Volunteering for a so called anti flu injection in the 1960’s
I too recall the bids for "volunteers" but remembered the standing instruction "do not volunteer for anything".
As an aside, the instructions issued to the good people of Salisbury seem a bit at variance with the NBC practices of 25 or 30 years ago.
As an aside, the instructions issued to the good people of Salisbury seem a bit at variance with the NBC practices of 25 or 30 years ago.
Avoid imitations
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Requests for "common cold" research occasionally appeared in SROs in the 1980s, too. I know of no-one who volunteered.....
The Rocks doing the GDT courses always seemed to be promoting it, I remember one at Brüggen telling me how great it was, extra leave, a bit of money, and they'd even let him grow a blister on his arm!
Everyone one else knew better.
Everyone one else knew better.
When the emergency services responded to this, the last thing they epected was an NBC attack more like a PFO these days.
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Yes ... well ... I volunteered once ...
As a young officer reading the Station Routine Orders in the 1960s, I received regular invitations to volunteer for the injections. Once, when I had some exam or other to prepare for, I popped round to P2 to book in. I was usually quite trusting in those days.
As it happened, the Chief Clerk was standing by the desk when I hoved up. I had known this very senior figure to treat me with most amiable respect until then. So I was startled to have him cut me short as soon as I explained to the P2 clerk why I was there.
“A young gentleman like you does not want to concern himself with such things … Sir !” One did not ignore a hint put so forcefully by such a figure.
I wonder if, like the German civilians who professed not to know what was happening in Buchenwald, people who mattered in the service at the time knew the Porton holiday to be more dodgy and more dangerous than it was presented to be.
As it happened, the Chief Clerk was standing by the desk when I hoved up. I had known this very senior figure to treat me with most amiable respect until then. So I was startled to have him cut me short as soon as I explained to the P2 clerk why I was there.
“A young gentleman like you does not want to concern himself with such things … Sir !” One did not ignore a hint put so forcefully by such a figure.
I wonder if, like the German civilians who professed not to know what was happening in Buchenwald, people who mattered in the service at the time knew the Porton holiday to be more dodgy and more dangerous than it was presented to be.
I knew 2 volunteers, one did have jabs and came away unharmed. The other one wasn't so lucky, he spent the entire time, sleeping, eating, riding a bike, running round a field and firing an SLR whilst wearing an S6 respirator, and he was a smoker.
Last edited by The Oberon; 23rd Mar 2018 at 07:51.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
IIRC, about 1965 the going rate was 10/- per day.
However in winter 63/64 at Lindholme we were encouraged to have one of the new flu jabs. The encouragement was Wg Cdr Cape, OC Flying, saying that anyone off sick with flu, having refused the jab, would lose their flying pay.
Now half the students were abbos and credulous. I don't know about the older and wiser ones whether they had the jab. I am pretty sure it was an illegal threat.
On a similar note, I recall when annual blood tests were introduced in late 70s we had to sign a consent form. We were told we could decline but would lose our flying cat. Hollow threat? If all aircrew had refused I think it would have collapsed. I think even then we were inclined to believe authority.
However in winter 63/64 at Lindholme we were encouraged to have one of the new flu jabs. The encouragement was Wg Cdr Cape, OC Flying, saying that anyone off sick with flu, having refused the jab, would lose their flying pay.
Now half the students were abbos and credulous. I don't know about the older and wiser ones whether they had the jab. I am pretty sure it was an illegal threat.
On a similar note, I recall when annual blood tests were introduced in late 70s we had to sign a consent form. We were told we could decline but would lose our flying cat. Hollow threat? If all aircrew had refused I think it would have collapsed. I think even then we were inclined to believe authority.
I recall having to go the SIC 1/4s in 1967 to have a so called Flu Jab, I don't recall anything to do with volunteering or any offer of an inducement. I had nothing but one cold after another following this jab. As a result I was reluctant to ever have another flu jab especially as I have never had flu in my life. I was always suspicious of this jab and when we were given NAPS tablets, they all went down the toilet.
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I can remember the call for volunteers in the 1950s, allegedly to check the effects of various remedies to the common cold. Even with my limited knowledge of RAF life at that time I automatically let that pass me by. Rumours heard later proved, to my satisfaction, that it had been the correct decision.
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I never volunteered, although in my naivety, I did believe it was for the common cold.
Never heard that it was something rather more sinister.
Looking back, I’m annoyed, though not too surprised, that this was condoned by VSO’s.
Never heard that it was something rather more sinister.
Looking back, I’m annoyed, though not too surprised, that this was condoned by VSO’s.
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MOD's, can you tell me why all references to my post & all references to it by other PPRuNers have been removed?
I gave a list of Nerve Agents & the approximate order that they were developed. I obtained the majority of the information from a TV Documentary that was transmitted several months ago. I obtained other information from Google.
If you think that the list & strengths were too sensitive, I am sure the Film Company & TV Channel would have had it "pulled", also Google would have been taken to task.
If you didn't take me off, I mentioned Novichok - God! we are under Cyber attack!!!
I gave a list of Nerve Agents & the approximate order that they were developed. I obtained the majority of the information from a TV Documentary that was transmitted several months ago. I obtained other information from Google.
If you think that the list & strengths were too sensitive, I am sure the Film Company & TV Channel would have had it "pulled", also Google would have been taken to task.
If you didn't take me off, I mentioned Novichok - God! we are under Cyber attack!!!
Last edited by VIProds; 25th Mar 2018 at 20:58.
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RAF Finningly 1953..
Having just returned from flying training in Rhodesia,I was posted for jet conversion onto Meteors, at Finningly, Yorkshire.
About half way through the course a few of us read, on the mess notice board one lunchtime, a request for volunteers for take a trial flu injection - there were a few "perks" offered.
Several of my course, including me, added our names to the list.
Returning to the hangars after lunch, our Flight Commander got us together and (Strongly !!) advised us to remove our names from the list that he had noticed several of us had signed.
He said that we wouldnt know what we would be tested for - once they got us there - at Porton Down !!!
About half way through the course a few of us read, on the mess notice board one lunchtime, a request for volunteers for take a trial flu injection - there were a few "perks" offered.
Several of my course, including me, added our names to the list.
Returning to the hangars after lunch, our Flight Commander got us together and (Strongly !!) advised us to remove our names from the list that he had noticed several of us had signed.
He said that we wouldnt know what we would be tested for - once they got us there - at Porton Down !!!
