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Thread: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

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    Supporting Member Werwolf's Avatar
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    Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    RAF Slang.

    Beer Lever – Joystick.
    Beer Tokens – Money, Pay.
    Bed Pack – A squared-off assembly of 2 sheets & 3 blankets wrapped tightly in a 4th blanket. Pillows were placed on top and the pack had to be tight enough to bounce a coin off of. This could be a daily or weekly occurrence depending on whether you were a Recruit or more Senior – sometimes called a box bed.
    Best Blues – Number One Uniform.
    Black-outs – Knickers worn by the WAAF, navy-blue winter-weights.
    Blarts – WAAFs and other females on Station.
    Bluebirds – WAAF.
    Body Snatcher – Stretcher Bearer.
    Bomb Head – Armourer.
    Cherubs – Altitudes below 1000 feet measured in 100’s of feet e.g. Cherubs 5 = 500ft
    Chicken Shit – The oil absorbent granules used on the floor by Mechanics.
    Chip bag – A field Service Cap (from its appearance).
    Choking the Chicken – Masturbating.
    Civvy kip – Sleeping in your own bed at home.
    Clusterfuck – Complete mess of situation or person. “Well! that was a complete Clusterfuck” or “he is such a Clusterfuck.”
    Colonel Bird – Woman married to an Officer.
    Dustbin (the) – Mid Gunners position.
    Envelope – The performance parameters of an Aircraft.
    Gubbins – Equipment (After the man who invented the Lawnmower).
    Huffy – Unfriendly WAAF.
    Ladybird – WAAF Officer.
    Lumpy Jumper – A member of the WAAAF.
    Passion wagon – WAAF Transport Vehicle.
    SNAFU (abbreviation) – Situation Normal, All F**ked Up.
    Snake charmers – Dance Band.
    Stinky – A WAAF.
    Target for Tonight – Girlfriend.

    Source: https://rafmetman.wordpress.com/raf-slang/

    (Count down to inescapable Monty Python video's link.)

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    Supporting Member Stormrider's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Aha, The Snafu Special.
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    Manual Creation Group ATAG_Vampire's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Here are a few that I remember from my service in the RAF.

    'Snowdrop' - RAF Policeman (derived from the white topped SD hat worn by police)

    'Cabbage Suit' - Disruptive Pattern camouflage combat kit

    'Fairies' - Avionics Technicians

    'Plumbers' - Weapons Technicians

    'Sooties' - Armament Technicians

    'Cabby' or 'Drives' - Mechanical Transport (now Logistics) driver

    'Gen' - Information/briefing

    'Swo-man' - Station Warrant Officer (The RAF equivalent of the RSM in the Army)

    'Pongo' - Member of the Army (also called 'Brown jobs' or a 'Squadie')

    'Rupert' - Anyone of Officer rank

    'Fish Head' - Member of the Royal Navy

    'Gash' - Anything not right or up to standard

    'Jankers' - Punishment duties after violation of rules/regulations

    'Minging' - Something bad or not good. Term 'Gopping' the same

    'Rock Ape' - Member of the RAF Regiment

    There are many more slang terms which I cannot think of now. It's a whole different language!

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    ATAG Member ATAG_Freya's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    'Gardening' - Bomber command's slang for dropping sea mines. My grandfather did some of that with 428sqdn, he had another term when he talked of it (garden related) but I can't remember at the moment. But the log book just says 'gardening'.


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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by ATAG_Freya View Post
    'Gardening' - Bomber command's slang for dropping sea mines. My grandfather did some of that with 428sqdn, he had another term when he talked of it (garden related) but I can't remember at the moment. But the log book just says 'gardening'.

    The mines were known as 'Vegetables' in keeping with the garden theme.

    07
    "A nation that forgets its past has no future." - Winston Churchill

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    ATAG Member ATAG_Freya's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Ah cheers Vamps, that would make sense. But that's not it. When he told us the stories, he would say something like "we went out to ms. marples strawberry patch" or something to that effect. I just can't remember what the exact phrase was but it was typical 40's bomber crew stuff. I was probably just too young to get it back then. Man, if I could turn back time and take notes...

