The other day I was playing a WWII strategy game, and some of the British units, had the term Coy with the name of the unit. I didn't know what that mean't so I looked it up and found that it stands for Company. What I found kind of surprised me though, a British slang term for members of the RAF are called Crabs? Not sure I want to know where that came from,lol

Found the list here-
http://www.milweb.net/features/military_acronyms.php

Look up 'Crab fat' :03:

Haven't found the meaning to Crab Fat, but found this for crabs-

"When asked a question, they shrug their shoulders and shuffle off sideways."

:D

I'm sure I've no idea of your response :hmmm:

Happy B'day to the RAF; doesn't look a day over 94...

<O>

Rgr that :sunny:

Nor me of yours Jim. :doh: Official reason for what?

There are a couple of reasons for the Crab Fat name. In taildragging aircraft, of which the RAF spent its formative years in, it's difficult to see where you're going on the ground, so they spent a lot of time when taxiing going from side to side to be able to see where to go. That's one.

The other, just as beleivable but not as pleasant, is that the Fish Heads used to put it about in every port and obviously catch unsavioury diseases. They also used to catch crabs, of which the cure was to lather the affected area with a blue/grey ointment - coincidentally the same colour blue/grey as the RAF uniform. Hence Crab Fat.

The final reason, but I don't believe this one, is that the Navy and the Army have a limited number of sideways paces on the parade square before they turn and march proper. The RAF doesn't. But I've always had it in my head that the maximum sideways paces was six, and I've never wrong. :03:

I always thought that was the reason.
I couldn't see anything in AP818 that has anything about limits, but I'm not in the RAF or have I ever been so I may be very wrong.

Happy B'day RAF. :woot:

Section/page 1-2-87 from the Air Cadet AP I found online.

The next stage in foot drill is moving sideways a given number of paces. The reason this movement is taught is to enable an individual or body of personnel to move sideways a maximum number of five paces in a smart, uniform manner.

I was referring to the Vulcan and the reason this is more than likely her last year.

Not to dwell on...the reason I've been given is too easily traceable.

I'm still in denial. :cry:

I'm glad I've got to see a Vulcan flying three times in my life, once at Biggin Hill many years ago, and twice at Lowestoft.

Picture taken by Keab:

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/7045/picture207z.jpg

That Olympus howl... :yep:

I'll always want one more viewing. And the noise, oh the noise. . .

Lovely isn't it? :rock: