100th Entry Glossary: SA to zobbit – 100 Entry RAF Locking

SA	Sergeant Apprentice. (See: SAA, rank).
SAA	Sergeant Aircraft Apprentice. (See: SA, rank).
SAC	Senior AirCraftsman. (See: rank).
Sack	Mattress.
SADSU	Strike Command Avionics Development and Servicing Unit, a term from the V Bomber days.
Saint George’s	Hamlet just outside Weston on the Bristol road (A370). Now greatly expanded and dominated by the massive, and very busy, roundabout at junction 21 of the M5 motorway.
Salisbury Hotel	Venue for apprentice dances. Close to the Winter Gardens in Weston. It has been demolished and the area is now covered by the ‘Sovereign Center’ multi-story car park.
Sand Bay	Bay at the northern extent of Weston at Kewstoke. The Toll Road leads from the area of the Old Pier to Sand Bay. The sea-bed at Sand Bay is littered with unexploded munitions from WWII.
Sand Dunes	On the southern extreme of Weston beach near the mouth of the river Axe and Weston Golf Course. An area where many apprentice conquests were consummated. Also scene for beach parties and barbecues, especially at night.
SARBE	Search and Rescue Beacon Equipment. There are SARBE ground stations and small transmitters with a foil antenna that is attached to the aircrew Mae Wests. The small unit transmitted a signal that allowed personnel to be located, especially at sea after ditching from an aircraft.
SATCO	Station Air Traffic Control Officer. In overall charge of all flying operations on a station. His first, second and third priorities are SAFETY. Do not upset the SATCO.
SATCOM	Satellite Communications.
sauce	Alcoholic drink.
saused	Intoxicated.
Scaley	Married airman. Refers to higher rate of pay (Scale “E”).
Scope dope	AEOP (nickname for Air Electronics Operators on the Nimrods).
scouser	Nickname for person from Liverpool.
screaming ab dabs	(See: Gandhi’s revenge).
screech	Dry, rough farmhouse cider mixed with orange juice. Alludes to effect on digestive system next morning.
scrounge	To obtain something unofficially.
scrubber	Loose female.
scrumpy	West country cider normally brewed in farmhouses. Available in two types, ‘rough’ and ‘sweet’. Potent and cheap. An acquired taste. (See: screech, blood).
SD	Service Dress. Peaked service cap to be worn with best blue uniform. Subject to much modification.
seat of the pants	To complete a task under extremely trying conditions (eg: “the pilot flew the aircraft by the seat of his pants”).
send to Coventry	To ignore a person by all others (eg: “he was sent to Coventry”).
sergeant	(See: NCO, rank).
sergeant’s mess	The name a misnomer. It should be SNCO’s mess. Accommodation, restaurant and bar for SNCOs. The sergeants mess annual ball is normally a grand extravaganza.
Shackleton	RAF (1951 to 1990), UK (Avro) four contra-rotating propeller engine (Griffon) maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Based on the Lancaster (Lincoln) with new fuselage. Nickname: The Growler. 100th Entry ‘air general’ trade apprentices flew on Shackletons at RAF Saint Mawgan. The Shackleton aircraft used at Weston Airport was VP289, redesignated 7730M.
shades	Sunglasses. Avant-garde term in the 1960s but now commonplace.
shag	To tire; Wear out; Copulate.
shandy	50:50 mixture of beer and lemonade; Beer.
SHAPE	Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
sherbet	Alcoholic drink, normally beer.
shiny	Administrator. Name alludes to the seat of the trousers, made shiny by long hours of sitting.
shite hawk	Bird depicted on RAF uniform shoulder badge. First word pronounced to rhyme with ‘kite’.
short	A tot of strong liquor, sometimes drunk with a beer chaser.
short back and sides	No back and sides. Type of haircut much favoured by camp barber. Although fashionable now, very unfashionable in the days of Beatle haircuts. (See: haircut).
shorty	Nickname for short person; Ironic nickname for tall person.
shrapnel	Pieces of exploding shell; Term for loose small change.
shreddies	RAF issue aertex underpants. Not designed by Calvin Klein.
shufty	Look. (eg: “let’s take a shufty at Weston”).
SIB	Special Investigation Branch.
sick bay	Station hospital.
SIFF	Selective IFF. Taught at 4T block.
Skip	Nickname; Miss. (eg: “he will skip lunch to be in Weston early”).
skipper	Pilot, especially of transport aircraft.
skive	The avoidance of work; Avoid work.
slammer	Prison.
slash	Urinate; To modify an SD cap peak to have a downward slope like service police cap.
slop chit	(See: slop sheet).
slop sheet	Imprecise term for list of tasks to be completed, normally by an individual.
small pack	Small webbing bag with shoulder strap. (See: webbing, bull).
smashed	Clinically intoxicated.
