A question about the British military

[Edward Horton]

Mr. Laidler

Below is my Air Force Expert Marksmanship Ribbon awarded to me in 1969, out of 60 rounds issued to me, my target had 82 holes in it. I was never shot or wounded because the guy shooting next to me was out of ammunition when he found out he had been shooting at the wrong target and wasn’t going to get a medal.



Below an Air Force MRE or meal ready to eat.

[Peter Laidler]

I was running the firing point several years ago when one of the cooks, who couldn't hit a barn from the inside was getting lower and lower scores as the day wore on! He had to get a reasonable score to pass of course. So after a phone call to the butt Sergeant, on thenext shoot, not only did he pass, he was to sniper standard! After which we were able to pack up and go home!

Army rations.......... Ed. Many old British sweats will be a little sadder this evening to learn that after being introduced in 1950 or 1951, nobody is quite sure, but the OATMEAL BLOCK biscuits are finally being withdrawn from UK Army ration packs. It was the one thing that you could rely on. That and the fact that whatever happened, you could also rely on the Bren to work!

[John Sukey (Deceased)]

We had a guy in Basic who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with a rifle if he was locked inside. HOWEVER he qualified expert with the BAR. We found out that before coming to America, he was a BREN gunner in the British army

[jona]

The muzzle loading rifle team I shoot on got a new member one year. He qualified expert on just about everything in the Army(legitimately, too), but could not hit anything using a muzzle loading rifle. After trying for 4 years, he gave up and went to another club and shot M-1 Garands. He rated as the club's top shooter. Go figure.

[sprog]

[QUOTE=Peter Laidler;56594 They've just picked up on the one that couldn't hack Royal Marines basic training has a load as well. [/QUOTE]

Bit harsh there Peter. I'm not sure I could have hacked RM basic training either. At least he had the balls to opt out, even knowing, as a Royal, he would face moreflack than average.
I actually met him in Calgary last Sunday when he presented my daughter with her Duke of Edinburgh's gold award. He wore civvies & was very pleasant.

[Peter Laidler]

I know exactly what you mean Sprog, and point taken. But I ask why they have so many uniforms? Not to mention medals!

[Peter Laidler]

Not exactly Lee Enfield but just as iconic. I have just seen a delta wing Vulcan bomber fly overhead. It must be the last survivor that has just got a new MoT test or whatever they do to test aeroplanes. Accompanied by two equally iconic VC10 tankers.

Wow, what a sight!

[John Kepler]

I was running the firing point several years ago when one of the cooks, who couldn't hit a barn from the inside was getting lower and lower scores as the day wore on! He had to get a reasonable score to pass of course. So after a phone call to the butt Sergeant, on thenext shoot, not only did he pass, he was to sniper standard! After which we were able to pack up and go home!

My #2 Son, the E5 came to the Army as a reasonably successful Highpower competition shooter...in 8 years in the Army he never missed a single target on the 300m "Pop-Up" Range and was a member of the Unit Rifle Team. He was working over at the "Det." at Camp Perry, changing oil in trucks when their LT came in and told him and his "shooting Bud" to head over to the Qual Range. An Army Reserve MASH Unit was trying to get qualified and things were NOT going well! James and Taft spent the rest of their weekend shooting! Fired qualification scores for the entire MASH unit! By the end of that weekend, that MASH Unit was one bunch of steely-eyed hard-holders...at least on paper!

[PrinzEugen]

Not exactly Lee Enfield but just as iconic. I have just seen a delta wing Vulcan bomber fly overhead. It must be the last survivor that has just got a new MoT test or whatever they do to test aeroplanes. Accompanied by two equally iconic VC10 tankers.

Wow, what a sight!

The Vulcan's pretty amazing - I saw one take off a few years ago at the Fairford Airshow and it was very loud indeed.
But on the second point - given the state of our air refuelling and cargo fleet - surely VC10 vintage aircraft are still the cornerstone of the effort.

[BEAR]

When I was a young teenager I used to attend the American High School in Bushey. We lived in Harpenden and my brother and I would catch the train to Radlett then ride the bus to Bushey. Everyday we would go past the Handley Page airfield with the Victors parked on the tarmac. Awesome sight! I especially enjoyed the camouflaged painted A/C.
First Vulcan I ever saw was in "Thunderball".
BEAR