Bl**dy Crabs!
Cunning Artificer
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I'm sure they had a few choice expressions about the Navy.
We had a Royal Navy work party in our hangar, doing a Minor* on one of our Whirlwinds. We all got on very well, with lots of banter. 32 Squadron's HS125 crews were 50% Royal Navy. One day I was working on our Gazelle when the Petty Officer in charge of the naval work party came out of the office and climbed up the side of the Whirlwind.
"Hello Sailor!" I cried out in my best high pitched squeaky voice - just as a Lieutenant Commander (complete with full set) emerged from behind the tool cabinet. He was not amused and I had a hard time explaining myself to our Squadron commander later. The sailors of course, found the whole thing hilarious.
Gentleman Aviator
Cor - this crab/crabfat thing comes up on Pprune every coupla years or so.
On which occasions I usually add the following two facts (sic); so for completeness I do so again:
1. Pubic lice are known in French as Papillons d'Amour - butterflies of love.
2. The aforesaid phthiris pubis is becoming something of an endangered species as - er
- fashions of the nether regions named after a Portuguese-speaking South American country are depriving them of their natural habitat. 
On which occasions I usually add the following two facts (sic); so for completeness I do so again:
1. Pubic lice are known in French as Papillons d'Amour - butterflies of love.
2. The aforesaid phthiris pubis is becoming something of an endangered species as - er
- fashions of the nether regions named after a Portuguese-speaking South American country are depriving them of their natural habitat.
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Way back in the 70's at Lossie, I asked our resident Matelot, why they called folk crabs. He said it was used to describe a naval type who'd only served on shore bases.
Join Date: Apr 2013
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Any old excuse!
Found this and it seems reasonable.........."A plausible explanation as to why the RN refer to the RAF as 'crabs' goes back to the days of rum, sodomy and the lash (about last week in fact). One of the more unsavoury aspects of the average matelot was his unfortunate habit of contracting pubic lice or "crabs" during his shore leave. The treatment for this condition was to get a chum or shipmate to apply a liberal application of a greasy blue/grey ointment (known affectionately as "crab fat") to the affected area. The proper name for the ointment was Blue Unction.
With the RN's usual powers of wit and sophistication the RAF were thereafter referred to as 'crab fats' (or crabs for short) as their blue/grey uniform was exactly the same colour as the stuff that the filthy little ratings rubbed on their swollen and lice-ravaged goolies."
Haha....oh really - get a chum to do it eh...why not do it yourself?! Easy enough to apply to ones own nether reasons ain't it...but that just sums up Jack nicely..any excuse to get a helping hand ooooer missus!
With the RN's usual powers of wit and sophistication the RAF were thereafter referred to as 'crab fats' (or crabs for short) as their blue/grey uniform was exactly the same colour as the stuff that the filthy little ratings rubbed on their swollen and lice-ravaged goolies."
Haha....oh really - get a chum to do it eh...why not do it yourself?! Easy enough to apply to ones own nether reasons ain't it...but that just sums up Jack nicely..any excuse to get a helping hand ooooer missus!
Gentleman Aviator
Latin: Pediculosis Pubis
English translation: Pattering of little feet on the private parts.
English translation: Pattering of little feet on the private parts.
(a bear of little brain)
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Latin: Pediculosis Pubis
English translation: Pattering of little feet on the private parts.
English translation: Pattering of little feet on the private parts.
