Swords, Ceremonial, Air Officers, for the use of

[TrickyTree]

Right, I know this is a bit geeky so let's get all the p**s-taking out of the way now.....

....Finished? Good. Then here's my query.

As one of Her Majesty's loyal airmen the other week I purchased (ahem!) a copy of The Royal Air Force Yearbook 2009. Perusing said literature I found this picture on page 33 illustrating an article concerning Sir Glenn's tenure as CAS.

Something about it didn't look right. Look at the swords carried by the officers. They appear to be of the Air Officer's pattern - except the Chief's. In fact it doesn't appear to be an RAF officer's sword of any description. So what is it?

Am I missing something really simple or is Sir Glenn carrying the wrong sword? I know that in times past when officers carried swords in battle this was a regular occurrence but in 2008 for ceremonial purposes? The only thing I can possibly think of it that it may have something to do with his being a Knight of the Bath.

Can somebody enlighten me? By the way, I've just posted this on PPRuNe, too.

Thanks all.

 

[vim_fuego]

Theres a yearbook??

I wasn't aware of this fact...How often does it come out?

 

[Rambling Sid]

Well spotted

 

[FOMz]

Maybe he's planning on using it as a way of cutting RAF manpower even more... geddit???

Or if he thinks he see a slovenly airman on parade, he'll run them through with his sword.

 

[muttywhitedog]

Its a pooh stick.

 

[Ex-Bay]

On hire from Moss Bros ?

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

Its his magic wand for cojouring up the biggest thunderstorm he possibly can after he gets off the dias.


Tried it the first time on the closure of 6 Sqn at Coningsby in 2007.

Got the spell right at Fairford in 2008

 

[MattBombHead]

And he's wearing it incorreclty too...!! DT_Xtremez_14:

Theres a good chance its one he's purchased himself or one that is presented with the office of CDS, altho why its silver and not gold.. i don't know!!

 

[shiny_arse]

Don't know about the sword, but that salute is absolutely abysmal.

Obviously been a long time since someone told him that the fingers should all be straight and pushed together. Looks like he is trying out "jazz hands"

 

[spencer the fencer]

This is all news to me, i've heard of aircraft spotters and I even know about vehicle recognition geeks but sword spotters. And for someone with a name like mine you would have thought that of all people I would know about them, well you live and you learn.

 

[Bitburger]

So when the fcuk did the RAF ever use a sword in battle?

 

[MattBombHead]

Don't know about the sword, but that salute is absolutely abysmal.

Obviously been a long time since someone told him that the fingers should all be straight and pushed together. Looks like he is trying out "jazz hands"

I believe the correct wording is...

The fore-finger is to be placed 1in (20 mm) behind and
to the right of the right eye. The wrist is to be straight
and the elbow in line and square with the right
shoulder.

So all three salutes are bollocks DT_Xtremez_14:DT_Xtremez_14:DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[FOMz]

I believe the correct wording is...

The fore-finger is to be placed 1in (20 mm) behind and
to the right of the right eye. The wrist is to be straight
and the elbow in line and square with the right
shoulder.

So all three salutes are bollocks DT_Xtremez_14:DT_Xtremez_14:DT_Xtremez_14:

So what you're saying here, is that all three are flipping the V's at the Queen then? DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[MattBombHead]

So what you're saying here, is that all three are flipping the V's at the Queen then? DT_Xtremez_14:

No........... just not correct, as per the AP 818

 

[Rambling Sid]

Obviously Phil the Greek and the other two need some remedial drill instructions, now who is going to tell them......lol

 

[Doneit]

T_T, did you have any luck on PPRuNe? I am obviously no expert at these things, but if I was to have a guess, I'd say it may be more to do with his roles as Air Aide-de-Camp to the Queen or CAS...possibly.

 

[Ex-Splitter and Proud]

Right, I know this is a bit geeky so let's get all the p**s-taking out of the way now.....

I'm sorry Tricky, you really need to get out a bit more.

I'm sure that if you keep taking the meds, the nice man in the white coat might even let you start to use a spoon (blunt of course) to feed your self.DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[techie_tubby]

Maybe it's the sword he won at Cranwell. If he was presented the sword for best trainee or whatever they get it for at IOT maybe he's allowed to use it on parades, or perhaps it's a different one because he's CAS.

 

[Wonky Tonka]

If I remember correctly, doesn't the CAS have his own pattern of sword?

Sure I remember something about that on the D&C course....

 

[Shugster]

Don't know about the sword, but that salute is absolutely abysmal.

Obviously been a long time since someone told him that the fingers should all be straight and pushed together. Looks like he is trying out "jazz hands"

Like this...



DT_Xtremez_30: