Checking on a potential 'Mitty'
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It was always my understanding that when you leave the Army or RAF, you resign your commission and therefore you are not entitled to use your rank any longer.
As the Senior Service, when a RN officer leaves the service, he retains his commission and therefore retains his rank. He doesn't even have to use (Retd) as he always holds his commission.
Correct?
As the Senior Service, when a RN officer leaves the service, he retains his commission and therefore retains his rank. He doesn't even have to use (Retd) as he always holds his commission.
Correct?
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There are more "true to type" Walter Mittys around, and some of these have awakened interest on the "Gaining an R.A.F. Pilot's Brevet" Thread. If you go to Page 294, #5864 of that Thread, the first Open Post on the subject appears, and continues sporadically after that for some time. Meanwhile I had a PM from a member who had a 1945 Air Force List: he could not be traced.
The really remarkable thing about the whole story is that the BBC "Look North" Programme and the organisers of quite important events, seem to have taken it at face value without even the most basic of checks.
I would have thought that if a complete stranger turned up out of the blue, claiming to be a WWII Bomber Command hero - a Wing Commander pilot no less, in this case - the first thing to do would be to ask him for his log book. If he's "lost it" or "the dog ate it", he is immediately suspect. Check with the Index to the 1945 Air Force List. If he's not in there, in the Branch and rank he claims, he's a fraud.
It is a salutary tale,
Danny 42C.
The really remarkable thing about the whole story is that the BBC "Look North" Programme and the organisers of quite important events, seem to have taken it at face value without even the most basic of checks.
I would have thought that if a complete stranger turned up out of the blue, claiming to be a WWII Bomber Command hero - a Wing Commander pilot no less, in this case - the first thing to do would be to ask him for his log book. If he's "lost it" or "the dog ate it", he is immediately suspect. Check with the Index to the 1945 Air Force List. If he's not in there, in the Branch and rank he claims, he's a fraud.
It is a salutary tale,
Danny 42C.
There are more "true to type" Walter Mittys around, and some of these have awakened interest on the "Gaining an R.A.F. Pilot's Brevet" Thread. If you go to Page 294, #5864 of that Thread, the first Open Post on the subject appears, and continues sporadically after that for some time. Meanwhile I had a PM from a member who had a 1945 Air Force List: he could not be traced.
The really remarkable thing about the whole story is that the BBC "Look North" Programme and the organisers of quite important events, seem to have taken it at face value without even the most basic of checks.
I would have thought that if a complete stranger turned up out of the blue, claiming to be a WWII Bomber Command hero - a Wing Commander pilot no less, in this case - the first thing to do would be to ask him for his log book. If he's "lost it" or "the dog ate it", he is immediately suspect. Check with the Index to the 1945 Air Force List. If he's not in there, in the Branch and rank he claims, he's a fraud.
It is a salutary tale,
Danny 42C.
The really remarkable thing about the whole story is that the BBC "Look North" Programme and the organisers of quite important events, seem to have taken it at face value without even the most basic of checks.
I would have thought that if a complete stranger turned up out of the blue, claiming to be a WWII Bomber Command hero - a Wing Commander pilot no less, in this case - the first thing to do would be to ask him for his log book. If he's "lost it" or "the dog ate it", he is immediately suspect. Check with the Index to the 1945 Air Force List. If he's not in there, in the Branch and rank he claims, he's a fraud.
It is a salutary tale,
Danny 42C.
As a civilian, I saw no problem within the part of the organisation in which I served. As an example, HQ RAFG.
The potential problems were those external to the comfort zone, where I could see who was who at a glance, but airmen at the gates of the Clutch etc were less than courteous on occasion. As my gopher/driver was often in his RAF[VR] Flt Lt uniform, that could grate. And me wearing a tie!
No remedy, just suck it up and look at the paycheque.
The potential problems were those external to the comfort zone, where I could see who was who at a glance, but airmen at the gates of the Clutch etc were less than courteous on occasion. As my gopher/driver was often in his RAF[VR] Flt Lt uniform, that could grate. And me wearing a tie!
No remedy, just suck it up and look at the paycheque.
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Indeed. I remember reading a comment, possibly over on ARRSE, that it was easy to out a Walt simply by asking for his service number. Logic being that it's unique to the person and therefore verifiable and it's probably the one thing you will never forget in a hurry, with that specific detail often outlasting the ravages of time. No / incorrect service number is always going to flag up, even amongst the 'Special' types.
This is when a Boy Entrant transferred to be an Apprentice.
In these cases the B/E's 19xxxxx was replaced by a 58xxxx number.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Gp Cpt and above.
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 8th Sep 2016 at 08:30.
