The Great Escape

[Wrathmonk]

And the medals of the Sqn Ldr , including what looks in one shot like "mudguards" or para wings on her shoulder?

I think said Sqn Ldr might be an Aussie.

[Haraka]

That crossed my mind as well ,but I'm not up-to-date with the latest RAF Women Officers' dress ( e.g.that hat).

[CoffmanStarter]

TTN ...

I think this might help ...

Originally Posted by AP1358

0703. Ceremonial Shoulder Boards. When in 1A SD, distinctive unranked ceremonial shoulder boards are worn by AVM and above and those officers assigned to the 1 Star posts of Comdt RAFC Cranwell, Air Officer Wales and Air Officer Scotland. When a greatcoat is worn with No 1A or No 5 SD, detachable gold ranked shoulder straps in Crombie material are worn.

AP1358 Chap 7-5/6 Section 0703



Image Credit : MOD RAF AP1358

Evidently not a very good colour match/reproduction in the AP by the looks of it

[Pom Pax]

I think said Sqn Ldr might be an Aussie.

or a Kiwi.
Since 2010 the shoulder identifier says "ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE"
Is this all one line or two?

[Tankertrashnav]

Coffman - thanks for the picture - all new stuff to me

I think said Sqn Ldr might be an Aussie

.

Phew - having failed to recognise one of her medal ribbons when I thought I could help Haraka out I was beginning to think my position as resident PPRuNe medal freak was in danger! Not really up to speed with Aussie (or NZ) medals. I presume she is the AVM's ADC or PSO.

[N2erk]

The Great Escape- the Reckoning is the documentary about the RAFP led by Frank McKenna who tracked down the Germans responsible.

[500N]

I had a look at her medals but can't quite make them out but they don't look "right" as far as I can see.

Does anyone have a link to the original page with the photo or
point me in the direction where I can get a range of them ?

[CoffmanStarter]

500N ... They are the best I could come up with from Twitter

I'm no expert ... but I think the Female Officer could be RNZAF (shoulder mudguards would appear to be two lines of embroidery as opposed to the one line as per the RAAF. Also her SD Cap Badge doesn't look RAAF to me)

As for the medals ...

NZDF Medals

Still struggling

[Whenurhappy]

The Women RNZAF Officer is wearing the (NZ) Defence Service Medal on the right of her rack, so to speak. Sadly, they think it's OK to wear name badges on their No 3 Service Dress (ie RAF No 1s)

[CoffmanStarter]

Many thanks WurH

[Not a Crew Chief]

Couple of years ago I realised one of life's ambitions and visited Stalag Luft 3 and Colditz.
Started in Poznan and visited the War cemetery at the Citadel. Gravestones of 25 of the 50 are there though I believe Roger Bushell's Urn broke and his ashes are actually scattered at Zagan. Quite a number of graves in groups of 5 or 7 and obviously complete crews.
Then went to Zagan and the remains of the camp. There is a visitor centre about a mile away with hut and tower reconstructions as well as a tunnel section with Perspex roof you are able to try for yourself. The camp itself is eerily quiet and you cannot appreciate the size of the camp and huts unless you are there. The Watchtower is new since I was there. The memorial built by the prisoners is next to a cemetery for a Polish conflict of 18?? so has either been relocated or the camp is even bigger than I thought.
Then went to Colditz, and considering it was behind the Iron Curtain when the film was made it was like I knew every wall window and doorway. Following Pat Reid's footsteps was uncanny. I believe I was there just before they recreated the glider and flew it off the roof.


Cynicalint
You're right about what didn't happen but I always thought James Garner's scrounger was based on Sqn Ldr Jimmy James. And the motorbike was a Triumph, possibly Steve McQueen's own.

[sled dog]

Bike was a Triumph, but McQueen did not do the jump, Bud Ekins ( ? ) did.

[Blue Bottle]

Not their finest hour..

The march gets a bit of bad press. We don't see marching troops in London in HiViz

UK soldiers in Poland on anniversary of Great Escape forced to wear high-vis gear | Mail Online

[MAINJAFAD]

Blue Bottle.

Nope, but we do tend to close the road to traffic first!!!!

[Tankertrashnav]

According to the Mail, its a picture of 50 RAF officers marching in high vis jackets.

Still, if every police constable, traffic warden and council clerk is an officer these days, I suppose SAC's etc can be officers too

[CoffmanStarter]

TTN ...

Don't worry old chap ... the RAF Media Team responsible for the RAF Facebook Page made the same gaffe ...

[Lima Juliet]

Surely this is the "Operational Clothing" that modern aircrew would be wearing - not multi-terrain pattern personal clothing system (MTP PCS) rubbish!



It saddens me that it seems acceptable to wear MTP PCS, but, wear a flying suit? You may as well have shagged the SWO's sister and shat on his mother's grave!

With the loss of yet another FJ Sqn in a couple of days time, maybe it should be the Royal Ground Force!

LJ

[thing]

With the loss of yet another FJ Sqn in a couple of days time, maybe it should be the Royal Ground Force!

I was fluging at one of her Maj's toppest and secretest air bases today and apart from me who had buggered off for a nice sausage sandwich at Fenland there was one civ register King Air and a Tutor who looked lost and a bit frightened lurking around from a mob point of view. There was more civ traffic asking for Matz transits than there was service traffic. It's the end I tell you.

[November4]

Rob Davis on his site has much detail on the murders, who committed them along with the fates of the murderers following the RAF SIB investigation after the war.

[air pig]

Said female Squadron leader if in the RAF would be a PMRAFNS officer, with that hat.