RAFStories

We had navy blue knickers that came down to your knees.

That’s all we’d wanted to hear.

We got it wrong last time, we won't get it wrong this time.

You couldn’t be proud of him, he couldn’t be proud of you.

They had no right to question a civilian in that way, but they got away with it.

Every career that the military offers, has a civilian alternative that is desperate for those skills.

I looked up, and there were fireworks.

Sir, there will be no trouble, because my son is gay.

You rarely refuelled with the rotors turning because you cannot stand up under that aircraft.

It is to remind us of our obligation to mankind.

They were just kids

It's put me off UHT milk for life.

There was a tug on the Deputy Chief of Airstaff's jacket, and this little kid said, "Sir, this is brilliant".

War is war

They really were a team

I didn't see Peg for two years, and while I was away, we got engaged.

I can't say we were over worked, it’s just as well we weren’t because we'd have been in trouble.

The thought of being done for speeding while on a MERT shout caused a little bit of interesting language in the car.

It's like camping without a tent, but with a 60ft helicopter instead.

The Army, they say it's one of the best sounds because they know that they're being picked up and taken home.

It's not hard to see why you get the myth and the legend and the general affection, which sounds weird for a lump of metal, but it's, it's probably not too far from the truth.

Sometimes the banter gets a little bit too pointed, a little bit too serious and unfunny.

To this day, absolutely delighted, honored, pleased, privileged. All those cliched words that that I had the chance to do it.

I was a squadron boss for two years at a time when my guys were doing about the toughest job that an aircraft has been asked to do.

I think everyone who joins the military at some point finds himself wondering what it would be like to be tested under proper conditions

I knew nothing about it at all. Mind you, I had drunk quite a lot that night.

It would appear that we haven’t learned a lot.

It really threw me out because it was completely unexpected.

They put a lot of time and effort into training them and then put an equal amount of time and money into identifying them as homosexual and kicking them out.

Everything streams, your nose, your mouth, your eyes, it's just stings.

Because we had the police training, we knew all about police interviews and what they do and the process.

Do you go almost like Star Trek down the route where everything’s virtual.

Georgina Coles

Do you go almost like Star Trek, down the route where everything’s virtual.

Georgina Coles

We also have within Team Tempest, the Tempest early careers network, which allows us to talk to people of a similar sort of age but different backgrounds and experiences.

Georgina Coles

They could be a fantastic pilots, but our jets aren't designed around them.

Georgina Coles

I saw some maneuvers in the centrefuge, and it does not look fun.

Georgina Coles

You need to be aware that they've got to operate in these garments for hours a day.

Georgina Coles

A lack of oxygen can make you feel bit drunk, and the effects can sometimes be almost euphoric, which is not something you really want while you're flying a fast jet.

He told all his friends it was my birthday and from that minute on I had a lovely time, I can tell you!

Olga Hopkins

Towards the end, with American influence, there was a bit of jitterbugging going on.

Olga Hopkins

We are so privileged in this country to have such freedom.

Olga Hopkins

You realised that people were fighting for you, and I think I wanted to be part of that.

Olga Hopkins

I found that really tough with a new baby, a young mum. I was 23 then, and he wasn't around.

Jennie Morris

We can all work with an eating disorder

Flt Lt Khym Pascoe

We put our names in a hat, and I drew the Middle East

Fred Mitchell

Submarine sighted. Going in to attack. Goodbye

We got the call to make 19 special Lancasters

I need 30 of these by tomorrow

Martin Clegg

When you're first widowed, you're in such a dark place, you never think life is going to be good again.

Jennie Morris

Well it came, the knock on the door and it was the boss of the squadron.

Jennie Morris

I believe I'm a stronger person for having an eating disorder

Flt Lt Khym Pascoe

I got the job of trying to find the German convoy

Fred Mitchell

The Spitfire's cockpit was rather cramped

Iris Page

I look back now and think, how on earth could I have done it?

They’d post men with guns on the door to stop us leaving.

That night was the first time I went home and cried.

It prompted the need to offer mental or physical assistance to a lot of veterans who were trawling back very traumatic memories.

We’ve never been able to unite and discuss what we went through, ever.

We've nothing to be ashamed of anymore.

You can be charged for not saluting, or charged for not shooting.

Someone, somewhere felt that if you were of a gay persuasion you would be open to blackmail.

You were aware that you were policing it, that it was against the law.

You didn’t have a sweaty smell, you had a feul-ly smelly.

And I walked away from the chinook. And that was it. I hold that quite dear in my heart.

It’s almost like a friend, because it’s always there and it’s always beating deep into your soul and you can’t get away from it.

Water, fresh produce, everything we take for granted, The World Food Programme were taking to small villages who had nothing.

Ignorance is no longer allowed.

Footprints on the mess ceiling

One bomb stuck in the cradle

Deep down, one didn't expect to last long

“We don’t know exactly what you’re going through but we get it".

The Air Force being the Air Force, they make you practice with things not working.

I looked over my shoulder to see 40 smiling faces

The Jet that was underslung just.. took off.

To have John Craven bumping around as you fly people from field to field, yeah, that was a different day out.

You could see the concern of the faces around you, people in the know.

Jog on, you’ve got no chance.

I don't know if 617 saw it or saw the funny side, but I thought that was quite clever.

I think the fact it's here and so many people can come see it is, is great and it is quite weird.

He was bung full of his own importance

He described what he thought of us, very crudely. Fancy picking on a general…

Some of the lads who couldn't swim, they were just picked up and thrown anyway, it was a horrible morning.

We were the sorriest set of recruits I could ever remember.

“Gentlemen", he said, "I was about to say Welcome to Jerusalem, but they've done it for me."

He spits, reigns in his camel and heads off across the minefield.

People with Aspergers like organisation, they like structure.

He was dismissed, dishonourably discharged, but life carried on, you know.

Women had fought hard for respect and they didn't want anyone with any other nature coming along and affecting that.

If you’re wearing a uniform, it’s to defend everyones rights.

They had Swordfish Byplanes from WWI, I thought my goodness, I didn't realise we were that desperate!

Olga Hopkins

If you haven’t got someone who’s there in person, how do you protect and ensure that they can control the equipment correctly?

Georgina Coles

It was an adventure I very much enjoyed.

Olga Hopkins

Just because no one is in the cockpit doesn't mean you don't need to think about the operator.

Georgina Coles

Pilots often won't report the problem, so my boss came up with the phrase "Man up, wet pants culture".

Georgina Coles

One area that we are looking at is psychophysiological monitoring, to make sure that the pilot isn't becoming hypoxic.

Georgina Coles

Working with a Spitfire, oh what a thrill that was!

Olga Hopkins

My father said "About bloody time" and my mother burst into tears.

Olga Hopkins

The fear, cold unadulterated fear.

It was always a joke with these passion killers, as we used to call them.

Olga Hopkins

That's one thing I'm very grateful to the RAF is that they completed my education because we learned physics and radio.

Olga Hopkins

Jess Boydon-Juckes

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