In AAFCE and AFCENT in the early 80s, our bunker kit comprised a standard RAF blue shirt and DPM trousers. An American colleague remarked one exercise, "John, do you realise just how high on the hill you have to stand for that camouflage to be effective?"

Do they allow RV’s or Winnebago’s now?

:E

Detached to Gib, muppet movers smashed my bottle of duty free that soaked through all my uniforms, for weeks I was getting looks from everyone as I literally reeked of booze.

I still think a wide blue grey webbing belt would be better than a stable belt, that abomination wants to be buried in time with putties and swagger sticks

End of an era, Kiwi shoe polish is ending sales in the U.K. They say no one buys it anymore.

Just in case anybody cares, Kiwi boot polish was always manufactured in Australia (for reasons unknown!), and never in New Zealand, although this product was also exported to, and used in NZ! One of the World's (very) minor mysteries.

Aussie manufacturer named the product after his wife, who was from NZ.

I was that Soldier (Airman), HQ AAFCE the Boerfink Bunker, 1980-83. I was surprised we were issued from May to September, with KD. The senior RAF Officer, Group Captain Bryant, ruled that Officers had to wear long sleeve shirts at all times, with a Tie of course. All non-commissioned ranks were permitted the option of either long or short sleeve, no tie required for the latter. However, the three major command and control exercises which took place, Crested Eagle, Wintex (the clue's in the name) and Able Archer, all took place in Winter. Every time it was the same, all other NATO air force and certainly army personnel, turned up in their issue combat fatigues. The RAF alone, turned up in the standard working dress Blues. Some who had come by DPM kit by default, never general issue back then, would turn up as you say, in a mix and match. it was the same four years after when I was posted to Gatow, the most embarrassing image being a rather dishevelled looking crowd of RAF personnel being decanted off the Bus at the ranges, Platoons of 1 KOSB and 1 BW were already there. The looks of the perfect uniformed ranks of a Platoon of the KOSBs as they stood on parade with their Sergeant said everything, no comment just a row of knowing smiles, as the typical RAF, mix of wedgewood blue shirts with DPM trousers and tunics (the latter items were now issued alone), no cravats, no Khaki shirts no webbing and some scruffy urchins, male and female, for sure. Oh for the good old days!:ok:

FB

When I was working in HQ BFFI (after the war) - '86-'87 I guess - we had a visit from the RAF Staff College from Bracknell.

Their "combat kit" (their words) was as follows:

DPM trousers, DMS boots and puttees(!)

Blue shirts, ties and (blue) woolly pullies

DPM jackets

SD hats.

I had enough trouble keeping a straight face, Lord knows what the RN and Army thought of it.......

"the most embarrassing image being a rather dishevelled looking crowd of RAF personnel being decanted off the Bus at the ranges, Platoons of 1 KOSB and 1 BW were already there. The looks of the perfect uniformed ranks of a Platoon of the KOSB"

perhaps you're in danger of confusing appearance with performance? The Guards are beautifully turned out but they're not necessarily the best soldiers in the British Army.................

Asturias
 

Do you really want to go down that rabbit hole?

BV

I was in CAOC Stanley from '85-86. DPM was not on general issue at the time and I had to drive down to Innsworth to receive all of my deployment kit, including DPM, which had to be handed back to stores on return from the FI.

Well,,, I suppose as far as small arms handling and field craft etc are concerned,,,,,, I think the "Jocks" present on this occasion had us airmen/airwomen edged. However, at our own places of work at 26 SU and elsewhere, different story.

FB

I guess she buffed up well!

Mog

Took a shine to her!

Which regiment do you want on your flank if push comes to shove?

My dad would have instantly said "The Gurkhas!"

The full lot was issued on arrival at Odi in 76 including the stupid bed with the clip in legs that promptly resided in a wardrobe for my time,. ohh and full webbing with no assembly instructions, even ikea give you instructions, I still couldn’t tell you what was meant to go where in each pouch. Though I did get it all together ok..
The worst thing in Germany was carrying 200 rounds in the front pouches plus a musket without anything on the rear to counter balance it all, standing for hours outside a HAS you would soon adopt the shape of a hunchback as the weight started to effect you.

That stupid bed! Soon swapped in theatre for the USA version against some decent UK Ratpacks,!

I had a really nice leather shoulder holster, that was issued for a brief deployment, that stores refused to take back on the grounds it had been used. I tried asking what was the point of issuing stuff that was not meant to be used and all I got was got a blank look.

I’ve still got mine somewhere. Only time it ever got used was on TACEVAL. Did remind me of being stood down to home for crew rest mid-TACEVAL and popping in to my local on the way home (different times) completely forgetting that I had holster (complete with 9mm) under the DPM smock. Landlord did suggest I keep my jacket on, but I still got the pint.