Gatwick Drone and the Regiment
Thread Starter
I think it usual on this part of the Forum for rocks = Regiment = RAF Regiment.
Apologies if I accidentally attempted to attribute clearing up the Gatwick mess to other than the Royal Air Force Regiment knuckle-draggers.
[I jest ..... my son was a Rock]
Apologies if I accidentally attempted to attribute clearing up the Gatwick mess to other than the Royal Air Force Regiment knuckle-draggers.
[I jest ..... my son was a Rock]
Oh dear, sorry. 'Twas me wot said 'Rocks' and 'Pongoes'. Should have known better.
But my original objection was that the Beeb (oops, sorry BBC) was saying the Army (with a capital A) was doing it. That says to me, a unit of the Army, not the Air Force or the Navy. Had they put 'army' (sometimes shorthand for 'military'), that would have been more acceptable. But when I investigated, it was confirmed that it was the RAF Regiment, aka (fondly) Rockapes or just Rocks. Perhaps it was the RAF Force Protection Centre, although I haven't yet been able to establish that. But it is the RAF Regiment that is tasked with protecting airfields. So the excellent Rocks should surely get the credit on this occasion.
As for Pongoes - well, that is a slightly more insulting term. But still fond!
airsound
Founder member of SODCAT. Pick the bits out of that
But my original objection was that the Beeb (oops, sorry BBC) was saying the Army (with a capital A) was doing it. That says to me, a unit of the Army, not the Air Force or the Navy. Had they put 'army' (sometimes shorthand for 'military'), that would have been more acceptable. But when I investigated, it was confirmed that it was the RAF Regiment, aka (fondly) Rockapes or just Rocks. Perhaps it was the RAF Force Protection Centre, although I haven't yet been able to establish that. But it is the RAF Regiment that is tasked with protecting airfields. So the excellent Rocks should surely get the credit on this occasion.
As for Pongoes - well, that is a slightly more insulting term. But still fond!
airsound
Founder member of SODCAT. Pick the bits out of that
TCW - Tactical Communications Wing - now part of 90 Signals Unit, stationed at RAF Leeming.
airsound
Well we lost a rather good definition of TCW there (in jest, natch), from melmothw - "two see-you-next-thursday's and a wireless".
airsound
Well we lost a rather good definition of TCW there (in jest, natch), from melmothw - "two see-you-next-thursday's and a wireless".
Last edited by airsound; 7th Jan 2019 at 20:03. Reason: adding real world definition
Thread Starter
Is the Mobile Met Unit part of TCW these days please?
Does it really matter whether assistance to the civil powers at Gatwick was provided by the RAF Regiment or some bunch of pongos from the Queen's Own Chinless Pwancers, the Royal Donkey Wallopers or whoever?
Although with the dung eaters' reputation for crashing their own drones, I guess it seems only fitting that they might have been sent to Gatwick to advise on how to crash other peoples'?
Whether Grayling's new 'no drone zones' around aerodromes will reduce the drone problem remains to be seen. Would a determined drone operator out to cause a public nuisance pay any attention to them? Somehow I doubt it.
Although with the dung eaters' reputation for crashing their own drones, I guess it seems only fitting that they might have been sent to Gatwick to advise on how to crash other peoples'?
Whether Grayling's new 'no drone zones' around aerodromes will reduce the drone problem remains to be seen. Would a determined drone operator out to cause a public nuisance pay any attention to them? Somehow I doubt it.
However, there are a number of other reasons why it matters, not least recognition where it is due. I would have thought - OPSEC allowing - it quite annoying for others to be given credit for something they didn’t do whilst those who actually did the work are ignored.
We we have a political class and a public that are generally not well informed about Defence matters. Allowing incorrect information to propagate hardly helps either constituency understand Defence better or make the right choices around it.
...it quite annoying for others to be given credit for something they didn’t do whilst those who actually did the work are ignored.
Transport Secretary has stated that the military will be deployed at Heathrow if it proves necessary. Departures have stopped at Heathrow due to a suspected drone sighting.
Last edited by TEEEJ; 8th Jan 2019 at 17:44.
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