Smelly	Member of WRAF.
Smokey	Nickname, normally for a person with First name ‘Joe’.
Smudge	Person with surname ‘Smith’. (See: Smudger).
Smudger	Person with surname ‘Smith’. (See: Smudge).
SNCO	Senior NCO, often pronounced “sneak owe”.
sneak	Person who tells tales to the authorities; Unpopular person.
snitch	To tell authorities of some misdemeanour.
snoop	Service police, MP (see: snow drop, plod); To listen in to a conversation.
snow drop	Service policeman. Alludes to white hat. (See: plod, snoop).
sod	Devilish person; Undesirable person. Often used jokingly. (eg: “he was a right sod”).
sortie	Aircraft flight from take-off to landing.
sparks	Radio trade. Alludes to the insignia on the arm badge. The sparks badge was discontinued in 1964.
speak to Hughie on the big white telephone	To be sick in the WC, on your knees. ‘Hughie’ alludes to the noise.
spew	Be sick.
Spit	Short for Spitfire.
Spitfire	RAF (1938 to 1955), UK (Supermarine [Vickers]), single piston engine (Merlin, later Griffon) fighter aircraft. Along with the Hurricane, enabled RAF pilots to save the country in the Battle of Britain. Nickname: Spit. A Spitfire was the gate guardian at RAF Locking.
sports afternoon	Thursday afternoons were devoted to sports for apprentices at RAF Locking. The RAF provides excellent sports facilities including: gymnasium, athletics stadium, number of sports fields. Apprentices were supported in the pursuit of a wide range of sports including: swimming at Knightstone Baths, archery, cross country running, football, golf, and rugby.
sports day	Yearly official station sports event.
spot on	Perfect.
spout	Talk a lot, often nonsense.
sprog	Junior apprentice; Baby.
spud	Potato; Nickname for person with surname ‘Murphy’. Alludes to the historic farming of potatoes in Ireland.
squaddie	Army person.
squadron	Typically three or four flights of aircraft, making a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, depending on aircraft type; Group of flights of apprentices at Locking. (See: disk, flight).
square bashing	Doing drill normally on parade square.
squawk box	Intercom; Tannoy.
station	Area under the control of the Ministry of Defence for RAF operations.(See: camp, base).
station standing orders	Similar to by-laws in civvy street.
station warrant officer	The SWO, often pronounced as a word, is the senior Warrant Officer on an RAF station and is responsible for discipline. Comparable to the Regimental Sergeant Major in a British Army unit. The SWO is required to know the RAF Drill and Ceremonial manual (AP818) inside out.
Station, Weston General	The main railway station in Weston off the loop line running through the town. The scene of many meetings and partings for apprentices. Another station, Weston Milton Halt, is near the Borough Arms.
Station, Weston Milton Halt	Small railway station near the Borough Arms in Weston.
Sten	Small submachine gun. Issued to NCOs and SNCOs in times of trouble. Developed in WWII when it cost ten shillings (50 new pence) to manufacture. Notorious for jamming and spraying everything, except target, at rifle range.
stick	Short for ‘joy stick’; Power. (eg: “give the car more stick”).
Stickies	Cakes and buns. Basic NAAFI fare. (eg: “tea and stickies”).
stitch up	To frame someone.
stripe	Chevron. (See: hook, rank).
stripped	Reduced to a lower rank, following a misdemeanour.
SU	Signals Unit.
survival rations	(See: hard tack).
sweet	Sweet, farmhouse cider. (See: screech, blood); Good.
swift half	Have a quick beer. (See: half, pint).
swindle	Unofficial fund for providing drinks and snacks. Every section had one. Either coffee swindle or tea swindle.
swipe	‘Steal’.
SWO	Station Warrant Officer.
T63	Apprentice’s and airman’s best uniform. (See: best blue).
Tac	Tactical.
TACAN	Tactical Air Navigation radar. There are air and ground equipments.
TacEval	Tactical Evaluation of war readiness. Also known as an exercise.
Taf	Nickname for someone from Wales. Alludes to the river Taf in Wales.
Taffy	(See: Taf).
tail	Rear end, especially of aircraft; Attractive young lady.
Tannoy	Public address system. Named after the manufacturer.
tart	Girl. Not a term of derision; Alluring girl. Not a term of derision; Loose woman.
Tartan Keg	Bitter, keg beer made by Youngers.
