f..g Admiral at which point he spoke up
No doubt there were many more good blokes I never met
Air Marshall Sowry, so called bent Fred, because a back condition from nasty accident had left him rather stooped. When he inspected my men at a parade he made a point, with difficulty, of looking every man in the face and chatting to the taller ones, that's class for you.
I tanked a v senior sailor in a Bucc to a red sea rat hole where he chatted to us as we filled her up and repacked the brake chute. we were sent to the back of the mess for a meal as they had a big cheese coming. The steward laughed because they had lost a f..g Admiral at which point he spoke up
No doubt there were many more good blokes I never met
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Ah, seeing as we are talking of old time VSO's.
1979, some boozer in South Bucks Chiltern's.
Self and pal enjoying beer. We get hit on by long retired Sqn Ldr. Nice chap, unknown to us, but after a wee while, self and pal do get rather miffed about his comparisons between his Air Force (1950's) and our Air Force (1970's).
His tirades are interrupted by a silvery haired, tall chap who wandered across and joined in the 'one sided' conversation.
After a minute or two of trying to placate the long retired Sqn Ldr and suffering the odd poke or two proffered by the said retiree, our new found silver haired friend introduced himself.
"Chris Foxley-Norris" How do you do? "It's Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris really, but I'm retired so I don't bother".
Exit one retired Sqn Ldr.
One Sergeant and one corporal had a magic 10 minutes drinking a beer (1/2) bought by a GOD.
1979, some boozer in South Bucks Chiltern's.
Self and pal enjoying beer. We get hit on by long retired Sqn Ldr. Nice chap, unknown to us, but after a wee while, self and pal do get rather miffed about his comparisons between his Air Force (1950's) and our Air Force (1970's).
His tirades are interrupted by a silvery haired, tall chap who wandered across and joined in the 'one sided' conversation.
After a minute or two of trying to placate the long retired Sqn Ldr and suffering the odd poke or two proffered by the said retiree, our new found silver haired friend introduced himself.
"Chris Foxley-Norris" How do you do? "It's Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris really, but I'm retired so I don't bother".
Exit one retired Sqn Ldr.
One Sergeant and one corporal had a magic 10 minutes drinking a beer (1/2) bought by a GOD.
Last edited by taxydual; 7th Jan 2016 at 19:31.
"Chris Foxley-Norris" How do you do? "It's Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley-Norris really, but I'm retired so I don't bother".
Which inevitably reminds me of the tale that the cousins were always intrigued by the fact that, on visits to the United States, Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley was invariably accompanied by Lady Morris.....
Jack
Which inevitably reminds me of the tale that the cousins were always intrigued by the fact that, on visits to the United States, Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley was invariably accompanied by Lady Morris.....
Jack
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Down to Earth
Further thread creep, I fear , but still a nice senior officer story:
It's early 1980's and I'm bag carrying for a dark blue 3* during an official visit to Liverpool. At the start of an exciting day of RN-related engagements we are heading out to inspect the local RNR establishment (EAGLET, I think). The Admiral - of god-like physique and bearing - is resplendent in full fig: scrambled egg, sword, many medals, gold braid in abundance etc etc. and even little me wasn't looking too shabby, trusty Wilkinson knife in hand, shoulder adorned with aiguillettes and Wellingtons at maximum shine.
Our overnight accommodation has been the less-than military Holiday Inn, haunt of Aer Lingus and BMI and even lowly charter aircrew. As we ride down in the lift, trying not to admire ourselves in the mirror, the door opens and in steps a junior bellboy. We continue to descend in silence for several floors as the newcomer eyes us up and down, goggling at every detail of our glittering Senior Service perfection.
At last we reach ground level. Just as the door slides open and we're putting on our caps, the bellboy finds his voice and in a bewildered Scouse accent asks... "What airline do you work for..??"
The expression on the Admiral's iron-jawed face still makes me laugh...
It's early 1980's and I'm bag carrying for a dark blue 3* during an official visit to Liverpool. At the start of an exciting day of RN-related engagements we are heading out to inspect the local RNR establishment (EAGLET, I think). The Admiral - of god-like physique and bearing - is resplendent in full fig: scrambled egg, sword, many medals, gold braid in abundance etc etc. and even little me wasn't looking too shabby, trusty Wilkinson knife in hand, shoulder adorned with aiguillettes and Wellingtons at maximum shine.
Our overnight accommodation has been the less-than military Holiday Inn, haunt of Aer Lingus and BMI and even lowly charter aircrew. As we ride down in the lift, trying not to admire ourselves in the mirror, the door opens and in steps a junior bellboy. We continue to descend in silence for several floors as the newcomer eyes us up and down, goggling at every detail of our glittering Senior Service perfection.
At last we reach ground level. Just as the door slides open and we're putting on our caps, the bellboy finds his voice and in a bewildered Scouse accent asks... "What airline do you work for..??"
