When I handed in my kit . . .
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I arrived at 38 Group Support Unit, RAF Tangmere in 1968 and after a couple of months I was sent on a 2 year detachment to 24 (Air Portable) Brigade. At the end of the 2 years I discovered that 38 Group SU had moved to RAF Benson (or was it Odiham?). Have you ever tried clearing from a station on which you had never arrived? The MO was quite upset to discover that I had been admitted to HMS Drake (RN Hospital, Plymouth) for 6 weeks after which I was downgraded to RN medical category P7 (unfit for sea-going duty) and neither the Army or the RN had told the RAF (presumably each thought that the other had done so).
I realised the mentality of some blanket-stackers when my friend at Mountbatten had a "Tool kit, Telegraph Fitter, for the use of" (it was a long time ago). He was deficient of a pair of "shears, watchmakers" and stores had nil stocks of that item so they sent him what they considered to be a suitable alternative - a hefty pair of 3 foot long bolt croppers...
I realised the mentality of some blanket-stackers when my friend at Mountbatten had a "Tool kit, Telegraph Fitter, for the use of" (it was a long time ago). He was deficient of a pair of "shears, watchmakers" and stores had nil stocks of that item so they sent him what they considered to be a suitable alternative - a hefty pair of 3 foot long bolt croppers...
The clearance card was something of a farce when it involved clearing from sections you'd never visited during your tour. One such was the 'Station Bicycle Store'. If someone asked you where the heck it was, the advice was to ring and check as the opening hours were quite restricted and you couldn't get cleared out of hours....
"What's the number?" - "It's extension nnn"
Ring...ring...ring - "Hello?" (some female voice)
"Is that the Station Bike Store?"
"NO IT IS NOT!! I am Flt Lt (W) nnnnn, OC WRAFs - and I'm getting fed up with these silly prank calls!"
"What's the number?" - "It's extension nnn"
Ring...ring...ring - "Hello?" (some female voice)
"Is that the Station Bike Store?"
"NO IT IS NOT!! I am Flt Lt (W) nnnnn, OC WRAFs - and I'm getting fed up with these silly prank calls!"
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I had a Station Bicycle at Waddington. As a vehicle regularly used on the airfield, I applied a yellow tape stripe along tha cross-bar, embellished with a roundel and ‘Royal Air Force’ thanks to Letraset and old plastic kit transfers. I never got round to the flashing amber beacon, to my shame! I wasn’t charged for the subsequent re-spray, so it may still exist, 
At RAF Marham in the 60s we were wearing the old heavyweight blue flying suits (Yes I know they are coveralls!). My crew was selected to be the Squadron Static Display crew for Open Days and RCDS etc. As we had to look smart we were given a second suit to wear on public occasions ( we had to buy our own badges of course). Then we changed to the lightweight blue suit. Same thing happened. Shortly thereafter we changed to the heavyweight green suit, and inevitable "parade" version. Finally we got the lightweight green suit and yet another smart one.
OC Supply was very upset and we had to return the second one of each. Which we duely did, only for the Stacker to write them off and hand them back to us. OC Supply was happy!!
Some time later my leather soled Flying Boots needed re-soleing, so I took them to Flying Clothing for repair and went on two weeks leave. On return I went to collect them to be told they would not be ready for a couple of months!! I requested another pair to fly in, but was told that I already had a pair, and could not have a second pair as I was not entitled. There were also none to be had on loan. OC Supply was adamant that I could not have a second pair, and that having sent them for repair by the RAF it was my problem. I reported to the Boss that I could not fly as I could not comply with GASOs, which required Flying Boots. It escalated to Wing Commander level before the Station Commander had to order the issue of a second pair ( which I had to return when my original boots eventually returned). The new ones were then written off and given to me.
When I retired from Regular Service, at RAF High Wycombe the stores had no facilities to take any kit, so I was asked by the stacker to please take it away and do what I want with it. He then cleared my Record Book.
OC Supply was very upset and we had to return the second one of each. Which we duely did, only for the Stacker to write them off and hand them back to us. OC Supply was happy!!
Some time later my leather soled Flying Boots needed re-soleing, so I took them to Flying Clothing for repair and went on two weeks leave. On return I went to collect them to be told they would not be ready for a couple of months!! I requested another pair to fly in, but was told that I already had a pair, and could not have a second pair as I was not entitled. There were also none to be had on loan. OC Supply was adamant that I could not have a second pair, and that having sent them for repair by the RAF it was my problem. I reported to the Boss that I could not fly as I could not comply with GASOs, which required Flying Boots. It escalated to Wing Commander level before the Station Commander had to order the issue of a second pair ( which I had to return when my original boots eventually returned). The new ones were then written off and given to me.