TASF	Tornado Aircraft Servicing Flight.
TBD	To Be Detailed; To Be Defined.
TCS	Tornado Components Squadron.
TCW	Tactical Communications Wing.
tea swindle	(See: swindle).
tech	Technician; Technical block; Technical class; Technical person.
techi	Technical person.
technician	RAF airman belonging to one of the technical trades. (eg: radio, engines, armourer, radar, etc).
ted	Short for teddy boy.
teddy boy	Youth who wears clothes inspired by the Edwardian period, who likes rock and roll music of the 1950s and 1960s. Sometimes gangs of teddy boys clashed with each other. They had long, greasy hair with a quiff at the front. The sides were combed back to form a duck’s arse at the rear. Sideburns were long. They wore knee-length jackets, often with velvet collars and pocket flaps, over high-waisted drainpipe trousers. Chunky brogue shoes were later replaced by large crepe-soled shoes, often suede. These were known as brothel creepers.
Teen and Twenty	Dance at The Winter Gardens, Weston on Thursday night for young people, including apprentices.
Ten Bars, the	Ten bars in a cellar in Bristol. Each bar had an individual theme (eg: Spanish Bar, Italian Bar, Mexican Bar, etc). Also known as Cellar Bars. Popular with apprentices.
tent	RAF blue rain coat. Supported only by periphery of neck. It was possible for wearer to complete a 360 deg turn inside without it moving it. Designed by a committee.
TGIF	Thank God It’s Friday, because it’s the end of a hard week and the weekend will be free.
three greens	Alludes to three green lights in aircraft cockpit to indicate that all three wheels are fully lowered and locked ready for landing; All correct. (ie: “The fault has been corrected and the radar is now three greens”).
Three Queens	Public House, comprising lounge and public bar, at the south end of the High Street, Weston. Not far from the Queens so there was sometimes confusion between the two. Often had live music but had a reputation for fights. Was quite popular with the 100th Entry, but only in groups.
throw a wobbly	Lose temper.
ticklish	Difficult to do (eg: “It was a ticklish take off”).
tiddy oggie	Cornish pasty.
Tinea	Foot allergy caused by standing barefoot on polished floor.
tit	Switch; Button; Breast, but only one side.
tits out	Excellent. (eg: “he had a tits out car”). Alludes to the third stage of relations with girlfriend.
tits up	Dead. Alludes to the direction of nipples when body is reclined.
Toby Bar	Odd, small, quiet bar on Regent Street, Weston. Close to the sea front. Part of Grand Central.
Toll Road	(See: Sand Bay).
TOPS	Training OPportunities Scheme. Subsidised training courses, set up by the Government, to bring people up to date in their chosen subject and to aid employment prospects.
Top of the Pops	Top twenty radio show hosted by Alan Freeman. Always blasting from multiple transistor radios during tea in the mess around 1700 hours on Sundays.
totty	One or more attractive young ladies.
touch	Borrow money; Dash of lemonade in beer. (eg: bitter touch, lager touch).
tour	Period of time overseas.
tranny	Portable transistor radio.
transformer	Passive electronic device that uses electro-magnetic induction to alter the voltage of an alternating electrical signal and, or to transfer an alternating electrical signal from one isolated circuit to another. Apprentices made a transformer as part of their final workshop exam to produce a working radio receiver.
transistor	Active electronic device that controls the flow of current through a solid crystal material (semiconductor), normally germanium or silicon. Transistors are used for amplification, switching and signal shaping. In the 1960s, transistors were ‘new technology’ and were starting to replace valves in RAF equipments. 100th Entry apprentices were taught transistor theory. (See: valve).
trendy	Fashionable term at one time. There was a strange interchange where one person would say “trendy” and the other person would reply “groovy”. (See: groovy).
Triumph Bonneville	Potent 650cc British motorcycle. Fast and charismatic. A biker’s icon of the late 1950s and 1960s. Highly illegal for apprentices to even look at. (Triumph has no connection with Standard-Triumph, the car manufacturer).
Triumph Herald	Stylish small family saloon car with separate chassis and independent suspension all around. Early models had quirky rear suspension. (Manufactured by Standard-Triumph who have no connection with Triumph the motorbike manufacturer).
Triumph Spitfire	Two seater sports car based on the Triumph Herald. Affordable and smart. Dangerous rear suspension later fixed by manufacturer.
Triumph Tiger 100	500cc smaller brother of the Triumph Bonneville. Not so highly tuned though.
trolley, off his	Insane. (eg: “he is off his trolley”).
TSR2	Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance. UK bomber aircraft prototype. Cancelled in 1967. Role filled by the US Phantom.
