CODE NAMES & RAF VOCABULARY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: East Midlands
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CODE NAMES & RAF VOCABULARY
Some of these are still in use today!
Interesting?
RAFRA - Code Names and RAF vocabulary
Bloggs
Fg Off for the use of!
Interesting?
RAFRA - Code Names and RAF vocabulary
Bloggs
Fg Off for the use of!
but no SWO, or air-loadmattress, or lumpy-front or God-botherer or ..........
cloudy, weather-guesser ............
harry-clampers, and its opposite, Group-captain's weather, and the old favourite, the suckers' gap.
harry-clampers, and its opposite, Group-captain's weather, and the old favourite, the suckers' gap.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lancing, Sussex
Age: 92
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jankers not merely being put on a charge, but the consequences of a minor charge. Confined to barracks and "fatgiues", usually cleaning and polishing sundry statioin effects.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Civ/HAL/SHY/FYY/PWK/AAS/WAD/AVI/GPT/BZN/BSN/WAD/BAS/FLK/WIT/MND/WAD/WIT/WAD/Civ
Posts: 373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No
'Whistling tit' or 'Whistling wheelbarrow'
The RAFANASAURUS says 'growbag' is a sleeping bag. I've always understood it to be flying overalls, esp of the green variety.
'Whistling tit' or 'Whistling wheelbarrow'
The RAFANASAURUS says 'growbag' is a sleeping bag. I've always understood it to be flying overalls, esp of the green variety.
Last edited by Basil; 12th Feb 2016 at 13:07. Reason: growbag
"Growbag" - flying suit.
"Maggotbag" - sleeping bag.
That's what I remember!! (Doesn't mean much, I know!)
"Maggotbag" - sleeping bag.
That's what I remember!! (Doesn't mean much, I know!)
Nah - this is the one Banned Phrases: The Aircrew Dictionary (of unacceptable cliche and overused phrases)
never a baby's head in sight though.
[For some time I thought they were "baby zeds"]
[For some time I thought they were "baby zeds"]
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 82
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have been editing an interview that was carried out some years ago with a Royal Flying Corps pilot, who said that on the Front, when he had an engine failure (of which there were many), he would "VOLPLANE" down in the glide. When asked what Volplane meant, he explained that they would spiral down looking for somewhere to land, as they were usually flying over bomb craters.
Several times, he was forced to land behind enemy lines & get his tool kit out to try & fix the problem!!
I have never come across the term "volplane" before. I wonder if anyone else has?
Several times, he was forced to land behind enemy lines & get his tool kit out to try & fix the problem!!
I have never come across the term "volplane" before. I wonder if anyone else has?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I recall at a cocktail party in the Wirral, not military by any means, one lady to another, "this is boring, let's do a 180 and get the hell put of here."
The ladies were very old, say 35.
As a brand new PO I was gobsmacked and failed to take advantage of the situation.
PS, not to be confused with siutuation at a fighter control party
"Let's do a 360 and . . . ". FC, don't you love 'em?
The ladies were very old, say 35.
As a brand new PO I was gobsmacked and failed to take advantage of the situation.
PS, not to be confused with siutuation at a fighter control party
"Let's do a 360 and . . . ". FC, don't you love 'em?
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: South East Asia
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I found the definition of 'two-six (2-6)' to be a little misleading, it seems to define the present meaning of the term whereas it actually pre-dates the RAF and has its origin in the RFC/RNAS. Aircraft of the day were very simple machines, no brakes, no steering and only a hardwood tailskid to provide stopping friction. Therefore the procedure for ground-handling these aircraft was to position one man at each lower wingtip (the 'two' of two-six) and three men along each side of the fuselage between the wing and tailplane (the 'six' of two-six). When ready, the person-in-charge of this ground handling party would call "two-six, up" and the fuselage would be lifted by the 'six' and the aircraft would be physically moved from one location to another with the 'two' ensuring the aircraft didn't rock too much and also that there was sufficient clearance for the wingtips - a practice still being followed today.
In my RAF time, the call 'two-six' usually meant everyone to help open/close the hangar doors or move something particularly heavy or awkward.
In my RAF time, the call 'two-six' usually meant everyone to help open/close the hangar doors or move something particularly heavy or awkward.
Join Date: May 2013
Location: UK/ USA
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2, 6 heave is a navy gun term. No 2 and No 6 of the gunnery team were responsible for pulling the cannon into firing position and the post firing pulling it back to the loading position.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 82
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VOLPLANE
Cheers BEagle. What an amazing Gentleman & what an amazing story. His Father was in MilInt & four of them were sent to Germany in 1913 to see what was happening. The only one to get into the Krupp factory was Lord Baden Powell (then Col. Baden Powell). In 1914 his Father was sent to the East Coast & three of them were chasing a Swedish spy, who had joined the British Army. He was seen in the caves at Flanborough Head, so they acquired a boat & entered the caves. The spy shot his Father dead.
The Gentleman in the interview managed to get 20 hours flying a French Farmen biplane & joined the RFC at the age of 15. He was 5ft 11in tall & weighed 14Stone, so got away saying he was 18 years old. Before going to France Lord Trenchard (then Col. Trenchard) mentored him & took him flying to show him the tricks of the trade in Battle - Now back to the thread!!
The Gentleman in the interview managed to get 20 hours flying a French Farmen biplane & joined the RFC at the age of 15. He was 5ft 11in tall & weighed 14Stone, so got away saying he was 18 years old. Before going to France Lord Trenchard (then Col. Trenchard) mentored him & took him flying to show him the tricks of the trade in Battle - Now back to the thread!!