When I retired from Regular Service, at RAF High Wycombe the stores had no facilities to take any kit, so I was asked by the stacker to please take it away and do what I want with it. He then cleared my Record Book.
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Ahh your boots issues reminds me, I was to do a parade and they deemed my no1 trousers to be a different colour, which considering they had hung with the jacket for years was impossible, off to clothing stores, measured for a new uniform and told by the civi tailor I was a funny shape so they would need to get a uniform made for me...
Missed the parade.... Shame, six months goes by and clothing stores announces new uniform in for fitting before going off to be finished, try's it on, lovely but points out to the tailor they have managed to cut a v in the front panel, meaning it would need to be redone... WO comes out to see this misshapen airman, aghast that I appear normal he pulls a uniform off the peg, fits like a glove.
new handmade uniform into clothing stores bin, didn't even give me the trousers
Missed the parade.... Shame, six months goes by and clothing stores announces new uniform in for fitting before going off to be finished, try's it on, lovely but points out to the tailor they have managed to cut a v in the front panel, meaning it would need to be redone... WO comes out to see this misshapen airman, aghast that I appear normal he pulls a uniform off the peg, fits like a glove.
new handmade uniform into clothing stores bin, didn't even give me the trousers
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My pet hate was berets, get one nicked and it used to cost about £8 to get another, asked the stacker how much does it cost to process the billing for it and answered about £12 
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Ah, clearing the Stn Bicycle store. I had to do that after graduating from BFTS at Cranditz, despite the fact that BFTS studes weren't allowed a Stn bike.
Bloody stackers.
Bloody stackers.
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I have always liked Navigators since a mate engineered a pair of those lovely soft suede lined ones. Served me handsomely for many years on Bisley Ranges, instead of those clod-hopping Combat Boots. They are still in good fettle, 2-3 decades along the line. Thanks, Pete!
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NutLoose ... imagine being picked for Guard Commander at AOCs, and having to BUY, with MONEY, a new Officers No. 1 Home Dress. Damn, the original was only about 10 years old, and hardly worn. I can not remember the cost, but in the early 70s it would have been knocking on for £500 I guess. Mercifully, I never had to buy another for the next 20 years.
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After a couple of previous tours on SH I was a newly arrived QFI (fixed wing) on the station and I was unexpectedly summoned to the Station Commander's office for a "welcome" interview.
I grabbed my "working" SD hat and got myself over there in double time. On entering his office, I stood smartly to attention and saluted.
He took one look at my SD hat and told me to come back and see him again when I'd got myself a new one.
To be fair, it was a bit tatty - SD hats suffered a hard life on SH because they spent a lot of time living in field conditions. The rest of my SH flying kit was all condemned by the "Squippers", too.
I grabbed my "working" SD hat and got myself over there in double time. On entering his office, I stood smartly to attention and saluted.
He took one look at my SD hat and told me to come back and see him again when I'd got myself a new one.
To be fair, it was a bit tatty - SD hats suffered a hard life on SH because they spent a lot of time living in field conditions. The rest of my SH flying kit was all condemned by the "Squippers", too.
After a couple of previous tours on SH I was a newly arrived QFI (fixed wing) on the station and I was unexpectedly summoned to the Station Commander's office for a "welcome" interview.
I grabbed my "working" SD hat and got myself over there in double time. On entering his office, I stood smartly to attention and saluted.
He took one look at my SD hat and told me to come back and see him again when I'd got myself a new one.
To be fair, it was a bit tatty - SD hats suffered a hard life on SH because they spent a lot of time living in field conditions. The rest of my SH flying kit was all condemned by the "Squippers", too.
I grabbed my "working" SD hat and got myself over there in double time. On entering his office, I stood smartly to attention and saluted.
He took one look at my SD hat and told me to come back and see him again when I'd got myself a new one.
To be fair, it was a bit tatty - SD hats suffered a hard life on SH because they spent a lot of time living in field conditions. The rest of my SH flying kit was all condemned by the "Squippers", too.
CG
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I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Thread Starter
OC Eng came across this bike from MT and played hell that one of his vehicles was being concealed in the OM. When he found out it was a private vehicle he was incandescent. A posting to CFS and a successful career in civil aviation followed.
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Shy Torque.
I could never understand young officers deploying to the field with SD caps.You could not even wear it from the crew-room to your aircraft.
There was a wide choice:primarily the beret: easily rolled & stuffed in a pocket. Then that horror,the side cap,always badly worn & with a
badge that did not distinguish an officer from a warrant officer. And when camouflage two-piece flying overalls arrived,a camouflage
baseball cap,also easily stowed.
