Lost trades

[Tin basher]

Just pondering that with a shrinking Air Force we have less people in each trade but more than that, some whole trades have also gone. TG10 not the PTI's bit, but the Discip admin SWO types surely they all gone now. RAF Painters same story and the marine branch. Going back even further we apparently had stores admin accounting clerk types and if my old SNCO was right even blue suits brickie's in works and bricks. Do we have any Scribbly Appo's or RAF pathologists left? I guess probably not. Any more trades, now extinct, that deserve a fleeting mention and preservation in warfare history section of the goat.

 

[mick-a-nick]

Trade Gone

Trade Gone

In the Gen Tech world - MTSO - Machine Tool Setter Operator went back in the early 80's as far as I recall

 

[Late & Tired]

I recall the "Data Analyst" - great team to have on board for the techies and AC Docs.
Removed as the RAF foresaw the future, and decided there was no need for them....

 

[techie_tubby]

What about Catering Accountants. My dad used to have great fun with a blonde Cat Act he knew at Newton back in the day DT_Xtremez_15:

 

[timaloy]

Heard on the radio the RAF recruiting advert stating 50 trades, when I joined there were 71 its ever shrinking

 

[DownButNotOut]

The original TG11 - not the TCO's but the Spec Tels, (special telegraphist's) Telephonists, Morse Operators, wireless operators, yes they all joined together to become TCO's but at one time they were separate trades.

 

[Downsizer]

Eng Tech P
Eng Tech A
All those lecky trades....

 

[Keyser Söze]

TG2 all gone or been assimilated and MS'd into TG1

L Tech AR
L Tech AC
L Tech FS
Air Camera fitters
L Tech El

All the techy TG 3 guys are gone and merged with the peanuts into TG4

 

[Stevienics]

Apprentice dental technicians - used to be in the same flights as eng-techs at Halton.

..and then Eng Tech A/P

 

[Norman the Storeman]

• Kennel Maids
• Gen Tech trade that fixed typewriters, photostat machines, etc.

 

[LoneRanger]

I joined in 1975 & I remember there being loads of guys at Swinderby who were joining as Carpenters! Years later they were all binned.

 

[Hu Jardon]

• Kennel Maids

Puts a whole new aspect to dogging...............

 

[Rigga]

I used to know two of the RAF's 20 or so Cartographers - They could only be based at Northolt or Laarbruch!

...mapmakers.

 

[Odie]

L Tech ST
FLM

 

[techie_tubby]

I used to know two of the RAF's 20 or so Cartographers - They could only be based at Northolt or Laarbruch!

...mapmakers.

I went through Halton with a lassie who was off to do her Air Cartographer training. Is it the smallest trade in the RAF?

 

[Spearmint]

I went through Halton with a lassie who was off to do her Air Cartographer training. Is it the smallest trade in the RAF?

Manning are asking for the more gullible to retrade as an Air Cartographer at the minute so it's not that dead yet......

 

[XVR RA RA RA]

Painters and finishers.

Was there a flight simulator maintenance trade?

I knew a few guys who were workshops, when the sqn needed anything it was amazing what station workshops could make out of wood. The quality was awesome, with beveled edges and fancy joints, like something off the antiques roadshow. The raf has lost some very very skilled and talented craftsmen.

I think the USAF had a "Combat Weatherman" trade. I remember seeing a photo of some rambo looking guy who had just parachuted out a herc..standing chest deep in a river... surrounded by jungle... holding a wind speed sensor in the air.

"Somebody tell the enemy to stop shooting, I'm trying to take a pollen count here".

 

[Ex-Bay]

Fireman (was assimilated into Regt as Fireman/Gunner)
Fabric Worker (was assimilated into Airframes ?)
RT D/F Op
Nav Inst (the place you took your watch to be fixed, in those pre-digital days)

 

[Jim_P_Pulfrew]

All the Marine Craft Unit trades - Coxwain, Marine Fitter etc

Jimps

 

[Rigga]

Fireman (was assimilated into Regt as Fireman/Gunner)

If that's happened recently, it was the other way around in the 1970's as the firefighters (not firemen!) became specialists breaking away from Regiment.