NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2010


29


Fireman’s overcoat kept me warm


DURING the early 1970s I was seconded to the Engineering Wing of RAF Leuchars, in Scotland.


Picture: Imperial War Museum


Flying blind in the Swordfish?


WHO decided that an observer was redundant in the best three- man crew of the pride of the Fleet Air Arm? I have studied the diagram of the


Swordfish ‘Stringbag’ (November) and can see no trace of any sign of either the presence of this rather indispensable crewmember or of any provision to put him in the aircraft at all! The TAG also seems to have not a lot of radio equipment, and certainly must have been in need


WITH regards to Points (November) about the offi cial numbers for ratings, HMS Northwood RNR was commissioned in 1957 and the offi cial numbers for the ratings started from NH1. The Wrens had the prefix NHW. This system continued until 1977 when the unit was brought into line with the RN.


When I joined in 1975 I was NH506. If NHW300 happens to read this letter I send her my fond regards, but do not tell the wife. – Brian J Bloom, ex CPO Ops HQ RNR Shenley, Herts


...I TOO joined the RN in 1966, my number was P/097249 and in the 1970s this changed to P/


I HAVE every sympathy with Lt


Cdr Lester May


of tender care on landing, since he appears not to have been provided with much in the way of cockpit comforts, such as a seat. My recollection of past service with this wonderful piece of RN naval aviation history is somewhat at variance with your otherwise well-presented diagram. Lt Cdr Dennis Jones (Still proud to designate myself


A nice little number


thus, despite Mr Holloway’s displeasure), Shandon, Helensburgh


D097249R and we were told this was to computerise us for pay. – Hugh McFadden


The original letter asked about suffi xes to offi cial numbers. A colleague in Naval Command HQ told us: “My understanding is that the letter at the end of pre- JPA offi cial numbers is a check letter based on some form of mathematical algorithm of the digits in the offi cial number. “This served to validate the


offi cial number and was also supposedly designed to help prevent the unscrupulous from attempting to ‘recruit’ imaginary personnel into the Service and arranging to pocket their pay!” – Man Ed


We miss Flash Harry (letters,


October) who missed the Sea Songs from the Last Night of the Proms, but what else could you expect from an American conductor? He’s not really likely to glorify


Britain, is he? Why a British conductor could not be found I do not know.


The Last Night has not been the same since ‘Flash’ Sargent died! However, all is not lost. The entire suite is on a CD, Spirit of Discovery, published by The Gift of Music, no CCL CDG1054. – George Thompson,


ex-PO Radar Mechanic, HMS Nelson 1946-48, Northampton


As a Fleet Chief Petty Officer one of my duties was to join the Air Force WOs’ ‘duty snow control officer’ roster. When called out we supervised the civilian snow clearance teams to keep the runways clear.


My naval raincoat seemed not up to the task on those bitter cold nights. I had always regretted the loss of the overcoat for non-commissioned officers. On promotion to WO, the Army and Air Force were measured up for officer-style uniforms. The Navy did it on the cheap, requiring us to remove the chief’s buttons, repair the holes and fix the coat of arms in place, still retaining the old uniform. I presume that is still the case today. Sitting in my office one day, I


was – Overcoat, Senior Rate, for the use of.


I was delighted. Off I went to the clothing store at Rosyth, about an hour’s drive. The petty officer behind the counter thought I was joking until I showed him the list. “Well we ain’t got any and


LETTERS to the editor should always be accompanied by the correspondent’s name and address, not necessarily for publication.


E-mail correspondents are also requested to provide this information. Letters cannot be submitted over the telephone. If you submit a photograph which you did not take yourself, please make sure that you have the permission for us to publish it.


publish all of your correspondence in Navy News. We


our website, www.navynews.co.uk, accompanied by images. We look particularly for correspondence which stimulates debate, makes us laugh or raises important issues. The


the right to edit your submissions.


editor reserves do, however, publish many on


Given the volume of


letters, we cannot


was browsing though the latest ‘slops’ list covering the range of uniforms and accessories. To my amazement, there it


they are obsolete,” he smugly informed me, but at least he added “sir” at the end. I was not a happy bunny! Some time later, my wife and


I were shopping in Dunfermline. I visited a shop selling ex-military clothing and there I found a brand new ex-Fire Service overcoat in black with silver buttons, epaulettes and a half belt. Perfect.


Replacing the buttons with RN types and slipping ‘woolly pulley’ WO’s logos onto the epaulettes I was all set. Warm, cosy and smart. For the first few weeks, I had to constantly remind the Air Force personnel that I was not entitled to their salute, but that soon stopped. I can’t remember what finally happened to the coat, but nobody ever complained, and it was certainly worthwhile. – Steve Chinnock, ex-WO, Honiton, Devon


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48