Message for phormer 43 Sqn and 228 OCU Phantom aircrew ?
Oh and a final thought. Collabotate with AQ on a book. One of the funniest writers I know. When more time at weekend will recount the story of a certain station mag.
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Walt Sing Matilda
AQ - I haven't anything but pages of "warries", but I have helped to edit a book that was published privately.
It may end up being an acquired taste and yes there are only so many "and then we set fire to the piano" stories. But whilst we're there ... I and a fellow phlamer did once set fire to the wrong piano - newly refurbuished and put in place of our £25 burner in the ante-room by the mess staff without telling us. That was a big mess bill. And it melted the tarmac and blew the mess electrics... We installed a special concrete piano burning pad after that.
I defer to your greater experience and it would be a challenge to invite people to contribute whilst protecting them from sanctions. But if you're curious we could explore feasibility. CM has a few tales I know.
I'm relaxed about it, but would welcome any additional "facts" anyone can contribute regarding particular events. Feel free to send me a PM.
Yellow Sun - I find that almost unbelievable - can you provide any pictures?
It may end up being an acquired taste and yes there are only so many "and then we set fire to the piano" stories. But whilst we're there ... I and a fellow phlamer did once set fire to the wrong piano - newly refurbuished and put in place of our £25 burner in the ante-room by the mess staff without telling us. That was a big mess bill. And it melted the tarmac and blew the mess electrics... We installed a special concrete piano burning pad after that.
I defer to your greater experience and it would be a challenge to invite people to contribute whilst protecting them from sanctions. But if you're curious we could explore feasibility. CM has a few tales I know.
I'm relaxed about it, but would welcome any additional "facts" anyone can contribute regarding particular events. Feel free to send me a PM.
Yellow Sun - I find that almost unbelievable - can you provide any pictures?
Yellow Sun - I find that almost unbelievable - can you provide any pictures?
The truth is out there, or a version of it at least.
YS
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Replies - and publishing
Curley Bill - strange man was OC CGY when I was on 228 OCU - 29 AD I think. I was in fear of this man who looked a bit like Christopher Lee on a good day . Early one morning I walked across that blister hangar to drain the hydraulics when I caught sight of him coming the other way - starting to march like a spotty dog ( I was one of those rare breeds of Pilot Officers on the OCU) I panicked and saluted him - no hat in a hangar- he sneered at me and gave me one of his "stupid boy" sniffs- never in the field of human conflict has one man produced such fear - I heard when he was OC 23 he returned from 6 weeks on APC - walking into the line hut Mrs CB rushed adoringly to her long missed husband to greet him to be told .....I haven't signed the 700 yet ....oh welcome home dear! - I do recall the Friday briefings at 16.30 he was always late - especially when he made us watch the man alive film where 92 Sqn lost an F4 on a Canadian break and told us all how poor chap should have known better......compassion
If its any consolation I bumped into the Scottish Group Captain recently - I fear his modelling days are over as he was sporting a rather nasty red facial skin rash which looked like a rare tropical skin condition ....or stress and worry for his past actions !
If its any consolation I bumped into the Scottish Group Captain recently - I fear his modelling days are over as he was sporting a rather nasty red facial skin rash which looked like a rare tropical skin condition ....or stress and worry for his past actions !
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If we did decide to burst into print, I'm sure lots of fellow PPRuNers would help by chipping in with salty tales of Phantom-related derring-do (errr, about eleven, sir....). I'd be interested to know what the general consensus might be.
-RP
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Another tale of (the now) Scottish AVM.
As AOC 11 Gp, he pushed hard for the disbanding of 23 Sqn at Leeming.
At the final parade of 23 the guest of honour was MRAF Sir Keith Williamson, himself a former OC 23 Sqn, who took the salute.
As the Sqn marched off, and just prior to the Farewell nibbles and drinkies, Sir Keith turned to the Scottish AVM and said "Ah, B*****l, I do hope you are not staying".
He didn't.
As AOC 11 Gp, he pushed hard for the disbanding of 23 Sqn at Leeming.
At the final parade of 23 the guest of honour was MRAF Sir Keith Williamson, himself a former OC 23 Sqn, who took the salute.