    ~S~

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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by ATAG_Freya View Post
    Man, if I could turn back time and take notes...

    ~S~
    sigh

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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by ATAG_Freya View Post
    'Gardening' - Bomber command's slang for dropping sea mines. My grandfather did some of that with 428sqdn, he had another term when he talked of it (garden related) but I can't remember at the moment. But the log book just says 'gardening'.

    Freya you may find this of interest.

    The paragraphs at the bottom specifically mention two 'Gardening' operations carried out by 6 Group (RCAF) of Bomber Command and 428 Sqn is mentioned.

    https://www.lancaster-ed559.co.uk/bl...eld-code-names

    Sounds as though this type of op could be quite 'dicey'.

    07
    "A nation that forgets its past has no future." - Winston Churchill

    My Rig: CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quard -Core Processor, Motherboard: Asus ROG MAXIMUS VIII HERO ALPHA ATX LGA1151, RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (4x 8GB) DDR4- 3000
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    ATAG Member ATAG_Freya's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by ATAG_Vampire View Post
    Freya you may find this of interest.

    The paragraphs at the bottom specifically mention two 'Gardening' operations carried out by 6 Group (RCAF) of Bomber Command and 428 Sqn is mentioned.

    https://www.lancaster-ed559.co.uk/bl...eld-code-names

    Sounds as though this type of op could be quite 'dicey'.

    07
    THAT is insanely interesting Vamps, good find buddeh! I had no idea the type of garden was actually giving a location too. Probably many a lanc got 'peeled' on them ops, that's for true. Glad it wasn't NA-A, for here I am. Cheers! I owe you some beer tokens for that ~S~

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    Manual Creation Group ATAG_Vampire's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by ATAG_Freya View Post
    THAT is insanely interesting Vamps, good find buddeh! I had no idea the type of garden was actually giving a location too. Probably many a lanc got 'peeled' on them ops, that's for true. Glad it wasn't NA-A, for here I am. Cheers! I owe you some beer tokens for that ~S~
    I am pleased you found it of interest Brother.

    If I find anything else I will post it here for you.

    07
    "A nation that forgets its past has no future." - Winston Churchill

    My Rig: CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quard -Core Processor, Motherboard: Asus ROG MAXIMUS VIII HERO ALPHA ATX LGA1151, RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 32GB (4x 8GB) DDR4- 3000
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    TF Leadership Ivank's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    "Elephant Tracker" ... RAAF Service Policeman .... same as RAF snowdrop.

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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivank View Post
    "Elephant Tracker" ... RAAF Service Policeman .... same as RAF snowdrop.
    Lol i was going to post this as well ivank. Interestingly this is no longer known in the current RAAF. I used it recently and only got blank stares and had to explain its origins. My understanding is that it comes from 'they couldnt track an elephant thru long grass'

    Another one from the old RAAF (1990s) - 'fitter and turner' for cooks. Ie they fit food into their saucepans and turn it into shit.

    Brothel creepers are another one - probably very non pc now.

    Snork - officers

    Pigs - officers. Cockpit not fit for pigs (ie dirty). Cockpit now fit for pigs (officer aircrew). Apparently this was an entry in the form EE500 ( maintenance paperwork) but may be a story that did the rounds.

    Snakes - SGTs

    The Knuck - pay thursday at the airmens' mess. Junior officers dreaded being duty officer on knuck- nights as it often degenerated into fights involving the use of knuckles ( i think this is its origin)

    Cracker monkeys - armament tradesmen and women esp in fighter and bomber squadrons as they were the trade that handled the explosive cartridges - crackers- that were used in a range of things including ejection seats and bomb racks etc

    Black handers - engine fitters as they got their hands dirty

    Queer traders - another non pc one now

    Throttle - joystick inteconnectors - derogatory ground crew term for unliked aircrew. Not u Ivank!

    I could go on. A few of the above are still in use.

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    TF Leadership Ivank's Avatar
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    Re: Know your trade (title actually not on topic.)

    " 'they couldnt track an elephant thru long grass" I think it was inability to track an Elephant through the Snow .... even more derogatory though I guess the alternative term of "Spits" was a pretty bad appellation for the SP's

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