What did officers eat for lunch?
***Thread Drift***
Reminds me of one of my late father's stories; as recently arrived young man at a shore establishment shortly after the end of WW2, a few weeks in he noticed his portions had suddenly increased, on enquiring he was told until they had seen his medal ribbons they didn't realise he was a 'real sailor'. Clearly the cooks were prejudiced against national servicemen.
Reminds me of one of my late father's stories; as recently arrived young man at a shore establishment shortly after the end of WW2, a few weeks in he noticed his portions had suddenly increased, on enquiring he was told until they had seen his medal ribbons they didn't realise he was a 'real sailor'. Clearly the cooks were prejudiced against national servicemen.
In my Army, Officers ate after the Troops and got exactly the same fare as the Troops.
Whenever we differed from that we saw leadership problems.
Often times the supported unit cooks would send out hot meals to the helicopter crews... and as the standard Huey crew was four people and the Chinook standard crew was five people....it was not unusual to only get four hot meals and I always ate canned C Rations while my crew got the Hot Meals.
I believe in leading by example....and living up to admonition an Officer looks out for the welfare of his assigned Troops.
if you think yourself above eating with your troops....you are not much of a Leader and become a mere commander in an empty suit.
Whenever we differed from that we saw leadership problems.
Often times the supported unit cooks would send out hot meals to the helicopter crews... and as the standard Huey crew was four people and the Chinook standard crew was five people....it was not unusual to only get four hot meals and I always ate canned C Rations while my crew got the Hot Meals.
I believe in leading by example....and living up to admonition an Officer looks out for the welfare of his assigned Troops.
if you think yourself above eating with your troops....you are not much of a Leader and become a mere commander in an empty suit.
Gentleman Aviator
if you think yourself above eating with your troops....you are not much of a Leader and become a mere commander in an empty suit
When NCO aircrew allowances were dropped to 75% of the officer rate, a Herc crew took the Station Commander flying. The predictable S1 boxes were handed out, then there was an explosion of outrage from the Stn Cdr "Someone has already eaten some of this!".
But in fact every item had been trimmed to 75% of the normal size! "Sorry Sir", said the ALM, "That's an NCO's box!".
Point made and IIRC, things soon returned to normal!
But in fact every item had been trimmed to 75% of the normal size! "Sorry Sir", said the ALM, "That's an NCO's box!".
Point made and IIRC, things soon returned to normal!
One twist that Harrier Force RICs did on deployment in RAFG was to make the Site caterers Honorary RIC members. We helped them put their tents up etc.etc.
They then joined us in the evenings as active participants in our "self-catering "parties .......
Going back to Beags's reminiscences of our ULAS days.
Same lady serving was queried as to why our mutual mate''s "Apple Surprise " looked a bit odd ( no Apple visible) . Apparently it had been wrongly served as the alternative '"Apple Pie." on the menu.. It came back ,dutifully rectified, from the kitchen......Slight apple discolouration , buried in the pastry but served the other way up........
They then joined us in the evenings as active participants in our "self-catering "parties .......
Going back to Beags's reminiscences of our ULAS days.
Same lady serving was queried as to why our mutual mate''s "Apple Surprise " looked a bit odd ( no Apple visible) . Apparently it had been wrongly served as the alternative '"Apple Pie." on the menu.. It came back ,dutifully rectified, from the kitchen......Slight apple discolouration , buried in the pastry but served the other way up........
Last edited by Haraka; 16th Jun 2022 at 18:00.
Lunch?
In the increasing earnest 1990s, several Messes in which this civilian lived were nearly deserted at lunch time, because more and more people [blunties if you like] "worked through". Afternoon tea was often the first meal since 0700, and very good too. A lot of people ate 0700, 1630 something on toast and a fancy cake, and dinner as late as possible. That way people could be working 0800 to 1600, and 1730 to 1930, which latter period was mercifully untroubled by silly interruptions.
Seen from the other end of the telescope in my youth, the aroma coming from the aircrew feeder as I walked through the dusk to brief the 1000 bomber raids was very very appetising ...... I would have been on shift for about 7 hours on a "snap tin" and coffee/ tea.
Now I have made myself hungry. Steak, chips, onions, peas and a pint of best bitter please.
In the increasing earnest 1990s, several Messes in which this civilian lived were nearly deserted at lunch time, because more and more people [blunties if you like] "worked through". Afternoon tea was often the first meal since 0700, and very good too. A lot of people ate 0700, 1630 something on toast and a fancy cake, and dinner as late as possible. That way people could be working 0800 to 1600, and 1730 to 1930, which latter period was mercifully untroubled by silly interruptions.
