Glossary parts: 1250 – CSDE · Danesbury – KT66 · L Fitt AR – runs · SA – zobbit
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Danesbury | Coffee bar on Richmond Street in Weston. No longer there. |
| DCSA | Defence Communications Services Agency DCSA link |
| DD | Double Diamond. Name of make of bitter ale (beer). 60s and 70s Beer Guide |
| de bollocking rod | (See: Brinkley stick). |
| dear John | Letter from girl friend, normally back home, tactfully indicating that the relationship is over. |
| DEC | Digital Equipment Corporation. |
| demob | To leave RAF for civilian life. |
| denims | Boiler suit (light green for apps but many colours in RAF) Denims in use; Jeans. |
| detachment | Temporary transfer to another station. |
| DFCS | Day Fighter Combat Squadron. |
| DI | Drill Instructor. |
| digs | Accommodation off camp. (See: pad). description link |
| ding dong | Argument; Fuss. |
| discip | Short for discipline. |
| disk | Coloured plastic disk fitted behind beret badge to indicate squadron. (blue= ‘A’ squadron, green= ‘B’ squadron and light grey = ‘C’ squadron); Record for gramophone. |
| ditch | To crash land an aircraft in water; To discard. |
| dodgy | Suspect. |
| dog’s bollocks | The best (See: bee’s knees, ace). |
| doll | Very attractive young lady. |
| donk | Short for donkey. Refers to an aircraft engine. |
| Doppler effect | The change in frequency of a wave, normally electromagnetic, as perceived by an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. A number of radar equipments use this principle for navigation and bombing. The Doppler effect was an important subject in a radar apprentice’s curriculum. |
| dork | A naive, not bright person (See: womble). |
| dosh | Money. |
| drainpipes | Trousers with very narrow legs. Highly illegal for apprentices. Clothing Rules |
| drongo | Moron. |
| duck’s arse | Where hair is combed backwards to form a line at the centre of the rear of the head. Alludes to the appearance of a duck’s rear. (See: teddy boy). |
| duff gen | Wrong or unreliable information. (See gen) |
| Duke of Edinburgh’s Award | Scheme sponsored by the Duke of Edinburgh to develop the skills of youths between 15 and 18 by a programme of activities. Some of the 100 th Entry, who volunteered for the scheme, achieved the higher awards. A badge worn on the left sleeve of the uniform indicated successful completion. D of E Award link |
| dumb Insolence | A chargeable offence, usually for looking at an officer or NCO the wrong way. |
| Duraglit | Proprietary metal polish soaked cotton wool. Used on Brasses. Much more effective than Brasso. |
| Dusty | Nickname for anyone with surname ‘Miller’; State of many apprentices’ pit space. |
| E&OE | Errors and Omissions Excepted. |
| EADS | European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. |
| EASA | European Aviation Safety Agency. |
| ECM | Electronic Counter Measures. A subsection of electronic warfare which includes any sort of electrical or electronic device designed to fool radar, sonar, infra-red (IR), and light(Laser) systems. |
| EES | Electrical Engineering Squadron. |
| Egyptian PT | Lying on your bed rather than joining in strenuous activity. Alludes to the pose assumed by Egyptian mummies. |
| El Fitt | Electronics Fitter. |
| Electronic | Relates to the flow of electrical charge through a medium (ie: conductor, semiconductor, gas, vacuum) and device (ie: valve, transistor, diode, transformer, inductor, capacitor, resistor). |
| Elson | Aircraft toilet, named after manufacturer. |
| EMC | ElectroMagnetic Compatibility. The ability of an electrical or electronic unit to work satisfactorily in its electromagnetic environment without adversely influencing other devices, or being influenced by them. |
| EMI Ltd | Electrical and Musical Industries Ltd. Conglomerate UK parent company comprising a wide range of companies including, electronics and Music. (See: EMI Electronics, HMV, Parlophone, Columbia). |
| EMIE Ltd | EMI Electronics Ltd. |
| EMI Electronics Ltd | Part of the EMI Ltd group of companies. Areas included design, development and production of military electronic equipment. Later became Thorn EMI Electronics. The modification labels on many RAF equipments have ‘EMIE’ marked on them. ASV21 is an example. |
| Entry | Apprentice intake. There were three entries a year at RAF Locking. The intakes ranged from around 20 to 200. |
