The (in)famous Dalby
When I served at RAF Honington in 1977-8, the mascot was a large black and tan Alsatian called Dalby. He was acquired after being discharged from the station’s Police Dog School for being afraid of the dark. However, this foible made him a local celebrity. Dalby even appeared on television as a guest on the regional news programme ‘About Anglia’, and gained notoriety throughout the region when he vomited over the show’s presenter live on air. As a result of this, Dalby became a regular attraction at many local fetes. Despite his size, Dalby was fabulous with children, and even guarded the FA Cup when it came to RAF Honington in 1978. His other claim to fame was devouring RAF headwear, with his most prized delicacy being the Station Commander’s No.1 hat! – T.D.
Floral faux-pas
During training in the 1970s on a Fitters Course at No. 1 Radio School, RAF Locking our apprentices had a donkey mascot which, if memory serves me correctly, was named Heather McCrackers. One day, our Station Routine Orders carried the following unexpected entry: “Leading Apprentice McCrackers is demoted to Apprentice for eating the floral clock on the Freedom of Weston-Super-Mare parade”. – D.H.
15 minutes of fame
In October 1973, I was part of the RAF Police Dog Demonstration Team which appeared on the ‘Blue Peter’ TV programme. Once the equipment was set up, we were joined in the Blue Peter garden by presenter Peter Purves and the dogs then performed various tricks to camera. When our turn came, I sent my dog Smokey off to leap through fire and over a series of ascending and descending platforms to retrieve a flaming dumbbell. In a later pre-recorded section, Peter asked the audience at home if dogs were colour-blind. Smokey was shown a coloured flag, then told to retrieve the dumbbell of the corresponding colour. The director pointed out that many viewers still had black-and-white televisions, so the colours were quickly numbered. Now the question was, could Smokey count too? Eventually this particular item was deemed too complicated to air, so Smokey’s counting and colour-blindness tests were left on the cutting room floor. However, he did get a Blue Peter badge. – S.A.
Soaring ambition
In 1971, the Central Flying School’s new mascot – a bow-tiewearing pelican named Frederick – was unveiled. Born near Lake Barigo, Kenya in 1968, and educated at the Birdland Institute of Zoology, Bourton-on-the-Water, he commenced his service in the General Duties Branch in the rank of Senior Under Pelican. After a probationary period, he was promoted to Pilot Officer in May 1971. In view of his exemplary conduct he was promoted to Flying Officer the following year. For establishing cordial relations with the local community and providing good publicity for the RAF, in 1974 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. There was even talk about a potential promotion to Squadron Leader Spec Aircrew, but it was decided that he had not quite demonstrated sufficient qualities. This must have been a blow, for, as a career-officer, Frederick was once reportedly heard to say that his ambition was to become Commandant of the entire Central Flying School. – J.G.
A changeable beast
As an RAF Photographer I was once sent to RAF Brawdy for some shots of an RAF Police dog and handler. After taking the usual photos of them both looking alert I wanted something a bit more expressive, and asked the handler if he could set the dog at me. He looked a little gone out and asked if I was sure I wanted to place myself directly in front of them both. Trusting his ability to hold the dog back, I said yes. In less than a heartbeat the dog’s demeanour went from alert calm to terrifying ferocity! Although I had been close enough to hear the handler, to this day I couldn’t tell you what command he gave to turn the dog – which had been completely fine with me for the past 25 minutes – into such a snarling vicious animal. A moment later the handler gave another command and the dog instantly resumed its former attitude of alert calm! – A.A.
The magic touch
As a schoolboy I spent one summer with my uncle George at RAF Netheravon. One day, while walking George’s Border Collie, an RAF Police dog which had escaped its kennel came bounding over. As it circled around us a staff car came racing across the field with the handler yelling out of the window: “Don’t move! It won’t bite you if you don’t move!” The dog crept closer but seemed more interested in the collie than me. As it didn’t seem aggressive I decided to talk to it, and held out my hand. After a cautious sniff it decided to roll over and let me rub its tummy. By now the car had stopped and the handler was unsuccessfully trying to coax the dog back into the car. Just then a very irate Station Commander stepped out of the car and bellowed: “Lad, you seem to be the only one that can handle it so would you please bring the dog back to the car – I have a station to run!” – B.C.
