RAF Officer's Club custom??

T33driver · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:59 pm

Back in 1993 I was part of my USAF Reserve squadron's flying contingent in the Canadian Air Force's Maple Flag exercise. Near the end of the exercise we along with several other NATO aviators had a raucous party at the officer's club after flying operations at CFB Cold Lake. Well into the errr...umm...social hour, a piano was rolled out of the club and set on fire. All at once junk car with a fresh, new paint job came squealing around the corner and everyone cheered and hollered. The intrepid aviator at the wheel proceeded to ram the smoldering piano several times. Anyone know about this custom or was it just an inspired, random act of intiative and creativity? Does it have origins in the RAF? For some reason, that sticks in my brain.

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:19 pm

I was told that is an example of the Mk.IIB Piano, the Mk.I having the iron frame, and found unsuitable for the designated operations, while the Mk.II and Mk.IIA with the cannon and adjustable ejector stool caused un-necessary collateral damage to an incautious school matron on a dining in night..

Presumably watching an iPod being run over would be today's version?

But seriously, folks...
I've never read of specific piano destruction before, but such general behaviour was ~ah~ normal from 1914 RFC days onwards I understand.

b29flteng · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:59 pm

I always wanted to know the difference between a Mk.I and Mk.IIB piano. There is a definite lack of reference material on the subject. Were the Mk.I pianos ever retrofitted to the later Mk.IIB standards?

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:10 pm

Some were, but proved too heavy to go in...

...wait for it...

...the Jet Propelled Guided NAAFI!

http://www.thegoonshow.net/scripts_show ... ided_naafi

"So that's why they call them Bangers!"

EXPAT0149 · **Joined:** Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:44 am **Posts:** 163

Just for fun here is the link to the RAF's own language ..
http://www.ejectorseats.co.uk/rafanasaurus.html

Matt Poole · **Joined:** Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:11 am **Posts:** 21

By chance, the subject of RAF piano destruction was discussed on the RAF Commands Forum last summer, including an excerpt from a letter Hurricane ace Frank Carey wrote to me in the early 1990s. The link:

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2178

Regards,

Matt Poole

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:10 am

Pretty harsh reaction to music hall playing, but no real loss, cheap piano hit by a FIAT with a rattle can paint job? Only the KRYLON was hurt in the making of this great tale!!................................

Firebird · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:01 am

The RN aviators have the same piano destruction traditions.

In the last few days of the 'old' HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier back in 1978, the ward room piano was hauled up and strapped to the steam catapult and 'launched' into the sea with great ceremony...... :lol:

Glyn · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:23 am **Posts:** 321

Firebird wrote:

The RN aviators have the same piano destruction traditions.

In the last few days of the 'old' HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier back in 1978, the ward room piano was hauled up and strapped to the steam catapult and 'launched' into the sea with great ceremony...... :lol:

I expect the thing was so out of tune by that stage it was the only decent thing to do!

Ken · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:53 am

Traditions like this are what make the aviation community. I absolutely love it.

PeterA · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:09 am

Firebird wrote:

The RN aviators have the same piano destruction traditions.

In the last few days of the 'old' HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier back in 1978, the ward room piano was hauled up and strapped to the steam catapult and 'launched' into the sea with great ceremony...... :lol:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(R09)

The ship featured in the 1960s British television series Not Only... But Also starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. In one episode, they used the ship's catapult to shoot a piano into the sea while Moore was (supposedly) playing it. When commissions ended, items were fired off the catapult including pianos and once a toilet complete with paying-off pennant.

...and extremely funny it was too.

PeterA

Firebird · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:47 am

Firebird wrote:

The RN aviators have the same piano destruction traditions.

In the last few days of the 'old' HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier back in 1978, the ward room piano was hauled up and strapped to the steam catapult and 'launched' into the sea with great ceremony...... :lol:

I knew there were photos on the net somewhere....

mlenoch · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:22 pm

TriangleP wrote:
pushed a shopping cart off the roof of Baker House

I always wondered who did that!!
VL

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:17 pm

Pretty sad, a proper funeral procession and not one top hat amongst any of them!

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:50 pm

Ah ... Hacker, so that's why the 49th burned that piano after Friday roll call the second time I was there ... (I was wondering if the piano was a specific choice ...) :lol:

Next thing you know some guy is gonna commission me to show a piano being pushed out the back of a '130 ... :wink:

Wade

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RAF Officer's Club custom??

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