Duties of an RNZAF Orderly Officer 1960 - 61

[avenger]

[Dave Homewood]

This is fascinating, thanks very much for posting it. Some of the things that an Orderly Officer was responsible for I had never considered.

Why was it necessary for the Orderly Officer to observe the fire crews training for twenty minutes every morning? I mean many of the O.O.'s would have been Admin, Accounts, Aircrew, Supply officers, etc who would normally have no contact with or understanding of a fireman's duties, so I wonder why they had to make sure they were doing their training? Was this more so the O.O. became familiar with who the fire section members were in case he had reason to work with them later in the day, if there was a crash or emergency?

The mention of visiting the Airman's Mess and ask if there are any complaints, I recall this happening occasionally at Woodbourne but I seriously do not recall ever seeing an O.O. or DNCO ask us if we had any complaints in the Mess at Wigram, Ohakea, Whenuapai or Hobsonville. Yet it seems likely they should have been asking every day?

I never saw an Officer or DNCO at Airman's breakfast, ever, as far as I can recall, either.

I assume the Orderly Officer and DNCO did not work their normal job that day they were on duty, and their entire day was devoted to this rostered duty?

[camtech]

Dave, not sure about Orderly Officer, but as Duty NCO, we carried out our normal duties when not performing trained seal jobs.
One of the big hassles was trying to have a decent meal between lowering the ensign and defaulters parades. There was no day off if you were on duty over a weekend, either. Often, two rosters were operated - one for week days and one for weekends. Therefore the job did not come up all that often.
Bar Caterer was another rostered duty, with two normally rostered on for a week. Again, no time off afterwards.

Also NCO i/c Barracks was another task tossed at us, often for a six months period, sometimes for a year.

I also got appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Wigram Airman's Club, while I was NCO i/c NATTS Maintenance, and for my sins did eighteen months in this role. At least I could legally have a beer in the baggy's club, even as a Flight Sergeant.

[tbf25o4]

An interesting signature to that order.
W.J. Cranfeld -- Antarctica pilot, Freighter pilot, CO 3 Squadron, finished his career as a Wing Commander

[Dave Homewood]

Well spotted there Paul.

[baronbeeza]

I can recall the orders for the O/O at Wigram for the mid-80's pretty well.

Similar to the one shown but with many detail differences.
Inline with Camtech's comments there were two rosters. Monday to Friday 4.30pm to 8.15am and additional to normal day duties.
The weekend was 9am to 9am approx but you only did the one day at a time.

The list of chores was substantially less but you did did a number of visits of sections on the Base. The main part of the job was minding the phone and looking after all the after-hours signals traffic.

You had to be available and normally anywhere in the Mess was fine. The room had nothing going for it and was for sleeping only.

Some of the guys living off Base may have forgotten some of the routine, like the early morning cup of tea.
I know of one rotary pilot and by the time he awoke he had 5 cups sitting there waiting for him.
The fact he was laying on the bed starkers may have influenced events there though....

[avenger]

My info is Bill Cranfield passed on 22 Jan, TBC.

[Dave Homewood]

Confirmed, sadly

CRANFIELD, William Joseph (Bill). RNZAF, Wing Commander (Retired), CE 816026, AFC. Passed away at Christchurch Public Hospital on Sunday 22 January 2017, aged 83. Loving husband of Helen for 61 years. Loved father and father-in- law of Jo and Steven, Katie and Selwyn, Shaun, and Myn. Much loved grandfather of Sarah, David, and Joshua; Brendon, Naomi, and Ruth; Harry, Jarrod, and Fynn. Great grandfather of eight and a half great grandchildren. Brother of Bob, John, Susan (deceased), Pat, and Sam. Brother-in-law and fishing companion of Bill Watson. Thank you to the ICU at Christchurch Public Hospital for their wonderful care. Messages to the Cranfield family c/o PO Box 10345, Christchurch 8145. A celebration of Bill's life will be held in St Andrew's at Rangi Ruru at 16 Merivale Lane, Christchurch, on Friday 27 January at 2:00pm. Private cremation thereafter. - See more at: notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=william-joseph-cranfield-bill&pid=183697936#sthash.Drx8DouA.dpuf

[phil]

I must say I'm glad most of that nonsense has gone by the wayside. No parades now - I'm not sure the civy security guard at the main gate would appreciate it.

SNCOs - FLTLT do OO at OH (or Duty Officer as it's called), CPLS do Assistant DO at OH, in AK it's SNCOs that do Duty Officer while the Officers do On Call Officer and basically salute while the ensign goes up and down then they go home, unless there's some VIP visit or something mere SNCOs can't be trusted with. No idea what happens at WB.

We still check the mess for quality of food and correct dress, and inspect barracks (well, walk through barracks), but you rarely see anyone. There's still a key check last thing at night, but we have civy security that check buildings etc, so unless there's an insecurity we aren't bothered much by that.

I suspect if you tried to watch the fire flight training you'd have to go the gym, and that would probably look a bit pervy.

[shorty]

When I was first at WB as a SNCO we also got rostered for Cadet School DSNCO which meant you were reponsible for he discipline there, had to carry out a bed check and slept there overnight.I was at one stage one of 2 SNCOs in charge of ASF (along with Dave Moore)and as we were on call every second week for visiting aircraft we were excused all other rostered duries.

[Dave Homewood]

Yes the Duty NCO at Woodbourne slept in a room at GSTS, with the Duty Cadet also rostered on with the DNCO, when I was at GSTS. We had 120 cadets on our course so everyone only had to do this once in our three months there, but it was a bit of a pain. I guess the Orderley Officer slept in the Officers' Mess.

[camtech]

Going back to when Pontius was a pilot in short pants, I was a Cadet Corporal and Sergeant at Airman Cadet School, and I remember we had a duty roster as well. Can't recall too much, but can remember having to man the office and check anyone signing in or out of the school. As a corporal there were 8 of us - one for each flight, then 10 when two sgts were appointed, so it came round reasonably often.