TSU	Tactical Signals Unit (eg: 22TSU).
tube	Television set; Short for cathode ray tube (CRT); Underground transport network in London (‘the underground’ or ‘the tube’).
twat	Fool; Vagina.
tyke	Untidy person, normally young.
type	Person. (eg: “he is a good type”); Version of an item (eg: equipment, aircraft).
UAE	United Arab Emirates.
UHF	Ultra High Frequency; UHF radio. There are air and ground equipments.
UJ Club	Union Jack Club.
UK	United Kingdom.
UKADGE	United Kingdom Ground Defence Environment.
uniform	Apprentices were issued with a ‘working’ uniform (working blue), a ‘best’ uniform (best blue), a greatcoat, a light-weight waterproof coat (tent), a pair of boots, and a pair of shoes. (See: hairy blue, SD, beret, boot).
Union Jack Club	A club, comprising hotel rooms, restaurants, games rooms, and bars for service and ex-service personnel. Reasonably priced place to stay in Waterloo, London.
Unit	An indeterminate term for personnel and location performing a particular function. Units vary in size from small to very large. An indeterminate term for a part of an equipment. (See: black box).
United Kingdom	Comprising: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales.
United Services Club	Club in Weston on the Boulevard for service and ex service personnel. Comprised bar, lounge and function rooms upstairs.
Uphill	Village adjoining the south west of Weston near the mouth of the river Axe and the sand dunes. 100th Entry carried out initiative exercises near the Uphill Boatyard.
US	United States. Short for United States of America; UnServiceable.
V bomber	One of Valiant, Vulcan or Victor bomber aircraft. Listed in order of introduction to the RAF.
Valetta	The Vickers Valetta was a British twin-engined military transport of the late 1940s. It was an all-metal mid-wing monoplane with a tailwheel undercarriage. The Valetta aircraft used at Weston Airport was WD171, redesignated 7642M.
valve	Active electronic device that controls the flow of current through a vacuum or gas. The active components of a valve are normally contained in a glass envelope. Valves are used for amplification, switching and signal shaping. In the 1960s, valves were used in most RAF equipments but transistors were starting to replace them. (See: transistor).
Varsity	RAF (1951 to 1976), UK (Vickers) twin piston engine (Hercules) crew training aircraft. Essentially the same as the Valetta, with a nose wheel rather than tail wheel. 100th Entry Apprentices flew flight familiarity sorties from Weston Airport in a Varsity.
Velocette Venom	Single cylinder 500cc British motorbike. Very well built and good handling. Characteristic ‘fish-tail’ silencer.
Velocette Viper	350cc version of the Velocette Venom motorbike.
Venom	The de Havilland Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter. A navalised version, the Sea Venom, served with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.
VHF	Very High Frequency; VHF radio. There are air and ground equipments.
Victor	RAF (1958 to 1993), UK (Handley Page) four jet engine (Mk2 = Conway, Mk1 = Sapphire) bomber aircraft. Fast and elegant. (See: V bomber, Vulcan). 100th Entry apprentices trained on a Victor at Weston Airport Hangar North.
Victoria	Pub with rooms. Located to the south of the floral clock. Sold excellent chicken and mushroom pies and other food which could be eaten in their cafe or bought from a counter to take away. In the late 1960s the Victoria was completely remodelled and became a classy pub and hotel.
Vincent Black Shadow	Muscular 1,000cc ‘V’ twin British motorcycle. A classic.
VIP	Very Important Person.
VOR	VHF Omni-directional Radio Range. A radio navigation system comprising airborne and ground equipments. The VOR ground equipment broadcast a composite VHF radio signal carrying the station’s morse code identifier, sometimes a voice identifier, and data that allows the airborne receiving equipment to derive the bearing of the aircraft in relation to the ground equipment.
vote for Joe	Examination paper with multiple answers, normally four, to chose from.
Vulcan	RAF (1956 to 1984), UK (Avro) four jet engine (Olympus), delta wing, bomber. Awesome, powerful and noisy. Impressive at air displays. Nickname: The Tin Triangle. (See: V bomber, Victor, Green Satin).
W/O	Warrant Officer. Often pronounced like command to stop horse. (See: rank; SWO).
WAAF	Woman’s Auxiliary Air Force. Later became Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF).
wad	Much money, especially banknotes; Sandwich.
waf	WAAF or WRAF.
waffle	Circumlocution.
