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Mass murderer to Pilot

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Old 11th Aug 2017, 06:28
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Originally Posted by 163627
Someone I came across at LKG during Herrick 18, a former ACC Lynx pilot who had dropped two ranks from S/Sgt to Cpl in order to follow his passion and re-role as an army photographer. He stood out as I'd never previously seen a Cpl wearing the ACC pilots badge.
I once participated in a parade in number 1 uniform. There was another Airman with us, who stood out. As he had the gold dolphins badge pinned on his jacket and a medal for patrols in SSBN submarines. He had transferred from the Royal Navy.
He must be the only person in RAF uniform to have these?

Last edited by gr4techie; 11th Aug 2017 at 06:42.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 07:11
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When I was the ALM leader on 30 of of my chaps had been in the RN. He had served on nuclear subs ('bombers' as he called them) and as a heli crewman.
My son in law's grandfather enlisted in WW1 under age then served in WW2. He was at Arnhem but escaped by swimming across a river. His MM is still in the family's possession 'somewhere' !
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 07:18
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Originally Posted by gr4techie
gold dolphins badge pinned on his jacket and a medal for patrols in SSBN submarines.
Really? A Medal? Arduous service in Jockistan?

I guess the SSN crews would have had the SA medal but a bomber? He must have got a medal elsewhere but I would be very surprised if it was from bombers.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 09:00
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Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
Really? A Medal? Arduous service in Jockistan?

I guess the SSN crews would have had the SA medal but a bomber? He must have got a medal elsewhere but I would be very surprised if it was from bombers.
I suppose it's the only way the crew of a SSBN can get a medal, as they never go anywhere, they just disappear for 4 months.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 10:22
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Originally Posted by langleybaston
Was not Air Cdre "Tiger" Tim Thorn an ex-Rock, who returned thereto after SASO RAFG appointment?
No - he was Air Cdre Rocks after being the best stn cdr that Cranwell has seen. He was a desert Hunter man, Jags and BALO with the paras, surviving the infamous Keil Canal jump: his parachute failed, he bounced off the canopy of the man ahead and was caught by the said man (who broke both legs when landing!). A larger than life bloke who was an inspirational Boss.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 10:29
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Knew a helicopter pilot - QHI on the (then) HOCF - who went out at his 38 pt (IIRC) to be ordained.

Subsequently became an RAF padre - so a "sky pilot" wearing wings!
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 11:05
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Originally Posted by GICASI2
No - he was Air Cdre Rocks after being the best stn cdr that Cranwell has seen. He was a desert Hunter man, Jags and BALO with the paras, surviving the infamous Keil Canal jump: his parachute failed, he bounced off the canopy of the man ahead and was caught by the said man (who broke both legs when landing!). A larger than life bloke who was an inspirational Boss.
He was an exceptional boss of RAFG Rugby during his time as SASO, frequently getting errant young lads like myself time off for rugby. He also ran a mean last leg of the naked 4x100m on the track outside Bruggen Bears Rugby Club!!
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 11:38
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Originally Posted by gr4techie
I once participated in a parade in number 1 uniform. There was another Airman with us, who stood out. As he had the gold dolphins badge pinned on his jacket and a medal for patrols in SSBN submarines. He had transferred from the Royal Navy.
He must be the only person in RAF uniform to have these?
We had former RN Petty Officer at Akrotiri, where he was a J/T radar fitter. We never had any parades so I never saw him in best blue. So dunno if he had any 'funny' badges.
But I do know when the 'New Trade Structure' came in in April 1964, it excluded all of his RN service as any sort of time in rank qualification.
He was mightily p*ssed off.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 14:28
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Originally Posted by GR4Techie
I once participated in a parade in number 1 uniform. There was another Airman with us, who stood out. As he had the gold dolphins badge pinned on his jacket and a medal for patrols in SSBN submarines. He had transferred from the Royal Navy.

He must be the only person in RAF uniform to have these?
I suspect that the "medal" in question was probably the Royal Navy Deterrent Patrol Pin, which was introduced in 2010, vide:

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media/...chapter-39.pdf

Originally Posted by Ian 16th
We had former RN Petty Officer at Akrotiri, where he was a J/T radar fitter. We never had any parades so I never saw him in best blue. So dunno if he had any 'funny' badges.
Noting Ian's reference to 1964, this could be because the current Submariner Badge was only introduced in July 1971.