| erk | An aircraft maintenance person, usually of low rank; Aircraftsman. |
| ex- | No longer. |
| fab | Short for fabulous. (See: fab four). |
| fab four, the | The Beatles. A genuine term in the 1960s, but whimsical now. (See: fab, Beatles). |
| fag | Cigarette; To complete task under duress for senior Entry; Rarely used in US sense (homosexual). |
| fairy | Derogatory name for radio fitter (trade group 2). (eg: “he is a fairy with a hankie up his sleeve and a Kit Kat in his top pocket”). Fairy was not a derogatory term on V Force, Where radio fitter s called themselves fairies. |
| fandango | Shambles. (See: circus, pantomime). |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions. |
| father | Station commanding officer; Station warrant officer. |
| FEAF | Far East Air Force. |
| feet under the table | To be welcome in girlfriend’s parent’s home. A major development in relations with the girl friend. |
| Fellas | Ice-cream parlour cum coffee bar on Regent’s Street, Weston. No longer there; Locking Review ad Fellas ice cream van which visited RAF Locking. |
| fighter | fighter aircraft; One of the air radar trades. |
| file | Folder for documents, especially your ‘PERSONAL FILE’; Workshop tool used to remove material from metal and paxolin; Digital information arranged in a defined format. |
| fire piquet | Small group of airmen detailed to patrol an area of a camp for fire prevention and to control any fire until real firemen arrived. A tolerable duty, providing you didn’t have to put out any fires. |
| fire up | Start an engine or machine. |
| fish and chip road | Saint James Street in Weston. Almost entirely full of Greek and Italian fish and chip shops, restaurants, and cafes. |
| fitter | Maintenance technician. |
| Fizz, Fuzz, Buzz | Drinking game (See: Buzz). |
| FKI | Full Kit Inspection. |
| flack | Shells put into the air by ground fire; Criticism (eg: “he took the flack”). |
| flannel | Not tell the truth in a long winded way; Nonsense. (See: bull). |
| flap | Movable control surface on aircraft; Panic. |
| flash | Smart. |
| flash call | The highest priority telephone message on a flying station. A flash call overrides all other communications and goes directly to ATC at the control tower. All flying operations are immediately terminated. Flash calls are rare, normally due to debris or animals on runway… God help you if you make an erroneous flash call. |
| flight | Short for flight sergeant (See: rank); Group of about six RAF aircraft; The personnel associated with a group of RAF aircraft; A group of personnel, not necessarily associated with aircraft. (eg: a flight of apprentices). |
| flight sergeant | (See: rank, flight). |
| FOD | Foreign Object Damage |
| Ford 10 | Pre WWII family saloon with side valve engine. Separate body and chassis. Wire spoke wheels. |
| Ford 8 | Small brother of the Ford 10. |
| Ford Anglia | 1960s American style body small family saloon with overhead valve engine. Distinctive cut-away rear window. Quiet and comfortable but poor road-holding. |
| Ford Prefect | 1930s American style body small family saloon with side valve engine. ‘Sit up and beg’ appearance. Reliable, but atrocious road holding. |
| Ford Prefect Mk2 | 1950s American style body small family saloon, but still with side valve engine. Smart, solid and reliable. |
| foreign object | Any substance, debris or article alien to an aircraft, vehicle or system which would potentially cause damage. Those who work on aircraft are paranoid about foreign bodies, as even the smallest item can cause a problem during flight. Jet engines are particularly vulnerable. The result is Foreign Object Damage (FOD). |
| Foresters | Pub on Alexander’s Parade, Weston. Small public bar and pleasant lounge. Popular with apprentices and airmen. Still there but now called The Alexander Bar. |
| form | Paper used for application, questionnaire etc. Required for almost ANY apprentice activity; Performance of a drinker (eg: “he’s on form tonight!”); Long bench to sit on in the gym. |
| Forte’s | Weston had three ice-cream parlours owned by the Italian Forte family. The first and largest was located on Weston sea front near the Long Bar. The second was opposite Knightstone where the public baths were. The third and smallest was on the Centre, near the Town Hall. None remain. Locking Review ad |
| Four Rose, The | Coffee bar on Weston sea front, near to the Beach Club. popular with the 95 th and 96 th Entries, and others. No longer there. |
| foxtrot oscar | Go away (See: phonetic alphabet). |
| FPS6 | Height fi nder ground radar. (See: nodding horror). |
| Fred | Fred Quimby. Producer of cartoon films. (See: Astra); ‘Fred the wheeltapper’. ‘Star’ of many RAF posters and films emphasising the important of using calibrated test equipment. |
| Freedom of Weston Super Mare | An honour, granted by Weston Council, which permitted airmen and apprentices to march through the town with rifles and fixed bayonets. Each year the Lord Mayor invited the commanding officer (CO) of RAF Locking to hold a parade through Weston. Photos |
| frog | Bayonet holder, fitted to webbing belt. Photo |
| full Monty | The whole thing; The fifth stage of relationship with girlfriend. |
| Gan | Island in the Indian Ocean, once an RAF base. One of the Gan sites |
| Gandhi’s revenge | The effects of a strong curry on the digestive system the next day. (See: screaming ab dabs). |
| gash | Spare; Unrefined. |
| gate guardian | Historical aircraft, typically Spitfire, mounted on plinth outside many RAF stations. RAF Locking gate guardian |
| GCA | Ground Control Approach. Ground radar to guide aircraft to runway. (See: CPN4, MPN11). |
| GCHQ | Government Communications Headquarters (UK). |
| GD | Ground Defence; General Duties. |
| gear | equipment; clothes; fashionable clothes. |
| gen | Short for ‘general information’. But means any information. (See: duff gen, pukka gen). |
| gen | True; Information. |
| Geordie | Nickname for person from Newcastle. |
| Ginge | Nickname for person with ginger hair. |
| Ginger | Nickname for person with ginger hair. |
| Glengarry Club | Night club in Weston, near Knightstone. |
| gob | Mouth; To spit; Talk a lot. |
| God | Marshal of the Royal Air Force. A misnomer because he is higher than God. |
| goggle box | Television set. (See: box, idiot box, tube). |
| goggle eyed | Intoxicated. |
| Gold fish bowl | Air Traffic local control. |
| Golden Eagle Day | Pay Day. |
| gone for a Burton | Failed. Burton probably alludes to Burton on Trent (not Burton, the low-cost tailor as is often thought), where the water is ideal for brewing beer. The logic is that once you go to Burton-on Trent and taste the beer, you don’t want to return to your camp. |
| goon | Buffoon; Guard (rare). Dates to term in WWII for prison of war enemy guard; Joker; Member of the ‘Goon Show’ (UK comedy radio show of 1950s). |
| Grand Central | ‘Up market’ bar on Weston sea front. Always packed, even on most Mondays. Saturday, difficult to get in because it was so full. Take the new girlfriend there to impress her (but you wouldn’t take her there now). Same management as ‘ Long Bar ‘ and ‘ Toby Bar ‘. |
| Grand Pier | The second pier built in Weston. Opposite The Beach Club. The scene of many meetings with the opposite sex. (See: Old Pier). |
| grape vine | Rumour mill. |
| grease monkey | MT fitter; Engine or airframe fitter. |
| greaser | Scruffy civilian youth, often with motorbike; Grease monkey. |
| greatcoat | Long, double breasted coat made from thick felt. Tight fitting. Could sleep standing in it without falling over. Many brass buttons. Impervious to cold and wind. Good design. Very expensive. Greatcoats were not owned by airmen, instead remained property of the Queen. Loss caused a major kerfuffle. |
| Green Satin | Airborne, radar navigation aid (See: Blue Silk). |
| GRIS | Ground Radio Installation Squadron (Radio Engineering Unit Royal Air Force Henlow). |
| groovy | Fashionable; Smart; Modern. (See: trendy). |
| grounded | Aircraft deemed not fit to fly. The highest category of aircraft unseviceability is ‘AOG’ (Aircraft On Ground), but for the V bomber force it was ‘VOG’; To be confined to the camp. |
| GRSF | Ground Radio / Radar Servicing Flight. |
| grub | Food. |
| guardroom | Building near the entrance of an RAF camp. Used by those on Guard Duty and jankers. |
| H1131 | Ground wireless equipment. |
| hair cut, service | The complete removal of all hair from shirt collar to beret or SD hat, whichever is higher. Hair above headgear line may or may not be cut. (See: short back and sides, barber). |
| hairy Mary | Uniform of similar style to a Number 1, but in the same material as the battle dress. (See: hairy blue). |
| hairy blue | Obsolete best blue given to apprentices, in place of battle dress, as working blue to use up vast stocks. Long jacket, of similar pattern to best blue, with belt and brass buttons. Trousers kept armpits warm. (See: uniform, hairy Mary). |
| half | Half pint of beer (See: pint). |
| half inch | To ‘steal’. Cockney rhyming slang, rhymes with pinch. |
| hard tack | Survival rations, mainly dry biscuits. |
| hard titty | Hard luck (sarcastic). |
| Hartly 13A | Quirky, standard RAF oscilloscope. Named after manufacturer. |
| hash | A mess. (eg: “he made a right hash of ironing his blue”). |
| hatch | Have a baby; Opening with a cover. |
| HD51 | MCVF equipment (ground wireless). |
| Head Quarters | (See: HQ). |
| heave-ho | Throw out (eg: “his girlfriend gave him the big heave-ho”). |
| Hedgehoppers Anonymous | 1960s pop group, formed by RAF fitters. |
| heels, Cuban | High tapered heels, normally on boots. Popular with youths in 1960s. |
| Heels, stiletto | Very high, thin heels. Popular with ladies in the 1950s and 1960s. Allowed ladies to reach boyfriend wearing Cuban Heels. |
| helmet | Top of penis. Usually kept out of site except for medical inspections and special occasions; Leather headgear for Air Experience flights. |
| HF | High Frequency. |
| Hi Fi | High Fidelity audio equipment. The 1960s version of the iPod. |
| his nibbs | Person in high authority. |
| HL13 | MCVF equipment (ground wireless). |
| HL14 | MCVF equipment (ground wireless). |
| HMRC | Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. Was Inland Revenue. |
| HMS | Her Majesty’s (Queen’s) Ship. Land-based naval stations were also categorised as Her Majesty’s Ships; Her Majesty’s (Queen’s) Service. (eg: “the agent was on Her Majesty’s Service”). |
| HMV | His Master’s Voice. One of the EMI Ltd group of companies. Music and records. They had a large record factory at Hayes, Middlesex, where many of the Beatles records were pressed.(See: Parlophone, Columbia). |
| HNC | Higher National Certificate (eg: electrical engineering, electronic engineering, electrical and electronic engineering). |
| honk | Be sick. (See: spew). |
| hook | Chevron on arm or shoulder of uniform to indicate apprentice rank. |
| Hospital, Weston General | 1930s stone built hospital to the west of Weston Public Library on the Boulevard. Now converted into upmarket sheltered accommodation. A large modern hospital at Uphill replaces it. Apprentices were patients at Weston General Hospital, especially following road traffic accidents. |
| hot water, in | In trouble. |
| housemaid | Small soft bag containing needles, thread etc. Part of apprentice kit. |
| HQ | Head Quarters. |
| HR24 | Ground wireless HF Receiver. |
| HR28 | Ground wireless HF Receiver. |
| HS31 | Ground wireless High Power HF Transmitter. |
| HS71 | Ground wireless HF Transmitter. |
| hump-back bridges | Two narrow hump-back road bridges just outside Weston. The scene of numerous motoring accidents. The west bridge, near the Borough Arms, spans the loop line and the east bridge spans the main railway line. The old road over the west bridge is now a one way route out of Weston. The east bridge has been replaced by the massive Flowerdown Bridge which spans the main line, a foot path, and a cycleway. It supports a dual carriageway from junction 21 of the M5. The east bridge now only carries a foot-path and cycleway. |
| Hunter | RAF (1954 to 1963), UK (Hawker) single jet engine (Avon 27) fighter aircraft. 100th Entry apprentices trained on a Hunter at Weston Airport Hangar North. The Hunter aircraft used at Weston Airport was WT555, redesignated 7499M. An F1 variant, first flown on 16/05/1953. |
| Hutton | Small village, 4 miles (6.4km) from RAF Locking on the ‘back road’ past Bristol Aerojet (no longer there) to Weston. Hutton now has many more houses but has retained its charm. |
| IAL | International Aeradio Limited. An Aviation Communications Company. Now Serco. |
| IBM | International Business Machines. |
| ICL | International Computers Limited. Now Fujitsu. |
| idiot box | Television set. (See: box, tube). |
| IFF | Identification Friend or Foe. Airborne radar equipment which returns its identity on interrogation from other aircraft or the ground. |
| ILS | Instrument Landing System. Air and ground. |
