Boring old fart question about RAF no 1 rank braid
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Goodness,I hear that Officers are even using tomato ketchup with dinner on occasions, how standards have slipped.
FFS, rank braid? Really guys some of you need to get a grip!
FFS, rank braid? Really guys some of you need to get a grip!
[Not exactly urgent but I did get invited recently to an event in Red Sea Rig and it would have been nice to be able to comply.]
For an upcoming event (QBCP) The Senior British Officer has decreed Red Sea Rig for all Officers, including the RAF. I know that under some circumstances that can be worn when aboard ship, but at a remote outpost (which is not a 'ship') I think we'll all look a bit ridiculous, given than most guests will turn up in Grand Duchy of Ruritania uniforms. I intend to wear No 6. Any experience of RAF personnel wearing Red Sea Rig?
Whenurhappy: Yes, indeed, though it goes back a bit. When I went out to Khormaksar (Aden) in September 1966, I did what I was told was SOP and took all the bits and pieces that would have been needed for a local tailor to make up a tropical Mess Kit jacket. On arrival, I found that Red Sea Rig was now in force there for dinner nights, having been adopted from our colleagues up in the Gulf bases. As I recall, the word was that with senior chaps starting to arrive unaccompanied for our last year there, it was found to be much more comfortable, something I don't doubt at all. So the fancy epaulettes were the only items used and the pack of brass mess kit buttons is, I'm sure, still in my holdall up in the loft. (And we didn't get beyond a Bush Jacket for formal occasions either. I had to wait to go the USA on exchange some years later before getting a No 6.)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
For TTN, I still have my original beret, now 52 years old, but considerably less than one year's wear. Original gold wire badge too suitably abraided (OP 
) and tarnished (but I was assured it was gold).
Fits well and properly shaped. I think it is still smart - the beret that is, not the wearing thereof - but that is because I attacked it with a stiff wire Hush Puppy brush.
) and tarnished (but I was assured it was gold).Fits well and properly shaped. I think it is still smart - the beret that is, not the wearing thereof - but that is because I attacked it with a stiff wire Hush Puppy brush.
Mobile rank braid...
....on my first squadron an ancient Flt Lt used to put in his tax return as an expense "to moving braid apart in anticipation of promotion £x, to replacing to original spacing £y - disappointed once again!". He claimed that one year a tax man with a sense of humour (or pity) actually allowed it.
The Ancient Mariner
The Ancient Mariner
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Whenurhappy.
The RAF is very prescriptive over the wearing of Red Sea Rig:
So unless you're serving in one of these, then the SBO may well be exceeding his/her authority.
As trivial things to look up during a slow day in the office, that one may take the prize.
The RAF is very prescriptive over the wearing of Red Sea Rig:
No 8A SD - Red Sea Rig - Officers Only
(No 8A SD)
An informal variant of No 8 SD, only applicable to RAF officers serving in HM ships or Naval shore establishments.
(No 8A SD)
An informal variant of No 8 SD, only applicable to RAF officers serving in HM ships or Naval shore establishments.
As trivial things to look up during a slow day in the office, that one may take the prize.
Last edited by Climebear; 4th May 2013 at 11:23.
As to wearing Red Sea Rig, I used this in the Far East and when attending events with naval friends - some of our light blue chaps were wearing this anyway 'cause they were 'embarked' with the RN.
I first bought a pair of lightweight trousers - self supporting of course and no braces!!! The cummerbund came from my tropical mess kit and a white short sleeve shirt came initially from the RN stores system and later from a local tailor and made to measure. The shoulder boards also came from my No: 8. It looked pretty smart and given that I was in a minority with our RN cousins, it attracted comment from the grownups and a welcome interest from the female guests.
Old Duffer
I first bought a pair of lightweight trousers - self supporting of course and no braces!!! The cummerbund came from my tropical mess kit and a white short sleeve shirt came initially from the RN stores system and later from a local tailor and made to measure. The shoulder boards also came from my No: 8. It looked pretty smart and given that I was in a minority with our RN cousins, it attracted comment from the grownups and a welcome interest from the female guests.
Old Duffer
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FFS, rank braid? Really guys some of you need to get a grip!
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We did have a visit from MRAF Lord Craig a couple of years ago. I should have taken a sneaky peek at his no. 1s to see if his was composite or separate rings. I might ping him an email and ask...
(The really amusing bit was that in no. 2 dress the velcro barely did up on his jumper epaulettes. I don't think the person who specified the length of them had measured the MRAF braid...)
Tim
(The really amusing bit was that in no. 2 dress the velcro barely did up on his jumper epaulettes. I don't think the person who specified the length of them had measured the MRAF braid...)
Tim
Noit enough room...
...there was (allegedly) a rather short senior naval officer of whom it was said "He could have been promoted further but his arms weren't long enough..."
The Ancient Mariner
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Slight thread deviation ... did these enamel monstrosities from the 70's come in Air Rank form ... or was the Flasher Mac considered inappropriate for Airships 
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As an oldster who left the Service many, many years ago, I've never heard of composite rank braid before seeing this post. Anyone got a photo of it? It sounds pretty nasty, but probably very economical.