Corporate identity
 

So, it all "kicked off" earlier today when an announcement about AH contracts were made, and the press, as well as the MP for Suffolk North? referred to Wattisham Airfield as RAF Wattisham. Controversial, I know!!
But my question, is this down to a bit of laziness/ignorance (not a big deal imo) or is it that the RAF has a real grasp on corporate identity (Wattisham was handed over to the army in the nineties!) and the Army are really thought of as the Paras/Marines (I know, I know!) and a load of tanks and stuff and not really doing much about it?
Same question re the Royal Navy.
In my opinion the crabs have it nailed, the navy next with the army a very distant third.
RTL

Whilst it's not technically correct, the masses are brought up thinking that the airforce operates flying machines, the navy floating machines, and that the army get dirtier than everyone else.
It doesn't make it right, but it's a predictable error.

When we moved the Sea Kings up from Manston (RAF) to Wattisham (Airfield), we were at pains to tell the press that it was still Wattisham Airfield, but even they couldn't get it right 100% of the time. "A Sea King from RAF Wattisham...".


I would suggest that 54 years of calling it 'RAF Wattisham' is a pretty hard thing to shake off.

At least Suphpholk's phinest phighter airfield is still called Wattisham rather than being renamed after some random dead general, which is the pongos' normal way....

keep trying
 

Taken me 3 years of pestering a smart phone manufacturer to get them to amend their map data, received a notice of change last week... renamed Wattisam Airfield.

It is called history and not part of a 100 year experiment that involves wearing uniforms similar to those worn by the RAC and AA and generally boring the other 2 services.

Wow, you've got a lot of time on your hands!

Some years after Defence Estates did a green take over of the RAF Air Weapons Ranges they retained the name RAF, it also saved a lot of money changing road signs.

I see they now bowed to pressure and are called DIO but the RAF still list them in their org tree.

Lazy journalism again. I lost count of the number of times Culdrose was prefixed RAF in the press, and if a green helicopter was on the screen it was always an army helicopter -even if it had 'Royal Air Force' in big letters painted on it.

You think? pressing a button once a month and writing a sentence is hardly time consuming, but then I guess you're commenting on something you know nothing about.

Things must be pretty good if that is a worry!:ugh::\

You must have better things to be doing with your time, surely.

:ugh:It goes right to the top. Our dear defence sec, when commenting on the Public Sector pay cap yesterday referred to 'The Army' rather than the Armed Forces.......

Nope not at all

Attachment 2448

THE HMS
 

It is amazing that so many of our journalists, broadcast types especially, continue to refer to HM war ships as "The HMS Warspite" or similar when it is ridiculous to think of them saying "the Her Majesties Ship" On similar lines why do they also come up with statements like "The British Royal Navy" or "The British RAF" The Royal Navy was the worlds first, as was the RAF and any Johnny-come-lately had to identify themselves by their monarchs country -i.e. The Royal Swedish Navy" or "The Royal Norwegian Air Force" In other words, we came up with the Corporate Identity first

Apologies to the army but you can thank Oliver "The Lord Protector" Cromwell for the fact that, in the main, your'e not Royal.

A342

It would indeed be ridiculous to think of them saying "the Her Majesties Ship", when the correct word would be Majesty's. Glass houses, and all that.

The RN itself has frequently referred to "the HMS Ark Royal" and the HMS Albion as just two examples. It was common in WW2. And if you are referring to the vessel as a title,then I see nothing wrong with it.

The Hood, the Arc, Victorious but . . .

Just because someone say it The HMS does not make it correct.

Well keep going and get them to spell it correctly!


It is if you're in the Army! :)