Graduate in the RAF

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ricardian
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Graduate in the RAF

#1 Post by ricardian » Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:48 pm

Ricardian, Stronsay, Orkney UK
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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#2 Post by Pontius Navigator » Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:07 pm

And we had some lulu's with degrees in underwater basket weaving

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#3 Post by Boac » Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:17 pm

Yes, but an immersive subject.

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#4 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:04 pm

Keep your underwair to your English bloody wear selves...
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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#5 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Sun Oct 17, 2021 7:53 am

Pontius Navigator wrote:
Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:07 pm
And we had some lulu's with degrees in underwater basket weaving
I am sure they were soon bubbled!
Though you remain
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"To be alive
You must have somewhere
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Your destination remains
Elusive."

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#6 Post by boing » Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:11 am

We had graduates students at Cranwell. Most of them were just fine but they were still given a light-hearted bad time. One fellow with a degree in some sort of agricultural studies was put in charge of the squadron garden, a long row of flower beds in front of the hanger, they had to be kept immaculate and he was often to be seen on his knees among the flowers.

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#7 Post by Alisoncc » Sun Oct 24, 2021 2:01 am

Amongst the lineys on Vulcans at 230 OCU B Sqdn the guys who looked after the NBS - Nav Bombing Sys were graduate engineers. As an air radio fitter I had a good friend who was one. Although a graduate engineer he was only a Cpl Tech, and seemed to have had absolutely no training in "air force" procedures as such.

We would often "hit" an aircraft together when the F700 indicated a need. I would fire up the Houchins and hook up power for the aircraft as he wasn't overly confident about doing so. I had just received my stripes, so would collect the aircraft keys off the crew chief, and was to all intents responsible that nothing bad happened whilst we played with the airie.
Rev Mother Bene Gesserit.

Sent from my PDP11/05 running RSX-11D via an ASR33 (TTY)

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#8 Post by Pontius Navigator » Sun Oct 24, 2021 8:25 pm

We had a graduate Nav, maths even, and he was give. The task of creating an annual programme board. He saw that A2 graph paper was perfect, one sheet per month. Five sheets corner two door, two rows, perfect.

Then some oik pointed out just one small problem.

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#9 Post by Boac » Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:05 pm

Five sheets corner two door, two rows, perfect.
You'll need to translate that into English for this oik (BSc).

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#10 Post by ian16th » Sun Oct 24, 2021 10:02 pm

At the time of my fitters course, cc. 1955-6. For a NS man to get a place, he needed a degree.
The logic was by getting a deree you had demonstrated an ability for learning, so we can teach you.
Seeing the course was 9 months, rather a large proportion of the NS mans 24 months.
Cynicism improves with age

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#11 Post by ExSp33db1rd » Sun Oct 24, 2021 11:15 pm

Fiercely opposed to NS in the early '50's I enrolled on a 4 year apprenticeship course of Commercial Photography, which exempted me until this had been completed, at age 21. When I was finally called for medical and assessment I approached the RAF rep. and asked to be assigned to the RAF not the Army, and assigned to their photographic section of which I'd heard ? After all, if I was to waste 2 years of my life I may as well do something that I knew about, enjoyed, and might also benefit me when I finally returned to civilian life, why not ?

No problem, was the answer, but to be trained as an RAF photographer you must sign on for 12 years. I politely, or maybe not too politely (!) rejected that idea at which it was then suggested that I apply to be a pilot. ROTFL and when I had recovered I suggested that if it was 12 years to be a photographer it must be a Life Sentence to become a pilot ? It was then pointed out that Canada's contribution to NATO was to train pilots for the NATO air forces, that the RAF didn't need this facility but had to comply by sending so many students a year to Canada. I would be cannon fodder more or less.

I therefore applied, was subsequently accepted, and out of my initial training course of 30, 12 of us were sent to Canada. Did they send the best candidates, to prove that RAF pilots were the best in the World, or the worst to get us out of their hair ? Will never know.

On return to UK as a now qualified RAF pilot, I quite liked the life and agreed to sign on for Life. No way, said Duncan Sandys, the then Defence Minister, we don't need pilots, rockets are all we will use in the future, piss off now, save us your salary and flying pay for the remainder of the 2 years. Instead I used the time to gain the licences necessary to start a successful career in civil aviation.

Thank you, British taxpayers.

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#12 Post by Boac » Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:03 pm


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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#13 Post by ricardian » Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:32 pm

Boac wrote:
Sun Oct 24, 2021 9:05 pm
Five sheets corner two door, two rows, perfect.

You'll need to translate that into English for this oik (BSc).
And me! (BSc, FIAP)
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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#14 Post by Pontius Navigator » Mon Oct 25, 2021 4:09 pm

To the

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#15 Post by Boac » Tue Oct 26, 2021 11:20 am

How is that for you, Ric?? =))

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#16 Post by Boac » Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:49 pm

Any guesses?

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#17 Post by TheGreenGoblin » Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:05 pm

Boac wrote:
Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:49 pm
Any guesses?
Boac, excuse my intrusion, but I am intrigued to know, into what branch of science, or engineering, you placed your intelligent probe? ^:)^

If you tell me to "**** off" I will too! ;)))

I am a BA LLB with 3 years of mathematics as an untermenschen... ;)))
Though you remain
Convinced
"To be alive
You must have somewhere
To go
Your destination remains
Elusive."

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#18 Post by Boac » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:17 am

viewtopic.php?p=311703#p311573

We are trying to decipher PN's coded message.

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#19 Post by Boac » Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:54 pm

TGG - have you a decode?

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Re: Graduate in the RAF

#20 Post by ricardian » Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:40 pm

After 12 years RAF I spent 30 years with GCHQ but I am unable to decode (or transliterate?) without more collateral or breaks
Five sheets corner two door, two rows, perfect
.
Ricardian, Stronsay, Orkney UK
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