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Post by baronbeeza on Dec 8, 2013 16:57:45 GMT 12
and I didn't fly no dirty Hurricane
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Post by machpants on Dec 8, 2013 18:02:41 GMT 12
Awesome
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Post by suthg on Dec 8, 2013 21:39:35 GMT 12
Classic British humour... thanks.
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Post by phil82 on Dec 9, 2013 7:50:04 GMT 12
Bloody brilliant!
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Post by baronbeeza on Dec 9, 2013 12:03:57 GMT 12
All the usual suspects.. I am not surprised to see the names, - mess humour at that.
Now who is going to own up to having watched it more than a few times ?
I admit I would be one there.
These guys do a series of similar skits but this was the one I enjoyed most. Better even than the Monty Python one...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 9, 2013 12:50:58 GMT 12
Sorry but I just don't find these sketches funny, I have tried to watch some before. They simply annoy me. And I usually like Mitchell and Webb's work.
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Post by baronbeeza on Dec 9, 2013 13:02:01 GMT 12
A few of us have been in RAF messes, or can picture someone like Pat Neville, Tommy Thompson or Stan Quill in place of Geoffrey Palmer.
I do see characters I have met in the past featured there..
I knew Phil82 would see the funny side. I have not met machpants but he is there (in the environment) and will know 'Chalky' or someone like him.
I saw one of the Falklands decorated Chinook pilots in the bar at Odiham... still have a chuckle at his expense.
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Post by machpants on Dec 9, 2013 13:46:29 GMT 12
Yeah there are not many of the old school RAF Yah-types anymore. Times have well changed but we can still laugh at our history. No dif from cavalry regiments they were (and still are) worse. You couldn't afford their mess bills unless you have independent income!
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Post by phil82 on Dec 9, 2013 15:47:41 GMT 12
The sketch is funny for a number of different reasons and is actually quite current because there have been lots of discussions recently, mostly derogatory, about the deterioration of spoken English by young people speaking a kind of jingoistic street language, perfectly ilustrated when they listen blankly at Geoffrey then switch on when he stars talking rubbish. The sketch is more about social mores than flying. It's a big piss-take fellas.
On another planet far far away, I once worked for Stan Quill, he an Air Commodore and me a P/o, [alright, it was a few haircuts back!] and he hated gobbledegook with a passion, and had a way with words. When the Airships formed Support Branch, there were senior officers in Directors roles, less senior officers in Deputy Directors roles, and believe it or not, they even had Deputy Assistant Directors of which Stan became one. About the same time, there was an edict came out that, in mufti, Officers were to wear suits, and only WO's and below could wear shorts! I found a cartoon somewhere about hairy legs and changed a few names to suit and surreptitiously, or so I thought, stuck it on the Air Staff Noticeboard, only for Stan to ring me the next day. "Now I know you don't understand why I am a f****ng Air f***ing Commodore, and an Assistant Deputy Director of I know not what, but thow shalt not take the piss out of those f***ing morons who devised the system! Now piss off and get me a cup of tea".
When he died his funeral was in Upper Hutt, and a Harvard flew over as he was carried out. Then the Air Force band broke into a very upbeat "Those were the Days My friend". A lovely man indeed. The Harvard at Hood has his initials "SGQ".
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Post by baronbeeza on Dec 9, 2013 16:12:20 GMT 12
The junior officers at Ohakea decided to have a 'single stripers' party. There were plenty of Pilot Officers and Flying Officers on strength and it was always going to be a big night. I think it kicked off with some form of dinner..
SGQ was in the area and as an Air Cdre was well aware of his 'single stripe' status. He got on fabulously with the teenagers and 'twenty somethings' that were also enjoying drinks that night. A true character.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 9, 2013 16:46:59 GMT 12
Geoff Fisken told me he hated Quill with a passion, and was not the only one to feel that way, and that Quill was the most obnoxious, pompous prigg he came across in the Air Force. He once threatened to shoot Quill in front of witnesses and had his Flight Lieutenant promotion revoked as a result.
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Post by phil82 on Dec 9, 2013 18:30:19 GMT 12
He was gruff, admittedly, which could be mistaken for grumpy, but he was direct and had a great sense of humour, not always appreciated by some!
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Post by machpants on Dec 10, 2013 7:11:22 GMT 12
The sketch is funny for a number of different reasons and is actually quite current because there have been lots of discussions recently, mostly derogatory, about the deterioration of spoken English by young people speaking a kind of jingoistic street language, perfectly ilustrated when they listen blankly at Geoffrey then switch on when he stars talking rubbish. The sketch is more about social mores than flying. It's a big piss-take fellas. Yeah because in the days the skit is set the young people spoke very good English. Wizard prang in the kite ... and the Gubber had snitched a parcel sausage-end and gone goose-over-stump frogside.... |
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Post by baronbeeza on Dec 10, 2013 12:34:56 GMT 12
See, it is a RAF thing. The mob here was not quite the same. I often wonder how the colonials of 70 years ago managed in the RAF Officers' Messes. Some of the English can only just understand each others accents. A young man from Karamea must have wondered what he had encountered meeting a Geordie for the the first time. They never had TV, or electricity for that matter.. so may not have even realised the English language could be spoken in so many ways. Then we have the 'posh' school accents on top of that as well. Many would never have been in an Officers Mess before so it would be a steep learning experience period for them. Likewise the Poms must have struggled with the Aussie lingo..... not all Senior Officers were bilingual like Geoffrey Palmer. Superb acting... www.imdb.com/name/nm0658244/bio |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 10, 2013 13:27:53 GMT 12
Whether it's a pommie RAF Mess thing or not I just find these "comedy" sketches unfunny and somewhat insulting to both common intelligence and the real Royal Air Force, who may have had (and perhaps still have) too many upper crust idiots as you say, but they did do a fine job for our freedom in WWII and perhaps that shouldn't be mocked. Medals were never given out lightly and many good men missed out who deserved the same recognition.
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Post by machpants on Dec 10, 2013 17:07:03 GMT 12
Well in the UK the saying goes: if you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up! Extracting the Michael out of everyone and everything is a standard pastime in the British forces, all forces in fact even the US (tho no one as much as the Brits). The Banter is very harsh, so something as mild as that sketch wouldn't even raise a murmur. The banter I have received from the various Sqn association old boys is even harsher, modern day stuff is very PC compared to the 'good old days'; so it is not like it is a new thing. For example, one of my XO's was nick named Fugly, even his wife called him it. A guy on my course was known as UMIN (Ugliest Man In NATO). Myself in the RN 'Flossy'- being of sheep farming stock I picked up the name of the sheep Lord Melchett had carnal knowledge with, my wife still calls me Floss! I have to try hard to wind back my banter in civilian life otherwise I would leave a trail of insulted people and potential fights everywhere. The RAF's favourite Blackadder episode  :  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 10, 2013 20:31:16 GMT 12
I can take a joke when it has humour in it, and especially if it's clever. Unlike this sketch. I guess you have to be of a certain type to enjoy it. Each to their own.
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Post by machpants on Dec 10, 2013 21:52:31 GMT 12
Yep fair enough
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Dec 11, 2013 1:22:07 GMT 12
I've seen a number of these sketches & find them incredibly funny, English comedy at its finest (something the Yanks can never pull off!)  And as for Lord Flasheart - hey nonny nonny!!  |
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Post by machpants on Dec 11, 2013 6:46:14 GMT 12
"Remember, always treat your kite, <thwack blackboard>, like you treat your woman <swish>"
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