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-   -   Author Seeking Accurate Information Regarding RAF Terminology (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/629654-author-seeking-accurate-information-regarding-raf-terminology.html)

langleybaston 14th Feb 2020 22:55


Originally Posted by spitfirek5054 (Post 10686731)
Officer's and their Ladies

SNCO's and their Wives

Airmen and their women

Brilliant grocers' apostrophes. Deliberate I hope.

The Oberon 15th Feb 2020 05:13


Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator (Post 10686914)
no longer Plods?

His dog is "the brain on a chain".

MG 15th Feb 2020 06:23

The problem with asking here is that most replies are / will be from those who served in the 70s (at best) and their terminology is woefully out of date. I joined in 1985 (so I’m also out of date, having left 5 years ago) and never did my contemporaries call RAF policemen ‘Snowdrops’. The term we used was ‘Scuffers’ but that might not be correct now.

You'll also see that there are terms that the old’uns don’t like, such as ‘skill fade’ and ‘stood up’. It doesn’t matter if they like them or not, they’re still used, but you’ll have a hard time deciphering that on here.

I'm afraid you’re asking the wrong audience. Unless you want historic stories, as told by an old folks’ home, I’d go elsewhere.

ZH875 15th Feb 2020 06:41

RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

MG 15th Feb 2020 06:43


Originally Posted by ZH875 (Post 10688006)
RAFP were always Snowdrops in my time. 1976-2007

Thank you for proving my point.

FantomZorbin 15th Feb 2020 07:50

Barrier Technician
WO Stanley Norman O'drop

Union Jack 15th Feb 2020 10:39


Originally Posted by MG (Post 10687992)
The problem with asking here is that most replies are / will be from those who served in the 70s (at best) and their terminology is woefully out of date. I joined in 1985 (so I’m also out of date, having left 5 years ago) and never did my contemporaries call RAF policemen ‘Snowdrops’. The term we used was ‘Scuffers’ but that might not be correct now.

You'll also see that there are terms that the old’uns don’t like, such as ‘skill fade’ and ‘stood up’. It doesn’t matter if they like them or not, they’re still used, but you’ll have a hard time deciphering that on here.

I'm afraid you’re asking the wrong audience. Unless you want historic stories, as told by an old folks’ home, I’d go elsewhere.

Interesting, since the expression "Scuffers", as well as "Bizzies", has long been used to describe policemen in Liverpool, even earlier than the 1970s, so your own suggestion seems pretty historic. Maybe you served with a lot of Scousers! If the OP wants to use this expression , he should also be aware that Liverpool policewomen are called "Judy Scuffers".

Oh, I almost forgot - the OP should also make frequent mention of "Crabs"......

Jack

XV490 15th Feb 2020 10:46

The intensive international co-operation in developing the F-35 (particularly between the USMC and RAF/FAA on the B-model) inevitably called for consensus between the type's British and US operators in vital areas of the terminology they use.

Such common parlance (especially for SOPs) would have been essential during the testing and conversion training programmes at Beaufort - and it's quite likely that, in turn, the USMC's 'stand up/stood up/was stood up' etc terms then slipped into use among the new British F-35B pilots and their senior officers.

However (ref the OP's query), whether "former F-35B pilots in the RAF" would reminisce about themselves as 'stood up/down' in their flying careers is debatable, and could be influenced by their previous squadrons and types.

A pal of mine with experience editing stories for aviation periodicals tells me that MoD and RAF press releases have become increasingly mired in such contemporary US parlance. Standardisation (particularly with F-35B) may make this inevitable, but it flies in the face of heritage - an essential part of RAF and FAA esprit de corps.

It remains to be seen how the yet-to-be-formed RAF/FAA squadrons (for the PoW carrier) adopt or eschew American parlance other than what's essential for operational or safety reasons.

Any Fleet Air Arm folks care to comment?

Timelord 15th Feb 2020 11:51

MG is quite right of course, slang / terminology changes very rapidly. What might have been cool banter last month seems dated today. That being the case, and the OP’s story apparently being set in the future ( talking of former F35 pilots), he can pretty much make up the terminology since no one knows what will be cool in the future.

aloominumtoob 15th Feb 2020 12:59

As should be......
 
Airplane := Aeroplane:), aircraft, airframe.
Enlisted men. We don't have any.
Mobile Aerial Port System (MAPS). United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements Squadron, as was. (UKMAMS)
alt

767-300ER 15th Feb 2020 15:21

my favourite....

landing gear.........undercarriage

oh...the RAF don't like the way North Americans use the word momentarily
eg "we will be starting engines momentarily...."

more correctly "we will be starting engines in a moment"

after several years of being berated over this, I tend to agree

MPN11 15th Feb 2020 16:25

“Cabbage crate over the briny”.

OK, being sensible, until the OP tells is what he’s actually seeking, it’s all a bit of waste of keyboard ... isn’t it?

ve3id 15th Feb 2020 16:31


Originally Posted by Sloppy Link (Post 10686515)
To be clear, RAF Police are always just that and are referred to as Snowdrops and others. Military Police are the Royal Military Police from the Army, known politely as MPs or less so as Monkeys.

Whatever happened to the term 'provo'?

Video Mixdown 15th Feb 2020 16:36


Originally Posted by ve3id (Post 10688460)
Whatever happened to the term 'provo'?

That's what we called IRA terrorists.

ve3id 15th Feb 2020 16:37


Originally Posted by Union Jack (Post 10688195)
Interesting, since the expression "Scuffers", as well as "Bizzies", has long been used to describe policemen in Liverpool, even earlier than the 1970s, so your own suggestion seems pretty historic. Maybe you served with a lot of Scousers! If the OP wants to use this expression , he should also be aware that Liverpool policewomen are called "Judy Scuffers".

Oh, I almost forgot - the OP should also make frequent mention of "Crabs"......

Jack

Must have been back in the sixties when Paul McCartney was quoted as saying, in reference to a police raid in London, "then the metropolitan scuffers were all over us"


sittingstress 15th Feb 2020 17:43

Pant wettingly handsome, jutting jawed, lotharios - refers to RAF Regiment gunners, in particular those serving on 37 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Bruggen from 1986-1989. Gen!

MPN11 15th Feb 2020 17:48


Originally Posted by sittingstress (Post 10688489)
Pant wettingly handsome, jutting jawed, lotharios - refers to RAF Regiment gunners, in particular those serving on 37 Sqn RAF Regt at RAF Bruggen from 1986-1989. Gen!

Ah, drunken Rocks with DM to spare ... click-bait for the local overweight and ugly! :)

sittingstress 15th Feb 2020 18:57


Originally Posted by MPN11 (Post 10688496)
Ah, drunken Rocks with DM to spare ... click-bait for the local overweight and ugly! :)

How very dare you, I was 20 years old and whilst wearing my boots I had the profile of a 9 iron! As for the ugly comment, utter rubbish as this was negated by the well known Lover's Elixir known as Wobbly.

Vortex Hoop 18th Feb 2020 20:43

For the RAF Police, Scuffer was still in use when I left a few years ago. As was Fed. (An Americanism I didn't tend to use, but hey ho).

TScar001 19th Feb 2020 02:25

Learning has occurred!
 

Originally Posted by T28B (Post 10686304)
Pro Tip for our new / Leatherneck friend: if you click on the 'Quote' button at the bottom right of the post you are replying to, it will allow you to reply to that particular post.

Thank you!


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