New RAF Uniforms
TTN … as we were of the same date and place … No. 2 BD was not part of the package, so it was No. 1 HD all the time until you bankrupted yourself replacing it! Fortunately I went to FEAF just in time! I was given one of those V-Force BD jackets, but was told after a week or so to stop wearing it as I was “not entitled .Back to wearing our my No. 1, then … thanks!
BTW, my Initial Allowance went on a car, so I was paying the tailors by instalments for a couple more years! The car was £115!
BTW, my Initial Allowance went on a car, so I was paying the tailors by instalments for a couple more years! The car was £115!
Re gaiters/puttees, our course Flight Sergeant instructor was clear on the matter. "They are anklets gentlemen. Bleedin' bishops wear bleedin' gaiters!" We did wear puttees when in combat gear, and most of us bought a pair of Fox's officers' puttees, which were of a smooth fawn material rather than the rough, brown material which the airmen wore.
As I asked before, do officers still buy their own uniforms, or is it all on issue now? I think Moss Bros are still trading,but are Alkit, Gieves, R.E.City etc still around?
Gentleman Aviator
My father always said "plane" was a big No No [like raff] in his wartime service.
On day one in the RAF, we were told that two words were never said:
1. Plane - unless referring to a carpentry tool.
and
2. RAFF - unless combined with RIFF- which of course it never was when referring to the Junior Service (in those days......)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 30,908
Received 1,737 Likes
on
749 Posts
OMS, even worse when the 'zoomies' rip the knee boards off the rotary coveralls..cher ching!
The Abu Dhabi police wear something very similar to the proposed new uniform, wonder if the same company make it?
The Abu Dhabi police wear something very similar to the proposed new uniform, wonder if the same company make it?
But, hey, you know that nothing else matters as long as ‘flying suits’ can still be worn in the bar on Fridays and the pockets can be ritually torn off by fast jet mates…..
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: In the State of Denial
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 0
Received 97 Likes
on
16 Posts
As I asked before, do officers still buy their own uniforms, or is it all on issue now? I think Moss Bros are still trading,but are Alkit, Gieves, R.E.City etc still around?
I purchased my first No 1 from Snaiths with my uniform allowance but after a few years on the UAS it was a little tired having been worn as interim mess kit for mess rugby etc. I was forced to purchase an issue set from stores at Cranwell in order to be allowed to graduate from IOT as mine were deemed not fit to be on the parade square with HMQ who was our graduation reviewing officer. They were of good quality though and I still have cause to wear them from time to time over three decades later (they still fit after a small amount of tailored intervention to allow for middle aged expansion…) I can’t vouch for the quality of the issued ones today, although I was entitled to a new set when I joined the VR after retiring from the regular RAF I couldn’t really see the point of adding to my kit mountain. With hindsight it might have added useful extra insulation to the loft given the cost of fuel this winter.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,696
Received 102 Likes
on
48 Posts
Do ‘issued’ No. 1 HD also come with the option of red or light blue lining?
not just at shows. It was quite a ‘thing’ at an airbase somewhere in N.Wales in the 90s. When TinCano studes were detached in there they suffered from the same puerile game….
Best I ever did in such suavity was in a blazer .... lining cost more than the blazer. Which no longer fits, having shrunk from disuse.
Weather-guesser's uniform was usually an old tweed jacket with elbow patches, shirt with frayed collar, woollen tie, a gaudy waistcoat and baggy trousers - plus old brown brogues....
Bondhu boots/ brothel creepers if a rapid retreat seemed advisable.
You forgot the Fairisle pullover, with a hole and ink-stain or two ....... waistcoats were for the bosses.
Against my better judgement, since I assume we are never going to agree, here’s why. I fully concede that they have no impact on operational effectiveness, but beards simply do not belong in the Royal Air Force - they are the preserve of the Royal Navy. They look particularly scruffy IMHO with an RAF uniform. When Sir Wokeston allowed them, I believe that the argument was for ‘greater diversity and inclusivity’ (but of course), when that simply wasn’t true; they have always been allowed on religious grounds. Then there was the argument that potential recruits would be put off joining if they couldn’t keep their precious beard - well, boo hoo. You either want to join up, or you don’t; the military has rules - if you don’t like it, don’t join. The military has never been a follower of fashion, which is all that beards are - a fashion.
Jack
That reminds me of my Welsh Guards chum (referred to in an earlier post ) who, finding himself at a loose end one Friday afternoon, decided to get himself off to Paddington to catch the train down to the West Country for the weekend. Respectably dressed in tweed suit and brown brogues, he had the misfortune to bump into the adjutant while crossing the concourse on his way to his train. He was promptly sent back to barracks, where he spent the weekend as duty officer for the crime of being incorrectly dressed in town on a weekday.