As the Sqn marched off, and just prior to the Farewell nibbles and drinkies, Sir Keith turned to the Scottish AVM and said "Ah, B*****l, I do hope you are not staying".
He didn't.
Last edited by taxydual; 21st Sep 2012 at 01:45.
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I'm neither ex-43 or nor ex-aircrew (distinctly blunt, in fact) but I have very fond memories of 43's Bolthole to Kinloss in 1975. There was much good natured banter and 'winding up' and it was great fun having 43 around. Some of the highlights:
DS
- The dining-in night incident with the cockerel (not what it appeared - now fowl play at all) which drew retribution in the imprisonment of a certain diminutive OC Nimrod sqn in a wardrobe in the Mess Managers Office.
- 43's mass departure (minus one jet?) involving carpeting the domestic site with bog roll. This involved airbrakes IIRC.
- Departure of final jet on a weekend morning, very low, very fast right over the Mess followed by a sharp pull up and climb with reheat. Deafening and certainly shook the Mess. Brief silence and then Tannoy 'Orderly Officer to telephone!'. My mate (who was OO that day) spent the next hour or so placating irate Morayshire residents...!
DS
Sorry to be joining this one so late, I've been away, but trying to watch the progress. Excellent fun!
There was no such person as Matt H@@@ley on 43 or 228 anytime between 1980 and 1985, probably much later too, but that was my period there. Anyone that can't remember which model of F4 Leuchars flew then would be suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s. Is this a pseudonym, I wonder? Most people here seem to use one.
AQ, love the test. I know everyone else has chipped away at it, but I've been itching to have a go. Not sure I can get them all but the ones I remember are:
Section 1: 228 OCU
1. Who was known as Curly Bill? B**l Wr****n
2. Put real names to the following:
a) T+8 J**n T****urst
b) G+10 R**k Gr*******ge
c) The Major P**l D*y
3. When you stagger out of the Wig and Mitre, is the curry house a) uphill or b) downhill from your current location? Whenever we started in the W&M we ALWAYS went downhill so that's where the Bombay must have been.
Section 2: The F-4
1. You're doing a heavy-weight instrument pattern to overshoot:
a) Which stage of bleed would you select and why? 7th stage, more thrust.
b) Why isn't this relevant in the FG1? It didn't have a Normal/Isolate switch (but you could force it into 7th stage with a couple of CBs).
2. You're 60nm NE of Leuchars in an FG1 doing LL night PIs, and at around 600kts you have a double generator failure. What is the RAT limiting speed and how will you know when you're below it? Sounds like a nasty Trappers; question to me so it's likely that no one really knows! I'll have a guess. 515/1.1. Use your torch to read the ASI which, without the CADC would now show IAS instead of CAS. Or is the answer "You can't"?
3. What's the significance of a "Barber's Pole" indication? Gear unlocked (hopefully 'cos it's travelling), flaps not retracted, not at half or full - i.e. travelling or buggered.
Section 3: Leuchars and 43(F) Squadron
1. What was the name of the dodgy nightclub/sexually-transmitted disease exchange centre in Dundee? (Clue: shared a name with a large predatory fish). Can't be tuna so must be a barraccuda.
2. Put real names to the following squadron execs:
a) The B-Word T**y B****ll - I'll pay you the beer.
b) The Village Idiot T*m W****t
c) The Talking Armpit D**k E***s
d) The Man From Del Monte (he likes to say "yes") J**n W******y.
3. Who would be likely to attend a Sledge Party? The shags.
4. Who most certainly wouldn't be invited to a Sledge Party? The Wheels.
Section 4: Cyprus
43(F) Sqn has deployed to Akrotiri as part of Op Pulsator/Certain Death/Certain Goat etc or simply for APC
1. Why might a cricket stump and a pot of paint come in handy during an APC? For AQ to get more red holes in the flag.
2. You're planning a couth night out. In order of couthness, rank the following, most couth first (show your working)
a) Chris's Kebab House
b) Pambos Best Food
c) The Avenida Famagusta Naaaa!. Got me there. Too drunk to remember any of them except Chris Kebab.
