justplanecrazy Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 (edited) I know its become a world wide phenomenon in the post war era but does anyone know its origins? I find it facinating. Nick Edited November 21, 2009 by justplanecrazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I know its become a world wide phenomenon in the post war era but does anyonee know its origins? I find it facinating.Nick It was quite common for inter Sqn rivalty in the 60s, and I was personally resonsible for artwork on G91;s and Mirages later on. I do have photos but I can't post at the moment as my main computer is in dock. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin S-K Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I know its become a world wide phenomenon in the post war era but does anyonee know its origins? I find it fascinating.Nick Nick I suspect it goes back to the origins of the RAF, let alone RFC, have you never heard of the rivalries between all the squadrons..? Let alone Air Forces.. You know the whole thing about the first 'real' squadron, 1 Sqn only flying balloons, hence 'Shiny Two' being the first real, (heavier than air), squadron, closely followed by 3 Sqn and all the others.... The choice of Sqn symbols, the links they have with all sorts of families/areas/tasks, let alone what number they have..... Why after all has the RAF reduced it's strength, and still 617 Sqn still survived? After all it is a 'young' squadron...? Sorry 617... I suspect it only really came to prominence after WWII, when a lot of squadrons disappeared, and the ability to physically paint symbols on other squadrons aircraft became the norm. Lately it is all too easy to produce 'stickers' of a squadron emblem, hence the recent examples printed of the Typhoon getting 'zapped'... Goodness, you have to see various station messes and bars, stickers are all too easy to apply.... and every squadron and course has there own. It is a fact of life in the services. Numerous dining in nights over the years have produced some 'spectacular' inter squadrons zaps/events.... Some have resulted in some spectacular results, even to the extent of court martial's... I know of a few of those, and no I am not going to tell. But the 2 Sqn Trabant is well documented, the Coltishall Jaguar squadrons have had there moments.... and in RAFG...... Well, enough said. International ones, well the Argentinian Hercules taking off, not that long after the Falklands war, from Mexico, with a Union Jack painted on the belly springs to mind... Fascinating subject, it deserves a book, all the best researching it... When you write the book I will buy it. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Or the puma with the giant c*ck and b*lls on the bottom or the 33 Sqn display one that had Fly 230 on the bottom on it's first display or the Vulcan sporting Kiwi roundels.... to name a couple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 RAF Laarbruch, circa 1984. 9 sqn visited with 15 sqn. In a locked HAS a 15 sqn Tornado was found the next morning with a large black bat painted on it's belly. A couple mornings later all the 9 sqn Tonka's were found to have XV on their fins. Trouble was, someone had used car paint so it had to be removed the hard way. Someone got deep in the Doodoo for that! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 we could use some pics here- a catalogue of zaps would be very interesting/entertaining Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 THe VC10 that had Royal Air Farce down the sides Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secubis3 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 Whilst a Policeman at RAF Lossie in the 80's, I guarded a Queens Flight aircraft, I noticed that at a previous station someone had zapped the QF badge with another version that is too rude to mention here. It was well done and not noticable untill you get close up. I've got a photo of it somewhere and if that aircraft is still flying no doubt so is the rather naughty zap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justplanecrazy Posted November 23, 2009 Author Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) Great replies guys, maybe we could set up a thread of photos somewhere? Edited November 23, 2009 by justplanecrazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Photos would be great, come on, share... Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) seen some cool zaps in my time but no pics i'm afraid. one good one that comes to mind was a Navy Merlin wearing full 28 sqn markings whilst sat in depth. also, the fuel filler points on Hercs are a good place for them. the filler lives behind an access panel, the inside edge of which is inevitably covered in zaps from anywhere you care to mention. zapping was also covered well in this thread: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.p...459&hl=zaps Edited November 23, 2009 by paul_c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 (edited) A couple of thoughts here. I saw in an old Airfix Magazine (?) a picture of a rear three quarters port side shot of a 43 Sqn Hunter possibly in West Germany zapped with a maple leaf on its roundel. The caption suggested that this was the first recorded 'zap' However, there was a rumour that as HMS Hermes sailed to the South Atlantic in 1982, underneath the name on the stern was painted the slogan "The Empire Strikes Back". A friend who was posted on her at the time wouldn't confirm this one way or the other. I'm still none the wiser, but hope it was true! MH Edited November 23, 2009 by Max Headroom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 I think zapping goes way back....I`ve seen a photo of an 87 Sqn Gladiator...circa 1938-39 which had a large 601 Sqn winged sword badge applied to one side of its fin and a large popeye character on the other!!! Result of a weekend stay in London maybe and quite a shock on Monday morning when arriving ready to fly back to home base...by which time the Auxilliaries had all gone after their weekends fun!! All the best Tony O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV571 Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I saw in an old Airfix Magazine (?) a picture of a rear three quarters port side shot of a 43 Sqn Hunter possibly in West Germany zapped with a maple leaf on its roundel. The caption suggested that this was the first recorded 'zap' This was a 3 Sqn Hunter F4 XF976 that ended up at Geilenkirchen and was 'redecorated' by 441 Sqn RCAF. There's a picture of it in SAM Vol2 issue 4 but I found this as well in a thread on the modelersunderground forum linky: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 (edited) See my posts and photos in Chat under "Zapping" John Edited November 26, 2009 by John Aero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 (edited) See my posts and photos in Chat under "Zapping"John Copied across Here's one I did earlier. It's a 3rd Aerobrigata G.91 at Treviso St Angelo c1973. John Which resulted in this. Later I did this on a Mirage IIIe. Which led to this..... Edited November 26, 2009 by John Aero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchet Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I spotted this on a Greek Rhino at the '06 Danish Airshow Underside of the wing Did they actually paint the whole damn thing white and pink? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F111Fan Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hey i was wondering if anyone knows whether a nimrod mr.2 was ever zapped? And if so, could i get a decal for the 1/72nd airfix nimrod? Wishful thinking, i know! I just find the topic really interesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted December 20, 2009 Share Posted December 20, 2009 Hey i was wondering if anyone knows whether a nimrod mr.2 was ever zapped? And if so, could i get a decal for the 1/72nd airfix nimrod? Wishful thinking, i know! I just find the topic really interesting! Yes, several - they are covered in the various Model Alliance sheets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F111Fan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Yes, several - they are covered in the various Model Alliance sheets Tank you very much! I shall look into that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Hey i was wondering if anyone knows whether a nimrod mr.2 was ever zapped? And if so, could i get a decal for the 1/72nd airfix nimrod? Wishful thinking, i know! I just find the topic really interesting! Whilst in Oman with 7 Sqn someone managed to zap the fin of one of the anniversary Nimrods by painting 7 gold stars on it, but I can't remember which one. Whilst on that point, when on 51 Sqn XW664 got zapped by 7 Sqn on the nose wheel mud guard. I think the RAF copper that was meant to be guarding it that night had a one way conversation with his boss, after our WO saw it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F111Fan Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 Whilst in Oman with 7 Sqn someone managed to zap the fin of one of the anniversary Nimrods by painting 7 gold stars on it, but I can't remember which one. Whilst on that point, when on 51 Sqn XW664 got zapped by 7 Sqn on the nose wheel mud guard. I think the RAF copper that was meant to be guarding it that night had a one way conversation with his boss, after our WO saw it. Thanks for all this guys this is really useful stuff your providing me with-lets me add a bit of colour to a rather bland nimrod paint scheme! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 41 Sqn jag showing severe zapping, covered in owls and their footprints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now