Standards
Joined: Sep 2006
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Somewhere flat
Back in the 1970s, an officer who lived in the Mess at Lossiemouth had two suits made by a local tailor - one was orange and the other bright green. One Monday evening (it was compulsory to wear a suit for dining on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays with a sports jacket and trousers permitted on Wednesdays), he arrived in the bar wearing his orange suit. He was immediately counselled by the PMC who ordered him to change. On Tuesday he turned up wearing the green suit and was again reprimanded by the PMC and forbidden to wear the suits again. Wednesday arrived and the said officer was found in the bar wearing the orange jacket and the green trousers. On being scolded by the PMC who reminded him that he was ordered not to wear the suits again, he countered by pointing out that he was not wearing a suit because the jacket and trousers did not match. Of such things, 28 days Orderly Officer are born (although there is not much else to do at Lossiemouth on a winters' evening).
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Richard Burtonville, South Wales.
A certain 33 Sqn pilot (I will call him Rex Green) had an old number one jacket tailored down to a battledress style (when we were all in the Thunderbird days). He delighted in flashing the brilliant vermillion lining around the squadron, raising eyebrows* as he went!
CG
* A reserved character was Rex, never raising eyebrows otherwise. (Yeah right!)
CG
* A reserved character was Rex, never raising eyebrows otherwise. (Yeah right!)
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 379
Likes: 5
From: uk
A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
lsh
Joined: Sep 2006
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 6,024
Likes: 102
From: Somewhere flat
A certain RAF navigator of my acquaintance had a suit of canary yellow and one of lime green. Same story as the OPs, but the other end of the U.K.
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
SAME chap also managed to fall asleep in the suspended ceiling of the Officers Mess bar at RAF Aldergrove. The next morning his presence up there caused the cleaner some consternation!
The officer in Question at Lossie was posted to helicopters - I think Chinooks. No doubt the same person who had kept his wardrobe.
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: near an aeroplane
Some options here if anyone feels inspired: https://www.opposuits.com/men/suits.html
An ex-colleague had (actually, probably still has) a bright orange suit to show himself off as a proud Dutch bloke. Raised quite a few eyebrows amongst his UK colleagues. Nowhere near as bad as mustard-coloured socks of course....
An ex-colleague had (actually, probably still has) a bright orange suit to show himself off as a proud Dutch bloke. Raised quite a few eyebrows amongst his UK colleagues. Nowhere near as bad as mustard-coloured socks of course....
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Joined: Jan 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: England
I remember one of our instructors many years ago, expressing shock horror . "Cadet X has a steel-grey suit..and a red lining to his No1 jacket". I have a grey suit (not steel-grey) and my black going-to-funerals suit has a red lining to the jacket. In honour of the chap whose funeral I bought the suit for. Not the same man. Does anyone remember having to wear a trilby in civvies, so one could raise it to officers and their ladies? Man, I must be getting old.
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: Wiltshire
Joined: Dec 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Once a Squirrel Heaven (or hell!), Shropshire UK
The Nav in question (nice colour in suits) was on my crew on 8 Sqn for a while before I went rotary. He was also my 'co-pilot'/RHS when we took a Chinook up to 8 Sqn for an open day, with an ex 8 Sqn engineer down the back. The Squadron was more than a bit surprised to find an 8 Sqn crew on the 7 Sqn Chinook - but I can't remember what colour suit he wore in the mess that night.
There was only one M.G.
There was only one M.G.
Joined: Mar 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
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From: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Late night IOT rations for the guys from Dirty Dick's caff across the road ... we would head out, with orders in writing, suitably attired. And then join in with 'Dick' in the kitchen, suitably divested of hats and coats, to generate mass frying to take Banjos various back to the Barrack Block. Bow ties optional. It was a great 'levelling' experience, and a valuable lesson in 'looking after your mates'.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 764
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From: UK
The Nav in question (nice colour in suits) was on my crew on 8 Sqn for a while before I went rotary. He was also my 'co-pilot'/RHS when we took a Chinook up to 8 Sqn for an open day, with an ex 8 Sqn engineer down the back. The Squadron was more than a bit surprised to find an 8 Sqn crew on the 7 Sqn Chinook - but I can't remember what colour suit he wore in the mess that night.
There was only one M.G.
There was only one M.G.
Joined: Apr 2006
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 508
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From: Oxford
If I remember correctly (no guarantee!), when we arrived at OCTU, Jurby, in mid 50's, we were asked if we possessed suitable civilian headgear, if the answer was no (pretty general!), the next day the Station tailor had a queue outside his "shop" and issued suitable headgear (trilby) to all. In hindsight it was quite a novel and amusing experience! Those were the days (I think!!!).
Bill
Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Glorious Devon
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,792
Likes: 1,209
From: Baston
If I remember correctly (no guarantee!), when we arrived at OCTU, Jurby, in mid 50's, we were asked if we possessed suitable civilian headgear, if the answer was no (pretty general!), the next day the Station tailor had a queue outside his "shop" and issued suitable headgear (trilby) to all. In hindsight it was quite a novel and amusing experience! Those were the days (I think!!!).
Bill
Bill
Fortunately, this civvy owned one: his father had deemed it essential when sonny boy left home.
After many mid-life hatless years, and much hair loss, I now rather like a hat with a brim: three of mine are German, such as Adolf Schicklgruber wore, grey, black and a sort of khaki.
