So What Did You Snack On In The Cold War, Daddy?
Managed a rather splendid meal for 12 assorted Army aircrew on someone else's detachment AMEX. At the Swiss International Airshow In A Field at Yverdon in August 1990, 18 Sqn sent a cab and we got friendly with one of the Loadies. We were sharing the same hotel in Lausanne, and on the last night said chap let slip the room number where he and a crate of Wobbly were ensconced. Rather than the free Wobbly we went to town in the restaurant and billed it all to his room, much to the surprise of his Boss at check-out the next morning.
Now that, TEEEJ, takes me to a very different memory, many years on......
MRE's - colloquially known as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians.......
Can I say that now?............
I was visiting Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert California to watch an Army Armoured Attack at the US National Training Center which we were supporting with air....
I left Nellis/Vegas in the early hours, drove to Fort Irwin, got into a HMMVW and drove out into the inky blackness with NVG's to be in place on the top of a viewing ridge for the dawn attack. The sunrise over the desert was quite amazing - but I was introduced to a Breakfast MRE heated on the engine block of the HMMVW.
I have to say that it was really very good! Better than a McDonalds B'fast burger!
The food on the Shack was better - but the scenery at the National Training Centre California and the weather there was better!
Both give good memories, though!
MRE's - colloquially known as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians.......
Can I say that now?............
I was visiting Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert California to watch an Army Armoured Attack at the US National Training Center which we were supporting with air....
I left Nellis/Vegas in the early hours, drove to Fort Irwin, got into a HMMVW and drove out into the inky blackness with NVG's to be in place on the top of a viewing ridge for the dawn attack. The sunrise over the desert was quite amazing - but I was introduced to a Breakfast MRE heated on the engine block of the HMMVW.
I have to say that it was really very good! Better than a McDonalds B'fast burger!
The food on the Shack was better - but the scenery at the National Training Centre California and the weather there was better!
Both give good memories, though!
Malta 1972. The Galley in the newish 203 Sqn Nimrods were considered so palatial and the flight rations so sumptuous (rumored to be supplied by Fortnum & Masons) that the star prize in that years Xmas draw was a meal for two in a Nimrod.
Managed a rather splendid meal for 12 assorted Army aircrew on someone else's detachment AMEX. At the Swiss International Airshow In A Field at Yverdon in August 1990, 18 Sqn sent a cab and we got friendly with one of the Loadies. We were sharing the same hotel in Lausanne, and on the last night said chap let slip the room number where he and a crate of Wobbly were ensconced. Rather than the free Wobbly we went to town in the restaurant and billed it all to his room, much to the surprise of his Boss at check-out the next morning.
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I am aware of one Vulcan crew, who, after departing Valley, were " less than impressed " when they found their in flight rations consisted of jam sarnies. This was nothing personal on the part of the cook, it was just unfortunate that he was possibly in the wrong trade.
Egg and ham banjos have been mentioned ......these culinary delights ensured the NAAFI profits rose considerably, by pure coincidence of course, when engaged defending the nation, possibly because we felt it prudent to be self sufficient in a HAS rather than be reliant on these congealed concoctions that could be used in lieu of PRC. Indeed, it's possible some HAS's were pre stocked with liquid refreshment on the day prior to the early morning alarm call.
However, one of the more memorable local broadcasts, delivered with some gravitas I should add, was one that informed us, that, under NO circumstances were we to feed the police dogs said banjos.....apparently, this had to do with the dogs welfare, which was very considerate really, albeit a shade worrying that the RAF felt our digestive systems didn't quite warrant the same concern.
Egg and ham banjos have been mentioned ......these culinary delights ensured the NAAFI profits rose considerably, by pure coincidence of course, when engaged defending the nation, possibly because we felt it prudent to be self sufficient in a HAS rather than be reliant on these congealed concoctions that could be used in lieu of PRC. Indeed, it's possible some HAS's were pre stocked with liquid refreshment on the day prior to the early morning alarm call.
However, one of the more memorable local broadcasts, delivered with some gravitas I should add, was one that informed us, that, under NO circumstances were we to feed the police dogs said banjos.....apparently, this had to do with the dogs welfare, which was very considerate really, albeit a shade worrying that the RAF felt our digestive systems didn't quite warrant the same concern.
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I can remember giving a RAFP dog[4 legged variety], San Miguel at RAF Kai Tak rugby club,I think he had 2 1/2 pints,and when they left ,the dog went from lampost to lampost on both sides of the street.Great days.
C Flight 230 Sqn back in the Gutersloh days had the best chefs by far, everyone looked for an excuse to drop in on exercise, nice change from babies heads and honkers stew!