The expression on the Admiral's iron-jawed face still makes me laugh...
Deference to senior officers has never been a problem. I view it as common courtesy to someone whose official status is higher than mine and as I was told when a callow youth - 'courtesy costs nothing'.
Furthermore, I have usually found that the more competent the senior officer is and the more comfortable he feels with his status, the easier he is to get on with and the more considerate he is to the lower orders - of which I have the honour to be one.
As with most of us, I have encountered a few VSOs who seem to equate their status with lots of bad temper and angst - and this I ascribe to being uncomfortable or just simply out of their depth. One mildly amusing incident springs to mind.
I attended a meeting in the 'bunker' at High Wycombe post GW1. The 'star' leading the gathering arrived, looked around and ordered all below gp capt to go forth and multiply. I did as directed and as it was 'going home' time on a Friday, did just that. In the days before mobile phones were widely available, I had to smile as I left; I just happened to be the key player in the particular plot being hatched and learned the following Monday how annoyed the star was when asked for the plot devised, to be briefed and was told the briefer was probably halfway to his country gaff already!!!
Old Duffer
Furthermore, I have usually found that the more competent the senior officer is and the more comfortable he feels with his status, the easier he is to get on with and the more considerate he is to the lower orders - of which I have the honour to be one.
As with most of us, I have encountered a few VSOs who seem to equate their status with lots of bad temper and angst - and this I ascribe to being uncomfortable or just simply out of their depth. One mildly amusing incident springs to mind.
I attended a meeting in the 'bunker' at High Wycombe post GW1. The 'star' leading the gathering arrived, looked around and ordered all below gp capt to go forth and multiply. I did as directed and as it was 'going home' time on a Friday, did just that. In the days before mobile phones were widely available, I had to smile as I left; I just happened to be the key player in the particular plot being hatched and learned the following Monday how annoyed the star was when asked for the plot devised, to be briefed and was told the briefer was probably halfway to his country gaff already!!!
Old Duffer
Gentleman Aviator
And it's very often the SO2s or SO1s in the "Outer Office" who claim "Sir wants this" or "Sir wants that" when Sir is oblivious and probably couldn't give a proverbial.
O-D - next time I see you remind me to tell you my GW1 bunker story which reflects very well on a VSO. For a number of reasons I don't want to tell it here ........
O-D - next time I see you remind me to tell you my GW1 bunker story which reflects very well on a VSO. For a number of reasons I don't want to tell it here ........
Teeters:
Is that the same thing as the reported conversation between an equipment officer and a certain squadron commander at the start of the Battle of Britain.
Is that the same thing as the reported conversation between an equipment officer and a certain squadron commander at the start of the Battle of Britain.
Gentleman Aviator
Very unlikley, my story depends on mistaken names, one being mine, which is one reason I don't want to air it here! - O-D might know the one you mean, he was an "Equipment Officer"........
Sir Chris F-N
Jenkins,
Manners Makyth Man indeed, although I think the institution concerned failed in my case.
Aeons ago, when F-N was living at Rufforth Hall (what a fabulous gaff for a VSO) my aunt met F-N at a cocktail party and must have mentioned to him that her young teenage nephew was obsessed with aeroplanes.A few days later I was summoned to Church Fenton for a Chippie ride with YUAS. Result!
Manners Makyth Man indeed, although I think the institution concerned failed in my case.
Aeons ago, when F-N was living at Rufforth Hall (what a fabulous gaff for a VSO) my aunt met F-N at a cocktail party and must have mentioned to him that her young teenage nephew was obsessed with aeroplanes.A few days later I was summoned to Church Fenton for a Chippie ride with YUAS. Result!
I recall one Cowes Week, when we seemed to have a run-in with a certain Marshal of the RAF almost every day (this was back in the days when he was billeted on board a large boat moored just off the Green).
The MRAF was helming, and whenever things got close the tactic was to get our tactician to debate the finer points of the racing rules with him, while our helm concentrated on going fast. 90% of the time, the result was that the opposition slowed down, and we pulled clear ahead.
Throughout the week, I was impressed with how down-to-earth he was. Hate to think what he thought of our tactician though!
The MRAF was helming, and whenever things got close the tactic was to get our tactician to debate the finer points of the racing rules with him, while our helm concentrated on going fast. 90% of the time, the result was that the opposition slowed down, and we pulled clear ahead.
Throughout the week, I was impressed with how down-to-earth he was. Hate to think what he thought of our tactician though!
Re Posts 75 and 76, indeed O-D is a former Equipment Officer (now Logistics!!!! - but the pay is no better). However, I have tried to forget that dubious pedigree and was doubly fortunate that their 'airships' saw fit to employ me frequently on tasks far removed from stacking blankets in Saxa Vord.
However, I know nothing of the story of the equipper and the sqn cdr in the BofB!
O-D
However, I know nothing of the story of the equipper and the sqn cdr in the BofB!
O-D