| Imperial, The | Pub in Weston, near to the Royal Hotel. In the 1960s it had a fairly pretentious lounge which was occasionally visited by the 100th Entry. Jack’s Bar was at the back. The Imperial is still there, but it is now a young peoples pub, with live music or disco and a small dance floor. Friendly atmosphere. |
| in the know | To know what is going on. |
| initiative | Military operation. |
| inspection | Detailed review. (See: AOC, bed pack). |
| IoW | Isle of White. |
| iron | Smoothing Iron. Used with a damp cloth and brown paper to produce razor-sharp creases in uniform. Requires great skill to avoid double creases, creases in the wrong place, and scorch marks. |
| irons | Cutlery. |
| IUKADGE | Improved United Kingdom Air Defence Ground Environment. |
| J/T | Junior Technician. (See: rank). |
| jabs | Injections. |
| Jack’s Bar | Small, friendly bar at the rear of The Imperial with separate entrance on West Street. A cider drinkers haven. Clients comprised, serious cider drinkers, ‘posh’ cider drinkers, and the 100 th Entry. Fizz, Fuzz, Buzz played there, especially on Wednesday nights when funds were low. A pint of cider cost 9d (4p). The door is still there but Jack’s Bar is no longer. |
| Jaguar E Type | Superlative two seater sports car with a long nose. Big, beautiful, and powerful. A British icon. Way beyond the reach of apprentices. (See: Jaguar XK120, Jaguar XK150, Jaguar Mark II). |
| Jaguar Mark II | Classy saloon car. Fast, quiet comfortable with excellent road holding. Still looks good today. Too expensive for apprentices. (See: Jaguar XK120, Jaguar XK150). |
| Jaguar XK120 | Two seater British sports car. Charismatic and fast. The forerunner of the E Type Jag. (See: Jaguar XK150, Jaguar Mark II). |
| Jaguar XK150 | Two seater sports car. Updated version of the Jaguar XK120. |
| jalopy | Car. |
| jammy | Lucky. |
| jankers | Fatigues. Punishment for apprentices who have committed an RAF offence. Usually allocated in days (7, 14, 28). Can involve detention, but more often just extra duties. |
| Javelin | RAF (1956 to 1968), UK (Gloucester) twin jet engine (Sapphire 7) fighter aircraft. Distinctive delta wing and high tail-plane. 100th Entry apprentices trained on a Javelin, fitted with an AI17 radar, at Weston Airport Hangar North. The Javelin aircraft used at Weston Airport was XA564, redesignated 7464M. An FAW1 variant, first delivered to the RAF on 30/09/1955. It is presently at the RAF Museum, Cosford. |
| jaw wag | Talk. (See: chin wag). |
| JL Club | Seedy night club on Wadham street, Weston. Striptease etc. Very racy for 1960s. Off limits to apprentices. Apprentices went there. |
| Jock | Nickname for person from Scotland; Pilot, especially of fighter aircraft. |
| jockey | Pilot, especially of fighter aircraft. |
| johnny | Contraceptive sheath; Any protective sheath. (eg: “put the Johnny over the aerial”). |
| joy ride | Recreational trip on aircraft. Stations often maintained a register of airmen requesting a joy ride. |
| juice | Petrol; Beer. |
| jump | Intercourse. |
| Junior Technician | The normal rank awarded to apprentices after successfully completing the three-year training regime. Exceptional apprentices, including those going on to officer training, were awarded the rank of corporal. Really high-achieving apprentices could even earn the rank of sergeant, but this was rare. The junior technician arm badge was changed from a single inverted chevron to a four bladed propeller in 1964. (See: rank, J/T). |
| Karls | Hungarian restaurant near the Britannia pub at the north end of the High Street, Weston. Up-market but surprisingly affordable. Flambe dishes were a speciality but beyond the means of apprentices. |
| KD | Khaki Drill. Buff, lightweight service uniform for hot climates. |
| keks | Underpants. (See: shreddies). |
| kerfuffle | Fuss. |
| Kewstoke | Northern area of Weston on Sand Bay. The Toll Road leads from the Old Pier to Kewstoke. |
| kip | Sleep. |
| Kipper Fleet | Coastal Command. |
| kite | Aircraft. |
| Kiwi | Person from New Zealand; The country New Zealand. Alludes to national emblem; Make of boot polish. Much better than Cherry Blossom for producing a deep bull on boots. |
| klystron | A microwave linear amplifier used in high-power, high frequency, radar systems. This, together with the magnetron, were a major subject in the apprentice learning schedule. |
| kosher | Acceptable. |
| KT66 | Classic electronic power valve. (See: valve). |
Glossary parts: 1250 – CSDE · Danesbury – KT66 · L Fitt AR – runs · SA – zobbit