Seen from the other end of the telescope in my youth, the aroma coming from the aircrew feeder as I walked through the dusk to brief the 1000 bomber raids was very very appetising ...... I would have been on shift for about 7 hours on a "snap tin" and coffee/ tea.
Now I have made myself hungry. Steak, chips, onions, peas and a pint of best bitter please.
I remember the V Force had pre and post flight meals - presumably organised originally by one of Bing Cross's minions. What the rules didn't seem to specify was 'when'. 'Off route' you could dine post flight at any time. I remember having a post flight in downtown San Francisco, Honolulu and more mundane places (then) such as Dubai,Rule one was don't put any booze on it. I've dined, courtesy of a grateful nation, in many exotic spots gratis !
Barksdale Boy,
Sometimes at H&J looked after by Lou, sometimes at H&J left with keys to lock up while Lou went for a "kip"! That was V-force 69-71 at one certain station! Earlier days (late 50's to 60's) while on fast (?) jets and QFI'ing I think I remember lunch in OM was not that well attended by us aircrew, mainly as you had to change from flying suit to working blue to go to the Mess! OK on "black flag" days (with odd pint!) but otherwise often relied on NAAFI wagon or wife! Hope memory is still reasonable!!
Bill
Sometimes at H&J looked after by Lou, sometimes at H&J left with keys to lock up while Lou went for a "kip"! That was V-force 69-71 at one certain station! Earlier days (late 50's to 60's) while on fast (?) jets and QFI'ing I think I remember lunch in OM was not that well attended by us aircrew, mainly as you had to change from flying suit to working blue to go to the Mess! OK on "black flag" days (with odd pint!) but otherwise often relied on NAAFI wagon or wife! Hope memory is still reasonable!!
Bill
The last working day before Christmas Air Staff Breakfast at JHQ was, for many, lunch as well. Excellent food, such as scrambled egg with huge chunks of salmon [I think the German is Ratsherren?] and rather a lot of fizz which was not necessarily adulterated with orange. The survivors crawled into "work" for a few hours. Fortunately my UK boss had preceded me in RAFG so knew the score and troubled me not.
I have not had my steak yet .............
I have not had my steak yet .............
I was at RAF Brawdy when they opened that little feeder in 1976. Brilliant place - and you could get a real Strammer Max with chips for a very reasonable price!
Last edited by BEagle; 17th Jun 2022 at 08:41.
Lots of amusement here, especially the centipede . You poor chaps.
Mr WHBM Senior, navigator, RAF Topcliffe, snowy winter 1942, on Halifaxes. Apparently notwithstanding national shortages outside, things for aircrew were maintained notably well. About 2 miles outside the village, but the paper boy from the village shop would bicycle out on the icy lanes each early morning before school with their newspapers. The men, of course, appreciating this, rather took him under their wing. "Would you like to come in past the gate for some bacon and eggs in our mess before going on", along with putting him and bike into base transport to go back along the ice to the village. All irregular, but what the hell. Until one morning when suddenly an unusually early Op was announced. When this was done base was locked in sterile to stop any news of what was going on leaking out. With the paper boy in the mess. A decision for the CO, who happened to be passing. An exception was made ...
. You poor chaps.Mr WHBM Senior, navigator, RAF Topcliffe, snowy winter 1942, on Halifaxes. Apparently notwithstanding national shortages outside, things for aircrew were maintained notably well. About 2 miles outside the village, but the paper boy from the village shop would bicycle out on the icy lanes each early morning before school with their newspapers. The men, of course, appreciating this, rather took him under their wing. "Would you like to come in past the gate for some bacon and eggs in our mess before going on", along with putting him and bike into base transport to go back along the ice to the village. All irregular, but what the hell. Until one morning when suddenly an unusually early Op was announced. When this was done base was locked in sterile to stop any news of what was going on leaking out. With the paper boy in the mess. A decision for the CO, who happened to be passing. An exception was made ...
Last edited by WHBM; 17th Jun 2022 at 09:05.
Must admit I mostly remember (late 70s and the 80s, FJ and QFIing ) it being almost always along the lines Beagle describes - flying through lunchtime, food was a case of grabbing a self produced sandwich between debriefs/between debrief and Authorising or duty dog in the tower.
The Finningley Aircrew Feeder in the 80's/90's was quite acceptable to me. Always very busy and the quality of the food was perfectlty ok. Or am I looking back through rose tinted glasses?
No, you are not. Finningly feeder was excellent, especially breakfast following an 0600 met brief and an 0615 scrub.
