Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbuna
I notice your still believing the 'official' reason  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbuna
I'm sure I've no idea of your response  |
Nor me of yours Jim.
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.