Last edited by Tankertrashnav; 30th Sep 2022 at 00:32.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
https://wavellroom.com/2022/07/05/ra...ampaign=buffer
RAF Working Dress – Improving Identity, Quality and Fit
In February 2022, a 15-page proposal of new ‘ASTRA’ uniforms for the Royal Air Force was leaked onto social media. It quickly became national news and generated hundreds of memes universally ridiculing and mocking the propsals as well as the Service. Uniforms are a hot topic that all service personnel (and the general public!) have an opinion on.
A recent service-wide survey on uniforms had record participation, with over 13,000 personnel providing their views on what they do and don’t like. It is well known that there are long-standing issues over identity, sizing and quality of the current No.2 Working Dress. It is seen as bland, boring and often compared to a bus driver’s or uniform. Similarly, the MTP working dress often means RAF personnel are mistaken for soldiers in the Army.
We should avoid drastic-wholesale changes to our uniform. What is trendy and fashionable today, will not be in 15 year’s time. Through several quick, small, and cheap alterations, we can produce a uniform that provides a high-degree of service identity, builds esprit de corps, and is durable for the requirements of the service.
This article will explore the issues over identity, quality and sizing, before proposing a set of relatively quick changes to overcome them.…
RAF Working Dress – Improving Identity, Quality and Fit
In February 2022, a 15-page proposal of new ‘ASTRA’ uniforms for the Royal Air Force was leaked onto social media. It quickly became national news and generated hundreds of memes universally ridiculing and mocking the propsals as well as the Service. Uniforms are a hot topic that all service personnel (and the general public!) have an opinion on.
A recent service-wide survey on uniforms had record participation, with over 13,000 personnel providing their views on what they do and don’t like. It is well known that there are long-standing issues over identity, sizing and quality of the current No.2 Working Dress. It is seen as bland, boring and often compared to a bus driver’s or uniform. Similarly, the MTP working dress often means RAF personnel are mistaken for soldiers in the Army.
We should avoid drastic-wholesale changes to our uniform. What is trendy and fashionable today, will not be in 15 year’s time. Through several quick, small, and cheap alterations, we can produce a uniform that provides a high-degree of service identity, builds esprit de corps, and is durable for the requirements of the service.
This article will explore the issues over identity, quality and sizing, before proposing a set of relatively quick changes to overcome them.…
In an Internal Briefing Note (IBN) just before Christmas it was announced that the No 2 Service Dress would stay for office wear but with significant improvements made to the quality and functionality (like pockets in the skirts for women!). Plus also a RAF Utility Uniform (RAFUU) would be introduced for light non-op duties. For the RAFUU then next year (2023) would be subject to series of Focus Groups with the RAFUU not expected until at least 2025.
As ever, a compromise solution brings in a little common sense
As ever, a compromise solution brings in a little common sense
https://wavellroom.com/2022/07/05/ra...ampaign=buffer
RAF Working Dress – Improving Identity, Quality and Fit
In February 2022, a 15-page proposal of new ‘ASTRA’ uniforms for the Royal Air Force was leaked onto social media. It quickly became national news and generated hundreds of memes universally ridiculing and mocking the propsals as well as the Service. Uniforms are a hot topic that all service personnel (and the general public!) have an opinion on.
A recent service-wide survey on uniforms had record participation, with over 13,000 personnel providing their views on what they do and don’t like. It is well known that there are long-standing issues over identity, sizing and quality of the current No.2 Working Dress. It is seen as bland, boring and often compared to a bus driver’s or uniform. Similarly, the MTP working dress often means RAF personnel are mistaken for soldiers in the Army.
We should avoid drastic-wholesale changes to our uniform. What is trendy and fashionable today, will not be in 15 year’s time. Through several quick, small, and cheap alterations, we can produce a uniform that provides a high-degree of service identity, builds esprit de corps, and is durable for the requirements of the service.
This article will explore the issues over identity, quality and sizing, before proposing a set of relatively quick changes to overcome them.…
RAF Working Dress – Improving Identity, Quality and Fit
In February 2022, a 15-page proposal of new ‘ASTRA’ uniforms for the Royal Air Force was leaked onto social media. It quickly became national news and generated hundreds of memes universally ridiculing and mocking the propsals as well as the Service. Uniforms are a hot topic that all service personnel (and the general public!) have an opinion on.
A recent service-wide survey on uniforms had record participation, with over 13,000 personnel providing their views on what they do and don’t like. It is well known that there are long-standing issues over identity, sizing and quality of the current No.2 Working Dress. It is seen as bland, boring and often compared to a bus driver’s or uniform. Similarly, the MTP working dress often means RAF personnel are mistaken for soldiers in the Army.
We should avoid drastic-wholesale changes to our uniform. What is trendy and fashionable today, will not be in 15 year’s time. Through several quick, small, and cheap alterations, we can produce a uniform that provides a high-degree of service identity, builds esprit de corps, and is durable for the requirements of the service.
This article will explore the issues over identity, quality and sizing, before proposing a set of relatively quick changes to overcome them.…
What is the obsession with fvcking stable belts? Wearing one in blues is an absolute bell weather of a bell end. In fact in MTP as well.
