Aircrew ranks - WWII
You may be correct, Avionker but I haven't ever met anyone who exercised the right, should it exist. I can imagine that anyone who insisted on being referred to as "Flight Lieutenant Doctor Bloggs" would be laughed out of the crewroom.
The army of course is full of "Lieutenant the Honourable this and Captain the Lord that", particularly in the Guards and the smarter cavalry regiments, but these were always rather thinner on the ground in the more plebeian RAF. Most will have heard this story about the famous Paddy Bandon, but it's worth repeating for those who haven't. (from Wiki)
*(in the usual version Bandon says "and that's you buggered on both counts")
The army of course is full of "Lieutenant the Honourable this and Captain the Lord that", particularly in the Guards and the smarter cavalry regiments, but these were always rather thinner on the ground in the more plebeian RAF. Most will have heard this story about the famous Paddy Bandon, but it's worth repeating for those who haven't. (from Wiki)
Although the British Army and the Royal Navy have always had a significant number of peers within their ranks the new Earl of Bandon was almost unique within the RAF. Known to one and all by the familial name of "Paddy" Bandon he developed a devilish sense of humour and was involved in many scrapes with superior officers during his career. There were a number of anecdotes told about the Earl, perhaps the most repeated was the occasion that he and several of his fellow pilots wearing grubby and dishevelled flight dress, straight after combat flights, entered the Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo used as an officers’ mess during 1942. An immaculately dressed army officer snootily told him, "I am Major the Honourable (A N Other), Assistant Provost Marshal. You and your men are improperly dressed and must leave." The Earl replied, "I am Group Captain the Earl of Bandon and therefore outrank you on both counts*. Now do push off, there's a good chap."
Interesting note of '50s pay rates earlier in this thread. I joined in December '53 at 28/- per week!!, not per diem, and remained thus for about 6 months until we started flying, when we rocketed up to 42/- per week. Bear in mind that that munifence was abated by 'Barrack Damages' and other subtractions. 20 years as a Master reinforced the notion that it was the best rank in the RAF, if not the Services as a whole! Moving thence to British Airways (and afterwards to Virgin) emphasised just how bad the pay rates had been.
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Interesting note of '50s pay rates earlier in this thread. I joined in December '53 at 28/- per week!!, not per diem, and remained thus for about 6 months until we started flying, when we rocketed up to 42/- per week. Bear in mind that that munifence was abated by 'Barrack Damages' and other subtractions. 20 years as a Master reinforced the notion that it was the best rank in the RAF, if not the Services as a whole! Moving thence to British Airways (and afterwards to Virgin) emphasised just how bad the pay rates had been.
Did you start as a National Serviceman or a Regular?
As a Boy Entrant in 1952, our pay was 2/6 a day.
After 12 months service this increased to 3/6 a day.
If, during Boy's service one attained the age of 17 years 6 Months one went to the minimum regular 'man's' rate of pay for an AC2, which was 7/- a day.
These rates do not indicate what was actually paid!
When on 2/6 a day, one received 10/- a week.
When on 3/6 a day, one received 15/- a week
When on 7/- a day one received £1.00 a week.
The difference was accumulated as 'credits', this was paid out prior to each of our 3 leave periods. Those over 17½ often received vast sums, some over £20.00!
There were as you say, the 'debits' such as the dreaded barrack damages. One problem a Boy faced was the dreaded command to, 'Get a new Blue!' We didn't wear battle dress, we had 2 'Best Blues', (buttons to clean every day) one kept for parades and walking out, the other one as our working blue.
The cost of a Blue was more than a quarters clothing allowance, so the difference was deducted from what we were paid. This could mean drawing as little as 2/6 a week until the debt was paid.
This leads to another story; a Boy who had been drawing 2/6 a week for some time, was reprimanded for a somewhat lackadaisical salute at Pay Parade. To which he retorted, 'What do you expect for half a crown, a bl**dy march past?'
I forget if it was 7 or 14 days jankers that he got.
This website explains the 1946 aircrew rank/badge system. NCO Badges - RAF 3_P
The main reason for few W/O Aircrew? SNCO Aircrew would need to be around for over two years to reach that exalted rank....in Bomber Command, most were either dead, POWs, or commissioned from the ranks.
The main reason for few W/O Aircrew? SNCO Aircrew would need to be around for over two years to reach that exalted rank....in Bomber Command, most were either dead, POWs, or commissioned from the ranks.
For all I can see of rank badges etc, it might as well be The French Lieutenant's Woman,
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rolling 20 (#44),
Thanks for a charming pic. Has anyone else noticed the close resemblance between the officer on the left and "Flying Officer Fixe" (the Nav in P.O.Prune's crew), as sketched by Hooper in his glorious "P.O. Prune on VE Day" cartoon, along with "Sgt Backtune", the other members of his crew (whose names I sadly forget), dog "Binder" and WAAF Winsum (who, Hooper tells us "became Mrs Prune" - poor girl !).
I cannot find the cartoon again. Anybody else ?
Danny.
Thanks for a charming pic. Has anyone else noticed the close resemblance between the officer on the left and "Flying Officer Fixe" (the Nav in P.O.Prune's crew), as sketched by Hooper in his glorious "P.O. Prune on VE Day" cartoon, along with "Sgt Backtune", the other members of his crew (whose names I sadly forget), dog "Binder" and WAAF Winsum (who, Hooper tells us "became Mrs Prune" - poor girl !).
I cannot find the cartoon again. Anybody else ?
Danny.
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Thank you for the posts which are as entertaining as any found on the caption thread. I think they are on a boat on the Nile, I guess at the end of the war.
