Mistaken ranks?


Many moons ago, on a Shackleton Deployment to Keflavic, one of the mission crew (who had imbibed a few drinks) introduced the Flt Lt Shackleton captain as the Detatchment Commander Shackleton Atlantic - or should I say that he abbreviated this title to "Det Com Shack Lant". The result was a quick beeline of American SOs who wished to meet such a distinguished guest.

CD, 'twasn't me but I wish I had. Give us a clue.

My ex-Boss, years ago as a commissioned ex-ranker Fg Offr of the Int.persuasion was fired across the Pond to talk to the cousins on a matter of mutual interest.
He was amazed at the VIP reception he had and was greatly impressed by the reverence in which he seemed to be held.
Finally at, a dinner in his honour the penny dropped , when he was introduced thus:

"Gentleman , may we raise our glasses to our distinguished guest :

" FLAG Officer D.... O...."

When I was at Wittering around 1986, I knew of an airman by the name of LAC Bond. Now when young Bond joined up, some wit at PMC thought it would be funny to make sure his last three was "007".

LAC Bond didn't find it quite so funny as he spent most of every station exercise face down in a puddle at the wrong end of an SLR barrel.

Once knew someone who,during his RAF National Service [ late 40's] served in the postings division of the Air Ministry. He and his mates took great delight in arranging some special postings - just three examples...
as many as possible ginger haired men to one unit.
ditto part disabled men to one unit [ they weren't too successful with that]
an SP, who upset one of the postings men, was given a posting, allowed a day or two to settle in then posted on - several times.

That's just timeless priceless humour.

At Cranwell we may have arranged to have the cadets Marshall, Wyatt and Earp to be on the same Flight...... We may also have put all the Smiths in one Flight along with their Flt Cdr, Flt Lt Smith...... That last one may or may not have been for just one day...

Never served as a regular – but one thing did happen to me…….

While working for an Italian company whose training centre was in Haslemere
in the 1980’s -we were awoken one night by two aircraft from somewhere nearby landing very noisily on the rugby pitches and various army types running out the back then suddenly running back inside and taking off.

Fifty of us witnessed it – does anyone remember it ?

Nato Appointments
 

When Capt (later Maj) Hohn of the CAF was on exchange at Kinloss, he described himself as Commander Canadian Forces Kinloss (COMCAN FORSKIN) ;)

Then there was the DI at Swinderby shouting "has anybody seen AC Mains?" Only to receive the reply "you can't see electricity corporal"

Q-SKI - sergeants must always keep their pilots in line and on their toes. ;)

former Sgt. Jon A. USMC 1981-89.

Green night 121
 

Nice one, couldn't agree more:D

Late 1980s and OC of a Movements Sqn at a base in North Wiltshire drives his service vehicle into the local town to do some shopping or something. Meets his wife and gets a lift home with her.

Next day as there is no service car outside his MQ he reports the vehicle as stolen.

Some days later MT get a phone call asking why a service vehicle has been abandoned in the car park.

The same one where the OC had left it.

Same forgetful OC of the Movements Sqn....

DAMO doing his midnight checks hears a ghostly whining coming from the OC's office. With great trepidation he opened the door to be met by the OC's dog bounding out of the office.

The OC had taken the dog into the office for the day and forgotten to take it home with him at the end of the day. Said dog had been locked in the office from cease work till midnight. Took ages for the office to smell fresh again....

Some 'do' in the mess with copious totty floating around.
Bas repairs to loo to return some beer and, whilst in the process of doing so, in walks stark naked Squadron Leader who also proceeds to 'syphon the python'.

Bas: "Good evening, Sir."
SN Sqn Ldr: "Good evening."

Bas leaves first and loiters around entrance hall to see if departure of SN Sqn Ldr will co-incide with arrival of (almost) fully clothed giggling girls. No such luck! The gentleman emerged and disappeared of into the darkness of the west wing - Rats! :sad:

At Cranwell we may have arranged to have the cadets Marshall, Wyatt and Earp to be on the same Flight....

Bugger! No Virgil?

This one is true! Small Oxfordshire station, my first tour, and my Flt Lt boss - responsible for station admin, decides the female staff are not - erm - visually appealing enough. He needs to improve the 'totty rating'. Over the next few months, all new appointments are made on basis of youth and 'looks'. A bit later, we have a visit from local plods, supported by USAF plods - it appears that we have recruited quite a few local ladies offering well-remunerated out -of- office hours services to local men, including USAF personnel. Our station has become the contact hub for such activities and matters were getting way out of hand! Took a while to sort out!

Same chap got me a week's OO for a post-dining out foray to the Sgts Mess for a bit of revenge 're-arrangement' of a room. Unfortunately, room next door was occupied by the SWO...!

He was a superb boss, though!

DS

Mid 70s, RAF Bawtry/HQ 1Gp.

One of the duty NCOs tasks was to check that the gate to the AOCs residence was secure after midnight. This involved walking down an unlit path through the woods and a couple of airmen decided to play a prank after leaving the NAAFI. They lay in wait and when they heard footsteps approaching, jumped out screaming. Instead of the expected cries of shock, they received a stream of expletives from AVM Lagesen, who was heading home from the mess.

It became common knowledge who the culprits were but no action was taken as it was believed they got the biggest fright.

Many years ago the comcen at W.....n had a bit of a "reputation"

Talking of Watton, anyone know if Wedge Thorpe (RN pilot, later a solicitor) is still around. We also attended the same W London Grammar School, although a few years apart