Elle Duchese is employed at a local educational institute and related a tale of a recent visitor who had been invited to address the pupils on the subject of personal achievement. This chap claimed to have been RAF then SAS, was an eye witness in New York on 11 Sep, was at S. Hussein's execution and with the SEALs in Abbottabad for the demise of OBL. Now runs his own multi-million pound company. How on earth the school allowed him through the door in the first place beggars belief.
Last edited by Il Duce; 8th Sep 2016 at 16:19.
Whilst doing my porridge at HQSTC I had a letter addressed to 'The Chief technician'.......
The envelope was annotated 'I think this is for you chief' signed PSO to Chief Engineer.
On the CS grade thing, I used to attend meetings chaired by an SPTO; his opening statement was to inform us he was a wg cdr equivalent. Got into an ar*e kicking contest when I would not allow him onto a live range and so enjoyed it when he pompously referred to the orders only to find that as the specialist I executive command of that phase.
The envelope was annotated 'I think this is for you chief' signed PSO to Chief Engineer.
On the CS grade thing, I used to attend meetings chaired by an SPTO; his opening statement was to inform us he was a wg cdr equivalent. Got into an ar*e kicking contest when I would not allow him onto a live range and so enjoyed it when he pompously referred to the orders only to find that as the specialist I executive command of that phase.
I started my service with a 6 digit apprentice number. In 65 I acquired a letter prefix, but it was followed by 0 (zero) to pad it out to 8 characters.
On commissioning the letter was moved to the end and my number usually then had 7 characters, but on some documents it was again padded to 8 by a zero at the front.
Since retiring 16 years ago I have never felt constrained to use my rank although some ex military people will sometimes ask. I don't think it's really relevant anymore. However, it was my understanding that officers of field rank(major) and above could use their rank on retirement if they wished and those below had to apply for permission to do so.
Pedant point: PN it's not the case that Gp Capts and above don't have numbers, just that they are no longer required to be used on lists, etc.
On commissioning the letter was moved to the end and my number usually then had 7 characters, but on some documents it was again padded to 8 by a zero at the front.
Since retiring 16 years ago I have never felt constrained to use my rank although some ex military people will sometimes ask. I don't think it's really relevant anymore. However, it was my understanding that officers of field rank(major) and above could use their rank on retirement if they wished and those below had to apply for permission to do so.
Pedant point: PN it's not the case that Gp Capts and above don't have numbers, just that they are no longer required to be used on lists, etc.
Always good in theory. Having been transmogrified into the hierarchy and being told that I no longer had a Service Number, sent a 1771 in which was smartly returned because it could not be paid without a Service Number! Money more important than status - filled in number.
Talking about appearing on lists, I only learned a year or two back (on here) that the RAF list no longer appears in book form but continues to be published online.
Just today I caught the tail end of a news item which seemed to be saying that as publishing officers' details online is now seen as a security risk, they would now be removed. If this is the case (and I may have misunderstood) that means that the RAF (and Navy and Army) Lists will no longer exist, or if they do they will be classified documents. Is this right?
Personally I can't see that simply publishing the name 1234567 Flt Lt T. Tankertrash, Gd (N) in a list of thousands of other names either in print or online assists a potential terrorist, but again, perhaps I'm wrong?
I once bought a very nice group of medals to a retired Grenadier Guards officer, with a lot of associated paperwork. Among this was a copy of a letter he had written to the War Office (as it then was) asking them to remind him of his service number, as he had forgotten it. I guess guards officers didn't use their numbers very often!
Just today I caught the tail end of a news item which seemed to be saying that as publishing officers' details online is now seen as a security risk, they would now be removed. If this is the case (and I may have misunderstood) that means that the RAF (and Navy and Army) Lists will no longer exist, or if they do they will be classified documents. Is this right?
Personally I can't see that simply publishing the name 1234567 Flt Lt T. Tankertrash, Gd (N) in a list of thousands of other names either in print or online assists a potential terrorist, but again, perhaps I'm wrong?
it was easy to out a Walt simply by asking for his service number ... it's probably the one thing you will never forget in a hurry,
Medal Wearing Walter Mittys discussed in Parliament on 6th September
Two days ago there was a piece in The Times, the Evening Standard and Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...face-jail.html
and here: Government to back jail for ?medal-wearing Walter Mittys? | London Evening Standard
That the government was to back jail for 'medal wearing Walter Mittys'
More here from yesterday's (Tuesday) Parliamentlive.tv where the Defence Committee discus the issue:
Parliamentlive.tv - Defence Committee
Two days ago there was a piece in The Times, the Evening Standard and Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...face-jail.html
and here: Government to back jail for ?medal-wearing Walter Mittys? | London Evening Standard
That the government was to back jail for 'medal wearing Walter Mittys'
More here from yesterday's (Tuesday) Parliamentlive.tv where the Defence Committee discus the issue:
Parliamentlive.tv - Defence Committee
Last edited by Warmtoast; 7th Sep 2016 at 23:04.