The Little World

Ah Haw, Ah Haw, Ah Haw…what?

I am not sure if he is a Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, or Air Marshall…but Blimp is alive and well. He has lost the walrus moustache and rarely reeks of gin, but he’s still haunting the clubs.

It is cruel to bait him…but fun nevertheless. And so tempting – because Blimp lives in the past, and this slows him down so that he becomes a perfect target.

Take the business of the RAF. Royal y’know. Ah Haw, Ah Haw, A Haw. First air force, y’know. Ah Haw, Ah Haw, Ah Haw.

Goes back to the Norman conquest times, does it Blimp? Earlier? No? Ah, wait…I see – 1st of April 1918. But wait – the US Army had the Wright Military Flyer in 1909. The French were flying military aircraft in 1909. The Germans in 1910 and the Russians in 1911.

Oh, I see, The RAF was the first air force under separate national organisation. So it’s separate national organisation that counts. Well lessee…

Royal Danish Air Force

Royal Netherlands Air Force

Royal Moroccan Air Force

Royal Thai Air Force

All separate forces, separate countries, and separate air forces. And all separately titled Royal.

Unless you disrespect these nations and their heads of state, they are all royal. Unless you disrespect language the national designation is necessary to differentiate them. So I guess we need to start referring to the RAF as the Royal British Air Force.

I would hesitate to call it the Royal English Air Force – the Scots, Welsh, and Northern Irish would take offence.

Ah Haw, Ah Haw, Ah Haw…what?