3. It's Friday night during Op Certain Goat and political tension between Blue and Orange is rising. You are duty officer and Q1 pilot the following day so you stay off the pop for once. At 0400, you are asleep in your room in block 139 when the phone rings and you are told to bring all the squadron's aircraft to RS10. You call the detco and the SEngO and then set about rounding up the crews. Oddly enough, very few of them are in their beds. Where would you begin your search and why?
Block 110?
Nice quiz,AQ! I'll delete my answers later if you like.
Courtney
There was no such person as Matt H@@@ley on 43 or 228 anytime between 1980 and 1985, probably much later too, but that was my period there. Anyone that can't remember which model of F4 Leuchars flew then would be suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s. Is this a pseudonym, I wonder? Most people here seem to use one.
AQ, love the test. I know everyone else has chipped away at it, but I've been itching to have a go. Not sure I can get them all but the ones I remember are:
Section 1: 228 OCU
1. Who was known as Curly Bill? B**l Wr****n
2. Put real names to the following:
a) T+8 J**n T****urst
b) G+10 R**k Gr*******ge
c) The Major P**l D*y
3. When you stagger out of the Wig and Mitre, is the curry house a) uphill or b) downhill from your current location? Whenever we started in the W&M we ALWAYS went downhill so that's where the Bombay must have been.
Section 2: The F-4
1. You're doing a heavy-weight instrument pattern to overshoot:
a) Which stage of bleed would you select and why? 7th stage, more thrust.
b) Why isn't this relevant in the FG1? It didn't have a Normal/Isolate switch (but you could force it into 7th stage with a couple of CBs).
2. You're 60nm NE of Leuchars in an FG1 doing LL night PIs, and at around 600kts you have a double generator failure. What is the RAT limiting speed and how will you know when you're below it? Sounds like a nasty Trappers; question to me so it's likely that no one really knows! I'll have a guess. 515/1.1. Use your torch to read the ASI which, without the CADC would now show IAS instead of CAS. Or is the answer "You can't"?
3. What's the significance of a "Barber's Pole" indication? Gear unlocked (hopefully 'cos it's travelling), flaps not retracted, not at half or full - i.e. travelling or buggered.
Section 3: Leuchars and 43(F) Squadron
1. What was the name of the dodgy nightclub/sexually-transmitted disease exchange centre in Dundee? (Clue: shared a name with a large predatory fish). Can't be tuna so must be a barraccuda.
2. Put real names to the following squadron execs:
a) The B-Word T**y B****ll - I'll pay you the beer.
b) The Village Idiot T*m W****t
c) The Talking Armpit D**k E***s
d) The Man From Del Monte (he likes to say "yes") J**n W******y.
3. Who would be likely to attend a Sledge Party? The shags.
4. Who most certainly wouldn't be invited to a Sledge Party? The Wheels.
Section 4: Cyprus
43(F) Sqn has deployed to Akrotiri as part of Op Pulsator/Certain Death/Certain Goat etc or simply for APC
1. Why might a cricket stump and a pot of paint come in handy during an APC? For AQ to get more red holes in the flag.
2. You're planning a couth night out. In order of couthness, rank the following, most couth first (show your working)
a) Chris's Kebab House
b) Pambos Best Food
c) The Avenida Famagusta Naaaa!. Got me there. Too drunk to remember any of them except Chris Kebab.
3. It's Friday night during Op Certain Goat and political tension between Blue and Orange is rising. You are duty officer and Q1 pilot the following day so you stay off the pop for once. At 0400, you are asleep in your room in block 139 when the phone rings and you are told to bring all the squadron's aircraft to RS10. You call the detco and the SEngO and then set about rounding up the crews. Oddly enough, very few of them are in their beds. Where would you begin your search and why?
Block 110?
Nice quiz,AQ! I'll delete my answers later if you like.
Courtney
Last edited by Courtney Mil; 26th Sep 2012 at 08:24. Reason: I couldn't remember how to spell Alzheimer’s
Courtney, old horseman, I CANNOT BELEEEEVE you actually wrote the name of the Scottish Tw@t....
Re, Section 4 Q3, wasn't it Block 88?
Intrigued to learn that you had the same opinion of 'The talking armpit' as did I!
Re, Section 4 Q3, wasn't it Block 88?
