M2 Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Remember this? RAF pilot refuses US order to trim moustache An RAF pilot has been ordered to trim his handlebar moustache by an American General who took offence at its length, but the British serviceman was not prepared to lose his whiskers without a fight. Flt Lt Ball was told to cut his back while on a posting with the American Air Force 366 Fighter Squadron, where he operates an F-15 fighter-bomber. The British airman, who sports a handlebar moustache in the proud tradition of the RAF, refused to comply when his superior officer in Afghanistan took offence at his facial hair. Showing a bravado akin to that of Biggles, he fought back, eventually convincing the general that his generous whiskers were in line with regulations laid down by the Queen herself. Instead the RAF fighter pilot decided to go above the head of his superior officer and consulted regulations approved by the Queen which set out the permitted size of an RAF moustache. Flt Lt Ball measured his whiskers and to his delight they did not contravene the rules. He took his findings to the general, and after a frank "exchange of views" was allowed to keep the facial hair intact. Flt Lt Ball said: "The yanks are not allowed to grow a full-length tash. After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code." In 2007 the RAF relaxed its restrictions on facial hair for men serving in Afghanistan, because beards are thought to be a sign of status in the country. The American general "allowed" a foreign officer to be within his own regulations? What bullshit! This, gentlemen, is how it is done! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackKnight Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 F'n awesome story. What a great MOOOOSTACHE!!! Wish we could grow em like dat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Davies Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Pretty sure the above photos are of actors. However, here's a 1991 photo of a bonafide wearer of a handlebar mustachio, the controversial Pablo Mason: And as he is today: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royal Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Does anyone know if Olds and Boyd ever met each other or crossed paths? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 And he's stepping to the jet with cuffs rolled and a ring on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramathorn Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 And he's stepping to the jet with cuffs rolled and a ring on! Like a boss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ol-IEWO Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Traditions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceman Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Traditions Wow those are some cool pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M2 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Dig it! BADGE OF HONOR: 100 MISSIONS UP NORTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muscle2002 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Pretty sure the above photos are of actors. Sorry, Steve, but the blokes with the Union Jack are most definitely not actors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pawnman Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Traditions Interesting that our leadership professes a need for USAF heritage, while simultaneously doing everything in their power to squash it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Davies Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Sorry, Steve, but the blokes with the Union Jack are most definitely not actors. Not referring to the Strike Eagle guys, but to the ones below them (wearing leather flying hat). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fud Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Interesting that our leadership professes a need for USAF heritage, while simultaneously doing everything in their power to squash it. There is definitely a "heritage" rearing it's ugly head in the last ten years. Blue tiger striped BDUs, A heritage jacket for the service dress, and many more fun things that set us apart from other services. They have their problems as well, but ours are pretty bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SurelySerious Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Shack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
backseatdriver Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) So after reading the combat hours story, a skim of the KAF website landed me here: 451st AEW Open House So we're doing open houses in combat zones now??? Edited January 8, 2012 by backseatdriver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learjetter Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 So we're doing open houses in combat zones now??? Damn good idea, if you ask me. Especially at Kandahar. Teach/show the kids we're not evil monsters...and you may get a chance at a real dialogue in the future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKopack Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Traditions Pictured on the page is Ed Rasimus - flew a tour in F-105's in SEA, and liked it so much he went back again to do another in Phantoms. Ed is the cowriter with Christina Olds, of Robin Olds memoir, "Fighter Pilot". He's also got a pair of great books of his own. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Traditions Hang 'em up in the MPC. Do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Man Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Editor's note: The name of "Captain Rudy" is being held for security and safety reasons. So....Lt Col Joshua Ruddell is ed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 So....Lt Col Joshua Ruddell is fucked. Uncool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThreeHoler Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Uncool. Reading comprehension fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Reading comprehension fail. Really? What did I miss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiFlyer Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 Pictured on the page is Ed Rasimus - flew a tour in F-105's in SEA, and liked it so much he went back again to do another in Phantoms. Ed is the cowriter with Christina Olds, of Robin Olds memoir, "Fighter Pilot". He's also got a pair of great books of his own. He was a kick in the ass as my T-37 IP at Willy, too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KState_Poke22 Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 He was a kick in the ass as my T-37 IP at Willy, too! I can't imagine how awesome and/or scary going through UPT would have been like post-Vietnam with all those crusty combat veterans used to getting SAMs shot at them and battling MiGs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I can't imagine how awesome and/or scary going through UPT would have been like post-Vietnam with all those crusty combat veterans used to getting SAMs shot at them and battling MiGs. They kept it real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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