What do those who serve really think of the back room boys and girls?
 

Having been in the RAF for 26 years and swallowed the line that those who do not fly are essential for the agile, capable air force etc (and totally believed it being a non flyer), I just want to press to test amongst the RAF community. Who impressed you the most during your service and what was their specialisation?

I will jump in first and say the guys on the line turning round and rectifying, packing chutes high on the Victors tail, indeed all the liney duties in all weathers, wet, dry, hot, cold, dusty, icy, thank-you folks.:ok::ok::ok:

Navy chefs

MCSU. They could generate a banquet out of thin air in seconds flat. As a prime sauce(:}) of morale in the middle of nowhere they have no equal.:ok:

I'll go with Navy Chefs too.
Who in their right mind would sign up for a course that has yet to be passed by anyone, ever?
Coat...me....getting.

SH groundcrew in general. :ok:

Aircrew Feeder, 24/7

Check the question guys - Navy chefs!!! What Steve Seagull.....
Not an RN question.

F-4 Air Defence armourers loading a full fleet of aircraft with 4 x Sparrows and 4 x Aim 9, testing the lot for functionality and then downloading back into the peacetime/practice fit. Reminds me of their self deprecating 'T' shirt too - "?? Squadron Armourers - The Best In NATO. We Don't Know How It Works But We Can Lift it!" Great Days!

A definate culinary theme allready, RN or RAF. Funny how, when you are out and about, it all boils down (sorry) to basics, eh?:)

Two current station commanders, both impressed me when they were Sqn Ldr's, and I'm pleased to see they went on to greater things.

Two pilots: 1 for an incredible landing at MPA in really sh*tty weather, and a Herc one air to air refuelling when we couldn't actually keep up with the Tanker without a shallow dive. When we descended through cloud so thick I could only see the first black bit of hose, I was REALLY impressed.:eek:

The engineers who constantly pull rabbits out of hats to get our transport fleet turned round and up in the air again.

Who impressed me most.....
 

Definately the guys from Supply POL.

Never yet heard of any a/c delay due to non availability of fuel at an RAF airfield.

Teams of extremely hard workers who generally go unnoticed - but who work hard in the background to ensure the supply of fuel to keep the a/c flying.

All the techies out there who work all hours and all weathers fixing the aircraft that are broke, whilst us aircrew go home or back to the squadron. Keep it up! :D

All the ones that are legends, regardless of branch/trade. Some blunties are legends, some are not, you know who you are!

Having been both sides of the line , All I can say is that when the chips were down, the respect was mutual.

Linies changing an Nimrod MR2 radar scanner amidst the depths of a Kinloss winter!

Have to agree with Covec, many engineering rabbits pulled out of backsides to keep The Mighty Lunchbox flying. Been out a few years now but those guys on the line (and in the shed) were some of the best, most innovative, professional and skilled engineers you'll ever find, anywhere. Which is why our Lords and Masters decided to offer them all redundancy, obviously.

Brilliant thinking.:oh:

Being from the ground side of things, many thanks for the vote of confidence but having done the GE thingy and seen the professionalism of my flight crews my vote goes to them.

TSW teams, Northern Ireland.

Throughout Op Banner, the boys and girls at Omagh, Enniskillen, Ballykelly, Armagh, Dungannon, and Bessbrook, would be there doing the business for mil helos.

Thanks :)

John Milton (1608-1674)

"God doth not need Either man's work or his own gifts.
Who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best.
His state Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

Not sure I could do Milton but, 'Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth' - Muhammad Ali.:)