RAF Memories

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Alisoncc
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Re: RAF Memories

#101 Post by Alisoncc » Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:37 pm

ian16th wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:26 pm
For sentimentality, I wish I'd kept a 'Sparks Badge'.
You can print this one Ian.

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Re: RAF Memories

#102 Post by Sisemen » Fri Aug 09, 2019 7:00 am

ian16th wrote:
Thu Aug 08, 2019 8:26 pm
I think that all I kept were a couple of Boy Entrant 'Wheel's', 2 cap badges and whatever KD pyjamas I had, maybe some vests.

SM insisted on stocking up on towels, she still says they were the best we ever had!

For sentimentality, I wish I'd kept a 'Sparks Badge'.
Baggsy first dibs on the Boy Entrant wheels when you kick the bucket and your missus is chucking stuff in the bin.

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Re: RAF Memories

#103 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Aug 09, 2019 7:32 am

I was given an RNZAF metal nav brevet but never got around to wearing it on a shirt. Kicking around in a drawer for 40 years. Eventually put it on eBay.

Chap in Oz bought it. Messaged back, delighted, it was 1944 vintage.

I still have one of my uncle's WW2 mementos. Lost one :(. It is a .303 round, bullet sliced down the centre, a kukris shaped piece of flattened brass inserted, Australian Defence Force brass button on the base. Think it might have been a paper knife.

Also one of those obligatory group photographs, now properly framed, glass back, as he had the foresight to write all the names down.

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Re: RAF Memories

#104 Post by ian16th » Fri Aug 09, 2019 9:05 am

Sisemen wrote:
Fri Aug 09, 2019 7:00 am
Baggsy first dibs on the Boy Entrant wheels when you kick the bucket and your missus is chucking stuff in the bin.
They nearly went to Oz last week!

Had son here for 2 weeks and we sent him home with the family jewels, so to speak. A bit of estate planning, as anything we leave behind here will be nicked.
Mainly watches and wife's jewellery, but did include my grandads Boer War and WWI medals and my lone, 50 years after the event, GSM.
I did put the 2 wheels in the package, and then changed my mind and kept them.
Daft old sod I am.
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Re: RAF Memories

#105 Post by Sisemen » Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:30 pm

Name your price! One would do, you can hang on to t’other :D

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Re: RAF Memories

#106 Post by ian16th » Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:43 pm

Sisemen wrote:
Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:30 pm
Name your price! One would do, you can hang on to t’other :D
Thanks for the offer, but sorry mate, they are not for sale.

I've had them for over 65 years, and grown accustomed to having them.
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Re: RAF Memories

#107 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Aug 09, 2019 4:42 pm


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Re: RAF Memories

#108 Post by ian16th » Fri Aug 09, 2019 5:27 pm

That one is severely damaged.

It looks as though it was tapped by a Fitter, Rigger or Plumber!

Wheels had to be tapped for 6 B.A. size screws. The area of Radio trades expertise. A No 44 drill was the correct tapping size.
Wheels.jpg
These are my 2. The one on the right obviously well polished and used. The one on the left, very much less so.
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Re: RAF Memories

#109 Post by ian16th » Fri Aug 09, 2019 5:40 pm

Looking closer at the Wheel on E-Bay, particularly the back, and knowing that there was once talk of the Boy Entrants Assoc having replica's made, makes me wonder if they did, and this is one of them.

Ricardian, are you aware if any replica's were made?
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Re: RAF Memories

#110 Post by Alisoncc » Fri Aug 09, 2019 11:36 pm

My collection:

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Also got one of these, but buggered if I can find it. Probably swapped it for a pint.

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Re: RAF Memories

#111 Post by izod tester » Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:32 am

I have several back at home. Some very worn, at least one tapped (much better than that eBay one) and some of the latest issue which were anodised. I will look one out for Nemesis when I get back home which won't be for another 2 weeks.

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Re: RAF Memories

#112 Post by Alisoncc » Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:55 am

ian16th wrote:
Fri Aug 09, 2019 5:27 pm
These are my 2. The one on the right obviously well polished and used. The one on the left, very much less so.
Thought BE's wheels only had three spokes. :D

A.A.'s (Appies) had four. But not sure about the Halton mob. They might have had four crowbars. ;;)

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Re: RAF Memories

#113 Post by Sisemen » Sat Aug 10, 2019 2:16 am

izod tester wrote:
Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:32 am
I have several back at home. Some very worn, at least one tapped (much better than that eBay one) and some of the latest issue which were anodised. I will look one out for Nemesis when I get back home which won't be for another 2 weeks.

Muchas Gracias :-bd

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Re: RAF Memories

#114 Post by ian16th » Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:18 am

izod tester wrote:
Sat Aug 10, 2019 1:32 am
I have several back at home. Some very worn, at least one tapped (much better than that eBay one) and some of the latest issue which were anodised. I will look one out for Nemesis when I get back home which won't be for another 2 weeks.
~X( ~X( ~X(

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Re: RAF Memories

#115 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:07 am

The earth moved when anodised arrived. SWO fainted with plastic beret badges.

At school we had brass coat of arms for our berets. They were handed down pupil to pupil. Some were smooth with no detail whatever.

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Re: RAF Memories

#116 Post by ian16th » Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:18 am

Alisoncc wrote:
Fri Aug 09, 2019 11:36 pm
My collection:

Also got one of these, but buggered if I can find it. Probably swapped it for a pint.
GSM.jpg
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Never even took a picture of mine. It arrived so late, 50 years after the event, I never developed any attachment for it.

Wore it twice, 1 Armistice Day and 1 funeral of a SAAF Brig. General.
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Early Start Gan 1960

#117 Post by ian16th » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:38 pm

214 Sqdn tanked Javelins to and from Singapore for a SEATO Exercise in 1960.

Muggins was stuck on Gan for 3 weeks, on the last morning I took these pics.

Starting as the sun came up it was all hand held, and the exposures was Mk1 eyeball calibrated.

The slide scanner is an El Cheapo and has a mind of its own wrt brightness.
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Re: RAF Memories

#118 Post by ian16th » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:45 pm

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Re: RAF Memories

#119 Post by ian16th » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:47 pm

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Re: RAF Memories

#120 Post by ian16th » Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:51 pm

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You can also see how quickly the sun rises at that latitude.

Thirty how many mile from the equator is it?
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