My SD cap was new in 1968 and lasted until I retired in 1979; it never once went on a field deployment.
Cafesolo
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I could never understand young officers deploying to the field with SD caps.You could not even wear it from the crew-room to your aircraft.
There was a wide choice:primarily the beret: easily rolled & stuffed in a pocket. Then that horror,the side cap,always badly worn & with a
badge that did not distinguish an officer from a warrant officer. And when camouflage two-piece flying overalls arrived,a camouflage
baseball cap,also easily stowed.
My SD cap was new in 1968 and lasted until I retired in 1979; it never once went on a field deployment.
Cafesolo
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Urcal,Almeria.
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[QUOTE]camouflage
baseball cap,also easily stowed.[QUOTE]
we got banned from wearing them after one of the guys did not salute an officer on some station we were visiting, pulled up he quoted some rule about cap badges or similar and that you didn't have to, so back to berets it was.
baseball cap,also easily stowed.[QUOTE]
we got banned from wearing them after one of the guys did not salute an officer on some station we were visiting, pulled up he quoted some rule about cap badges or similar and that you didn't have to, so back to berets it was.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Thread Starter
Cafesolo your dates give the clue.
The EOD School was a stickler for wearing headgear when defusing. In 1982 a picture appeared of an RAF Officer, resplendent in new SD Hat defusing a bomb in the Falklands. There were questions and it was only after that that berets came back in for officers.
In the V-Force before that it was normal for crews to wear SD Hard even when on a scramble. We even flew with a large folding suit carrier in which all our uniforms were carefully folded.
PS
My issue beret lasted 48 years, I managed with 2-3 SD Hats and for sheer practicality several C-Caps, one an RNZAF one stolen by a USAF Officer, and the last made by Mr Stitch at Coningsby.
The EOD School was a stickler for wearing headgear when defusing. In 1982 a picture appeared of an RAF Officer, resplendent in new SD Hat defusing a bomb in the Falklands. There were questions and it was only after that that berets came back in for officers.
In the V-Force before that it was normal for crews to wear SD Hard even when on a scramble. We even flew with a large folding suit carrier in which all our uniforms were carefully folded.
PS
My issue beret lasted 48 years, I managed with 2-3 SD Hats and for sheer practicality several C-Caps, one an RNZAF one stolen by a USAF Officer, and the last made by Mr Stitch at Coningsby.
SD hats suffered a hard life on SH because they spent a lot of time living in field conditions.
On the Tuesday I, and Paddy Walsh were in Mess Kit, as were all their officers.
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I was cheesed off when they wanted my pencil box back and wouldn't just sign it off. I really didn't care about the rest of the stuff as I seem to have gained extra flying suits, boots and gloves as time went by. Most of that kit is still in the loft and I'll fit back into it.....one day :-)
Compare and contrast that with the Yanks. When I said goodbye to them (following an exchange) they asked me what stuff I wanted to keep and were not in the least bit interested in what I did or did not have. I was literally offered the harness/life jacket affair that we used to wear and the oxygen mask etc but I decided the days of those sorts of parties were probably long gone. I kept all the flying suits, flying jackets etc and still have the helmet. As well as fitting into the flying suits, one day, I think I'll get the helmet modified with a microphone.
All this will look great at the flying club, especially when I climb into a Cessna 172 :-)
Compare and contrast that with the Yanks. When I said goodbye to them (following an exchange) they asked me what stuff I wanted to keep and were not in the least bit interested in what I did or did not have. I was literally offered the harness/life jacket affair that we used to wear and the oxygen mask etc but I decided the days of those sorts of parties were probably long gone. I kept all the flying suits, flying jackets etc and still have the helmet. As well as fitting into the flying suits, one day, I think I'll get the helmet modified with a microphone.
All this will look great at the flying club, especially when I climb into a Cessna 172 :-)
In Borneo in 1966 we were lumbered with the Aertex tropical flying suits. They would really make life miserable when you were shuttling around the jungle clearings.
The alternative was the Australian Flying suit made out of lightweight breathable Nomex that the Royal Air Force refused to stock.
The Army did so a signalled request for one to Brunei and two days later out it came on a chute from a Beverley.
Everything that went out of a Beverley was Class C stores so I didn't even have to sign for it.
It lasted until I was tourex in Singapore five years later.
The alternative was the Australian Flying suit made out of lightweight breathable Nomex that the Royal Air Force refused to stock.
The Army did so a signalled request for one to Brunei and two days later out it came on a chute from a Beverley.
Everything that went out of a Beverley was Class C stores so I didn't even have to sign for it.
It lasted until I was tourex in Singapore five years later.