Warrant Officer	(See: rank, W/O, SWO).
waveguide	Metal trunking used in place of cable to carry very high frequency electromagnetic signals, often high power.
webbing	Thick canvas. (See: webbing belt).
webbing belt	Thick canvas belt. The RAF covered it in grey-blue Blanco. White Blanco was applied for special parades. It had a brass buckle with brass clips and was an effective weapon. Apprentices were ordered not to take them off camp.
Webbington Country Club	In the 1960s a classy country club at Loxton, 5 miles West of Locking camp on the back road from Knightstone Garage in Banwell. It had a casino, restaurants, large dance floor and stage. Owned by Alan Wells who had a liaison with Jayne Mansfield. Famous artists often appeared there.
wedge	Sandwich.
Weston	Short for Weston Super Mare, the term always used by locals for the town.
Weston Airport	Airport and facilities located about 2 miles north of Locking camp to the west of Locking Moor Road (A371). The airport comprised: single runway, control tower, classrooms, Weston Airport Hangar North and South, Westland helicopter ground test rig, aircraft refurbishment hangars, gliding club, joy flights, and unused RAF buildings, including a small mess.
Weston Airport, Hangar North	Hangar on the North side of Weston Airport near the railway track. Divided by a 7 feet high brick wall. The west part was used by EMI Electronics for research. The east section housed Victor, Shackleton and Javelin aircraft which were used for training air radar apprentices. Outside, Hunter, Canberra and Venom aircraft were also used for training.
Weston Airport, Hangar South	Content to be defined.
Weston Super Mare	Seaside town, 20 miles (32 km) south east of Bristol in the UK. ‘Weston’ is derived from the Saxon words ‘West’ and ‘tun’ meaning ‘West settlement’. ‘Super Mare’ is derived from Latin meaning ‘On Sea’. In the days of the 100th Entry it was a quiet little town. It has been greatly developed over the years and is now a bustling town.
Weston Super Mud	Whimsical name for Weston Super Mare. Alludes to sediment deposited on sea bed from the river Severn. The sea goes out a long way at low tide and exposes the mud.
whisky mac	Potent short drink comprising whisky and ginger ale (typically ‘Stones’). Strangely, it was popular with apprentices.
Whitbread	Name of brewer; Short for Whitbread Tankard.
Whitbread Tankard	Bitter, keg beer.
wiggly amps	Alternating current. (See: A/C).
wind up	To annoy deliberately.
window	Strips of aluminium foil dropped by aircraft to confuse enemy radar. (See: ECM).
wing and a prayer	To attempt a task under difficult conditions. (eg: “the aircraft was riddled with bullets, but the pilot brought it home with a wing and a prayer”).
wing it	To attempt a task with insufficient resources or preparation.
Winkle picker	Pointed toe shoe. Illegal for apprentices. (See: chisel).
Winscombe	Winscombe is about 6 miles south of RAF Locking site on the A371 through Banwell.
Winter Gardens	North Somerset District Council owned dance hall on Weston sea front. Many famous entertainers appeared.
WIP	Work In Progress.
wireless	Wireless refers to the communication of information, often over long distances, by electromagnetic radiation.
with it	Fashionable; Aware.
wmv	Windows Media Video. A Microsoft Windows file type.
WO Man	Warrant Officer. ‘WO’ always pronounced like command to stop horse.
womble	(See: dork).
Women’s Royal Air Force	Still referred to as WAAFs. Very few WRAFs at RAF Locking. WRAFs were the source of much fantasy for apprentices. (See: WAAF, lumpy).
working blue	working uniform. (See: number two).
working parade	After breakfast and after lunch, apprentices were lined up in front of their block and inspected before being marched to the technical blocks.
Worle	East area of Weston. Was like a small village in the 1960s but now surrounded by a huge housing development extending to Saint Georges.
Worlebury	North east area of Weston, at the eastern extremity of Weston Woods. Location of Worlebury Golf Course.
WOTSAC	When Old Time Spares Are Consumed. Term used in aircraft and equipment modifications.
WRAF	Women’s Royal Air Force. WRAF Girls at Locking were locally recruited. They wore the uniform but went home after duty.
written off	Damaged beyond repair.
WSM	Abbreviation for Weston Super Mare.
Wun Wah	Until 1993 the Chinese restaurant in Weston. Now a shadow of its former self. ‘The Sea Palace’ is now considered to be the best.
WW I	World War One (1914 to 1918).
WW II	World War Two (1939 to 1945).
yob	Uncouth, civilian, youth.
yonks	Long time. (eg: “I haven’t seen him for yonks”).
yrs	Years.
zip	Computer file type using the zip algorithm to compress data.
zob	(See: zobbit).
zobbit	Officer, especially a pilot.