Intrigued to learn that you had the same opinion of 'The talking armpit' as did I!
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I know. C'est un gendarme blanc. Claim your beer at your will.
For those of an anorak persuasion...
Section 2: The F-4
1. You're doing a heavy-weight instrument pattern to overshoot:
a) Which stage of bleed would you select and why? 7th stage, more thrust.
b) Why isn't this relevant in the FG1? It didn't have a Normal/Isolate switch (but you could force it into 7th stage with a couple of CBs).
1. You're doing a heavy-weight instrument pattern to overshoot:
a) Which stage of bleed would you select and why? 7th stage, more thrust.
b) Why isn't this relevant in the FG1? It didn't have a Normal/Isolate switch (but you could force it into 7th stage with a couple of CBs).
2. You're planning a couth night out. In order of couthness, rank the following, most couth first (show your working)
a) Chris's Kebab House
b) Pambos Best Food
c) The Avenida Famagusta Naaaa!. Got me there. Too drunk to remember any of them except Chris Kebab.
a) Chris's Kebab House
b) Pambos Best Food
c) The Avenida Famagusta Naaaa!. Got me there. Too drunk to remember any of them except Chris Kebab.
And as for the answer to the last question, I can't remember the block number either, but we all know where it was and what was rumoured (ahem) to go on there after dark!
Last edited by Ali Qadoo; 22nd Sep 2012 at 09:21.
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Bingo Numbers
It def wasn't block 88 - Nor was it in the words of the Bingo caller 69 and nobody's talking. From memory and of course I only ever went there to be treated for a medical condition. Out of the Mess from doors and throw a right or you could sneak out the back of the bar across the big patio and round the back !- I think in my latter days there were two blocks of shame- the original then another one at the back ? The Kebab houses I recal were def Chris's Kebab house and the Avenida - one of 74 Sqns F4Js was marked up as the Avenida Arrow which is I assume where that came from.
I do recall a plate smashing evening where things got out of hand - I remember the Cypriot staff used to be trained to twig when the Boys were getting punchy and wheel out the thin "special plates " used for breaking. On this particular night we decided to start early and get the ball rolling. All was going well till the JN decided to smash a plate over OCBs head - which would have been fine using one of the stunt plates- He should have know whe it didn't break into a million pieces that he'd picked a fully glazed one - on his second hit as OCB tried to defend himself said plate broke with a shower of Blood and splinters- the Junta all thought this highly amusing however OCB now looking like he'd been bottled thought otherwise- nothing that a weeks Ordely officer didn't cure.
For a bonus point who can name the Cypriot cleaner who used to clean Animal House??? - The man who was caught pleasuring himself over a picture of some mates wife whilst we were all supposedly on the first Banner - second clue it began with a T
I do recall a plate smashing evening where things got out of hand - I remember the Cypriot staff used to be trained to twig when the Boys were getting punchy and wheel out the thin "special plates " used for breaking. On this particular night we decided to start early and get the ball rolling. All was going well till the JN decided to smash a plate over OCBs head - which would have been fine using one of the stunt plates- He should have know whe it didn't break into a million pieces that he'd picked a fully glazed one - on his second hit as OCB tried to defend himself said plate broke with a shower of Blood and splinters- the Junta all thought this highly amusing however OCB now looking like he'd been bottled thought otherwise- nothing that a weeks Ordely officer didn't cure.
For a bonus point who can name the Cypriot cleaner who used to clean Animal House??? - The man who was caught pleasuring himself over a picture of some mates wife whilst we were all supposedly on the first Banner - second clue it began with a T
In the late 80's the ladies of said block put out an invite for the APC crews to enjoy a sundowner or two on their patio. As I walked across, there was a Flt Cdr gazing into one of the rooms. His eyes had glassed over and it was very obvious that he was miles away. Being the caring soul, I asked if he was OK. He responded in almost hushed tones, "I didn't half burn my knees on that carpet!"
PS> Could it have been Takis (sp)?
PS> Could it have been Takis (sp)?
Last edited by Drainpipe; 22nd Sep 2012 at 10:28.
Originally Posted by AQ
With the F-4 annual reunion fast approaching those could be expensive words, Courtney, me old!