How seven words might affect a career!
Thread Starter
How seven words might affect a career!
32 (The Royal) Sqn has experienced a lot of pain in recent years with uncertainty around aircraft contract extensions, particularly with the A109S helicopter contract.
Flt Cdr Ops, Sqn Ldr Tom Woods, mistakenly called the boss of 32 Sqn by the Daily Mail, wrote seven words which has brought the spotlight of No 10 swinging in his direction to illuminate his Station magazine article, "at the request of the Prime Minister".
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...licopters.html
As a former editor of the Brize Norton Gateway magazine, I know the politics and pitfalls of writing articles for the interest of station personnel. Perhaps the editor of this magazine should have tuned their political antennae before going to press?
What memories do PPRuNe members have about things going to print which probably should have been edited out?
Flt Cdr Ops, Sqn Ldr Tom Woods, mistakenly called the boss of 32 Sqn by the Daily Mail, wrote seven words which has brought the spotlight of No 10 swinging in his direction to illuminate his Station magazine article, "at the request of the Prime Minister".
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...licopters.html
As a former editor of the Brize Norton Gateway magazine, I know the politics and pitfalls of writing articles for the interest of station personnel. Perhaps the editor of this magazine should have tuned their political antennae before going to press?
What memories do PPRuNe members have about things going to print which probably should have been edited out?
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The Daily Fail were just picking up on a story broken by the Sunday Times yesterday. An incredibly badly written piece that called Woods a "soldier", amongst other basic errors.
But agree Woods must be feeling rotten today.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...ides-230mbrpb9
But agree Woods must be feeling rotten today.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...ides-230mbrpb9
Last edited by skua; 18th Dec 2023 at 19:37. Reason: link to ST article
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Sometime around the start of the 1990s, one of the sqns at Brüggen bribed the stn photographers to get hold of a photo. The Brüggen Circuit magazine thus featured said photo of one of the rival sqn’s flt cdr with his blue shirt and tie, looking very serious for his security photo, but with his flying suit around his ankles.
the stn cdr didn’t appreciate the image, especially as the magazine was distributed around the local villages.
the stn cdr didn’t appreciate the image, especially as the magazine was distributed around the local villages.
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Political antennas notwithstanding, do we know if Sqn Ldr Woods statement is true or not? Why would he have written it if it were not true to the best of his knowledge? Wouldn't he have checked with the CoC beforehand? Command or Group? If you are told to carry the can these days for others faults think twice before doing so. The truth eventually comes out anyway, usually a lot sooner these days thanks to the internet, and your self sacrifice made worthless. Ironic if it is true but denied by number 10, given the example of demands for the expulsion of Baroness Mone from the HoL for lying to the press.
My eyes are bleeding.
In 2007 (give or take a year or two) the editor of the RAF Coningsby Station magazine (a current FJ Sqn Boss who shall remain nameless) didn’t quite manage complete, due diligence during the editorial process.
A photograph of a group of pilots in flying suits was published and nobody noticed the ‘twig and giggleberries’ of one of the pilots was protruding (deliberately) from his zip.
It was eventually noticed and all copies were recalled (including from CAS’ outer office). The editor then spent many happy hours with a thick (or maybe thin), black marker pen redacting the offending appendage before recirculating the publications.
BV
A photograph of a group of pilots in flying suits was published and nobody noticed the ‘twig and giggleberries’ of one of the pilots was protruding (deliberately) from his zip.
It was eventually noticed and all copies were recalled (including from CAS’ outer office). The editor then spent many happy hours with a thick (or maybe thin), black marker pen redacting the offending appendage before recirculating the publications.
BV
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The words that nearly had a drastic effect on my career:
” Tell me sir, what do you want to be if you grow up”.
Possibly not the wisest thing to say to one’s first RO whilst still an officer under training.
” Tell me sir, what do you want to be if you grow up”.
Possibly not the wisest thing to say to one’s first RO whilst still an officer under training.
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Thread Starter
Although it didn't appear in the station magazine, so it didn't go off station, Station Routine Orders was the next best thing.
At TTTE Cottesmore in the early eighties, RAFP Cpl dog handlers knew all the Linies but, probably through sheer boredom or being in possession of genuine "goldfish" memories, would stop guys heading to shift handover and demand to see their F1250 [now MOD F90 - ID cards to those who know neither]. It was the custom for some to crouch down and show the ID to the "brain on the chain".
OC Plod issued a strongly worded SRO entry: "When stn personnel are requested to show their F1250, they are to present it to the RAFP and not to the dog".
Guess what the common practice became thereafter?
At TTTE Cottesmore in the early eighties, RAFP Cpl dog handlers knew all the Linies but, probably through sheer boredom or being in possession of genuine "goldfish" memories, would stop guys heading to shift handover and demand to see their F1250 [now MOD F90 - ID cards to those who know neither]. It was the custom for some to crouch down and show the ID to the "brain on the chain".
OC Plod issued a strongly worded SRO entry: "When stn personnel are requested to show their F1250, they are to present it to the RAFP and not to the dog".
Guess what the common practice became thereafter?