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Old 11th Aug 2017, 14:43
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Within the last few years I've served with 2 RAF officers who wore dolphins, and I have a vague memory of a padre with dog collar and pilots wings at Cosford late 70s.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 15:09
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Originally Posted by GICASI2
No - he was Air Cdre Rocks after being the best stn cdr that Cranwell has seen. He was a desert Hunter man, Jags and BALO with the paras, surviving the infamous Keil Canal jump: his parachute failed, he bounced off the canopy of the man ahead and was caught by the said man (who broke both legs when landing!). A larger than life bloke who was an inspirational Boss.
He was my line manager as SASO [Met was Air Staff] . ISTR that TT had a spectacular accident involving a bicycle and a happy hour or whatever. For a few days there was not a lot of SASO visible under the bandages and gismos.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 15:17
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At one point in history, the god-bothering branch had enough ex-aircrew amongst them to make up a bomber crew.

The senior vicar at RAFC in my Flt Cdt time would often be up in a JP getting a little nearer to his boss.
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Old 11th Aug 2017, 15:40
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Originally Posted by langleybaston
He was my line manager as SASO [Met was Air Staff] . ISTR that TT had a spectacular accident involving a bicycle and a happy hour or whatever. For a few days there was not a lot of SASO visible under the bandages and gismos.
Outstanding!
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Old 12th Aug 2017, 07:14
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Worked in HK with a character with an unusual career path. Mustered out of RN as CPO in RNAS (nice touch at his farewell, wheeled in a Venom drop-tank with the anouncement "Bernard, in your time in the Navy you have consumed this much rum".) Enlisted in the army as a trainimg officer after his own retraining, finished up as a Captain.

Could he legitimately put (Captain RN, Retd.) or (Captain Retd. RN.) on his business cards?

Could be confusing.
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Old 12th Aug 2017, 08:38
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Originally Posted by FL235
Worked in HK with a character with an unusual career path. Mustered out of RN as CPO in RNAS (nice touch at his farewell, wheeled in a Venom drop-tank with the anouncement "Bernard, in your time in the Navy you have consumed this much rum".) Enlisted in the army as a trainimg officer after his own retraining, finished up as a Captain.

Could he legitimately put (Captain RN, Retd.) or (Captain Retd. RN.) on his business cards?

Could be confusing.
Actually, RN officers never RETIRE - they are placed on the RETIRED LIST and therefore retain their RN post nominal until the grim reaper does his stuff.

As an aside, I was chopped as a RN Wessex 1 pilot but joined the RAF to became a reasonable Sea Harrier driver (so they tell me!)
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Old 14th Aug 2017, 20:52
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Knew of a USN pilot (OK, Aviator) who enlisted in the local National Guard as an NCO when he retired, then was deployed to Iraq during GW2. He reckoned he must have been the only enlisted man in the US Army wearing gold wings.
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Old 15th Aug 2017, 09:19
  #77 (permalink)  

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As an aside, I was chopped as a RN Wessex 1 pilot but joined the RAF to became a reasonable Sea Harrier driver (so they tell me!)
.. and a pretty reasonable Wessex 2 pilot also ........
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Old 15th Aug 2017, 14:43
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Originally Posted by Davef68
Knew of a USN pilot (OK, Aviator) who enlisted in the local National Guard as an NCO when he retired, then was deployed to Iraq during GW2. He reckoned he must have been the only enlisted man in the US Army wearing gold wings.
if it's the guy I'm thinking of he was a ring knocker from Annapolis - enteeed the TBS then Pensacola and graduated as a Flying Leatherneck backseater in the Phantom.

When the corps retired the rhino he went into civvy life still in aviation got his A & P license and worked on multi engine Beechcraft entered the National Guard albeit in a signals or stuff and rose to SNcO

How do I know all this? He sent his cv in and asked for a job at my former Part 145 MRO back in 04 a year after GW2

Cheers
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Old 15th Aug 2017, 19:46
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I don't understand the "mass murderer" part of the title. Is that some kind of RAF/UK unique thing and if so what does it mean?
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Old 15th Aug 2017, 21:32
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It's just a joke based on the fact the OP was talking about moving from a chef to a pilot. As we all know, the Catering Corps have killed more on their own side through poisoning than the enemy have managed through fire....
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