CG
No meat products at all so they can be eaten by any religion (and I guess when you're really really hungry), lentil casserole anyone?
The USAF in-flight from Al Udeid used to be pretty dire as well.
Loady-mate was a retread from the Army Air Corps who I knew rather well, and as such I was aware that if the boot was on the other foot he'd not blink an eye at such an opportunity. That, and discovering that the Chinny commander had been handed a large number of beer-tokens by the local RAFA-rep, intended for the BritMil participants, that never reached the crews of two Lynx and a Gazelle....
Like you say;
Like you say;
Last edited by diginagain; 18th Jul 2020 at 13:34.
Now that, TEEEJ, takes me to a very different memory, many years on......
MRE's - colloquially known as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians.......
Can I say that now?............
I was visiting Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert California to watch an Army Armoured Attack at the US National Training Center which we were supporting with air....
I left Nellis/Vegas in the early hours, drove to Fort Irwin, got into a HMMVW and drove out into the inky blackness with NVG's to be in place on the top of a viewing ridge for the dawn attack. The sunrise over the desert was quite amazing - but I was introduced to a Breakfast MRE heated on the engine block of the HMMVW.
I have to say that it was really very good! Better than a McDonalds B'fast burger!
The food on the Shack was better - but the scenery at the National Training Centre California and the weather there was better!
Both give good memories, though!
MRE's - colloquially known as Meals Rejected by Ethiopians.......
Can I say that now?............
I was visiting Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert California to watch an Army Armoured Attack at the US National Training Center which we were supporting with air....
I left Nellis/Vegas in the early hours, drove to Fort Irwin, got into a HMMVW and drove out into the inky blackness with NVG's to be in place on the top of a viewing ridge for the dawn attack. The sunrise over the desert was quite amazing - but I was introduced to a Breakfast MRE heated on the engine block of the HMMVW.
I have to say that it was really very good! Better than a McDonalds B'fast burger!
The food on the Shack was better - but the scenery at the National Training Centre California and the weather there was better!
Both give good memories, though!
Due to the MRE’s ability to stop you up (especially peanut butter and crackers) MRE were also known as Meals Refusing to Exit. I went days without crapping in Africa and the ME. Maybe that’s a good thing.
Having got utterly fed up with those Minevals when you would be called out at some ungodly time of night only to rush in and wait for a jet, with neither breakfast nor exercise rats, I decided to keep a frozen sausage sandwich in my home freezer. By the time all the headless chickens had stopped buggering you about, it would have thawed perfectly in a lower leg pocket and at least I wouldn't starve....
One day I fished it out and was about to unwrap it when some exercise inject foiled me. But half an hour later I was able to tuck in....
…..only to discover that someone, who to preserve anonymity I will refer to as Jerry U**n, had laced the thing with tabasco. It was hotter than hell, but I feigned nonchalance..... Revenge shall be mine!
Thus it was a little later when, after making himself a cup of green pea soup, Jerry discovered that half a tube of Sweetex didn't really improve the flavour!
Best V-force in-flight was the 'Po'boy sandwich' from the Offutt SAC flight kitchen. It resembled a rugby ball made of bread filled with all manner of meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and heaven knows what else. Plus a bag of 'sour cream flavoured ripple chips'...which were 'different'.
Worst Brize in-flight? The infamous Robirch pork pie - it was always so stale that if you shook it, you could hear the ball of congealed tail and trotters rattling around inside like a dice in a cup.....
…..
One day I fished it out and was about to unwrap it when some exercise inject foiled me. But half an hour later I was able to tuck in....
…..only to discover that someone, who to preserve anonymity I will refer to as Jerry U**n, had laced the thing with tabasco. It was hotter than hell, but I feigned nonchalance..... Revenge shall be mine!
Thus it was a little later when, after making himself a cup of green pea soup, Jerry discovered that half a tube of Sweetex didn't really improve the flavour!
Best V-force in-flight was the 'Po'boy sandwich' from the Offutt SAC flight kitchen. It resembled a rugby ball made of bread filled with all manner of meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and heaven knows what else. Plus a bag of 'sour cream flavoured ripple chips'...which were 'different'.
Worst Brize in-flight? The infamous Robirch pork pie - it was always so stale that if you shook it, you could hear the ball of congealed tail and trotters rattling around inside like a dice in a cup.....
…..
They tasted awful - but at least you'd get home.
I was also a bit suspicious of the pink stuff that inhabited the inside of the sausage rolls, so much so that I used to carefully dissect them and remove said pink stuff and replace with the contents of a packet of crisps- prawn cocktail being my particular favourite. Don't get me started on fruit polos.
To be fair, most of the food that came out of Lyneham was actually pretty good.