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When the RAF got their new Chinooks they were rightly proud of them and wished to use an image of a chinook in flight on the CIO posters etc, so two helicopters were despatched, images taken and posters produced and delivered to the OCU for perusal.
Now on the OCU we had three Marks amongst the engineers, so naturally we used to refer to them as Mk 1, Mk 2 and Mk 3, like you do.
Anyway we were all looking at the new posters when a voice chirped up, “hey look it has Mark 3 written in the exhaust staining” clear as a bell, needless to say there was a lot of How did that get there etc and Mark 3 who was an engine tradesman denied all knowledge of doing it.
They had to bin all the posters produced and start again I believe
Now on the OCU we had three Marks amongst the engineers, so naturally we used to refer to them as Mk 1, Mk 2 and Mk 3, like you do.
Anyway we were all looking at the new posters when a voice chirped up, “hey look it has Mark 3 written in the exhaust staining” clear as a bell, needless to say there was a lot of How did that get there etc and Mark 3 who was an engine tradesman denied all knowledge of doing it.
They had to bin all the posters produced and start again I believe
In 2007 (give or take a year or two) the editor of the RAF Coningsby Station magazine (a current FJ Sqn Boss who shall remain nameless) didn’t quite manage complete, due diligence during the editorial process.
A photograph of a group of pilots in flying suits was published and nobody noticed the ‘twig and giggleberries’ of one of the pilots was protruding (deliberately) from his zip.
It was eventually noticed and all copies were recalled (including from CAS’ outer office). The editor then spent many happy hours with a thick (or maybe thin), black marker pen redacting the offending appendage before recirculating the publications.
BV
A photograph of a group of pilots in flying suits was published and nobody noticed the ‘twig and giggleberries’ of one of the pilots was protruding (deliberately) from his zip.
It was eventually noticed and all copies were recalled (including from CAS’ outer office). The editor then spent many happy hours with a thick (or maybe thin), black marker pen redacting the offending appendage before recirculating the publications.
BV
Back in the 80's I did a stint as the editor of Westwings (St Mawgan). I'm surprised that the Boss gave me the job as I'd been renowned for using harsh banter against the Blunties in my Sqn articles! As I peruse a few old copies of the magazine I can see now that I failed miserably to filter out all the 'abhorrent' content that would cause 'Gen Wet' to 'Struggle with their mental health' these days ;-) Of course, in the days before smartphones with cameras, I had to be meticulous in the vetting of any photos taken on Det!!
Not published - but 7 words none the less.
On arrival at a helicopter station somewhere in germany. I had to have a little chat with my new Flt Sgt who asked “Do you play football?” To which I replied “Its a P@@fs game, I prefer Rugby” and the Flt Sgt then reveals that he is the Station Footy Manager…..Oops!
On arrival at a helicopter station somewhere in germany. I had to have a little chat with my new Flt Sgt who asked “Do you play football?” To which I replied “Its a P@@fs game, I prefer Rugby” and the Flt Sgt then reveals that he is the Station Footy Manager…..Oops!
I believe when the Tornados started to move into Bruggen the local Dutch paper published an interview with a driver(airframe) in which he said it was quieter than the Jaguar, What he did make clear was that was from the seat in the front, not from the suburbs of Roermond.
“Come on! No one will ever know…”
Just hold my beer and watch this,
How seven words might affect your career
Can't quite manage 7(always had that problem but here's 6) ; "What does your Mum call you ?". Answer would invariably be something like "Cuddles" to which Chopper would continue; "Well, Cuddles, you failed."
Oh, managed 7. Chopper to fool who thought he was under training ;" Well, I think we'll stop you there."
Oh, managed 7. Chopper to fool who thought he was under training ;" Well, I think we'll stop you there."
In answer to the US display director’s question as to whether the scoushy cloudbase was fit for my jumping bean display - after a B-1 had nearly crashed crowd centre:
“I’ll get airborne and give it a shot”
Didn't realise that the R/T was being broadcast over the PA system! Luckily, all went well and I was presented with the CO’s hat and promoted to the VIP suite.
Mog
“I’ll get airborne and give it a shot”
Didn't realise that the R/T was being broadcast over the PA system! Luckily, all went well and I was presented with the CO’s hat and promoted to the VIP suite.
Mog
Seasonal.
Its called sabrage.
Hold the bottle still.
Its called sabrage.
Hold the bottle still.
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Salisbury plain, setting up the camp, and determining where to put the OP.
Pilot in charge “we will put it there”, everyone looks bewildered as it is clearly in the wrong place, then comes the immortal words from same mouth, “trust me, I have a degree in Geography”.
RAF Regt officer turns up later to survey the site and asks “Which fecking idiot decided to put the OP there”
All hands rapidly point at the said pilot.
Pilot in charge “we will put it there”, everyone looks bewildered as it is clearly in the wrong place, then comes the immortal words from same mouth, “trust me, I have a degree in Geography”.
RAF Regt officer turns up later to survey the site and asks “Which fecking idiot decided to put the OP there”
All hands rapidly point at the said pilot.