RE: Gate guards

Some info on the Lossie Bucc. The Lossiemouth Business Association is currently in discussion with RAF Lossiemouth about the possibility of opening a visitor centre at RAF Lossiemouth if funding can be raised. My last information which came from a senior officer at lossie, was that the Bucc is earmarked for the visitor centre if it gets the go ahead. For the moment it is in storage at Lossie.
keithmac.

RE:

Hi Martin, the advice on the part no. might have been good if the seat was aircraft specific. By the look of the numbers it was not. Prior to the intoduction of NATO Stock No.s in the 1970’s All RAF aircraft had what was known as Sect/Ref numbers which consisted of an alpha numeric code i.e 26DD/ and a number. The code uniquely identified the aircraft, and the number identified the part. However such items as engines, props, fuel tanks, radios, instruments, seats, harnesses, guns etc which were not aircraft specific were given section/refs in a different series. Your seat most probably falls into this category and could have been fitted to any one of a number of aircraft types. I think it will be very difficult to pin it down to a specific aircraft.

RE: Tracing a pilot

Hi again Halibag. It’s not Mod policy to release details of service and ex service personnel to anyone other than relatives and next of kin. However many ex RAF personnel are members of the RAF Association. They publish a magazine called “Air Mail” which has a section for tracing old friends, sqn collegues etc. Suggest you try that method, I’ve used it in the past and been successful.
Keith Mac

RE: Re-enactors, Actors and medals

Hi Halibag, I’ve just retired after 39 years in the RAF, so I suppose I’m a “veteran”. Firstly actors. You can’t make a film about the military without having actors in uniform. Generally speaking the researchers get it right and the uniforms are OK, but I recently saw a film starring Tom Hanks playing a wounded RAF Mustang pilot in Italy during WW2. In some scenes he was in correct Flt Lt uniform, in others he was wearing an airman’s uniform with incorrectly applied rank insignia. To make things even worse he had a collar attached shirt, an item of clothing not issued by the RAF until the late 1960’s!! Minor points, but irritating if you know it’s wrong. (The markings on the Mustang were also wrong! Then there are re enactors, again I’ve no real objection provided they keep it accurate and conform to the regulations, for example short hair and no visible jewellery to give but 2 examples. Again the uniforms should be worn in a controlled environment and not just worn to “show off”. As to legalities, it is illegal for anyone not serving in HM Forces to wear the current pattern uniform. There are also strict rules governing when Serving Personnel can wear uniform when off duty. These rules were introduced to prevent servicemen becoming terrorist targets. Having just retired, I can no longer wear any of my uniforms, but can wear my medals on specific occasions. They were earned, and I would be very angry to see them worn by anyone who had no entitlement. My uniforms have been donated to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune, if they can make use of them, then that’s the best place for them.
Yours
KeithMac

RE: RAF’s 28 sqn

A good source of info is Wg Cdr C.G.Jeffords book “RAF Squadrons” ISBN Code 1 85310 053 6 published by Airlife Books. On Page 34 you’ll find a list of movements and equipment changes.