My 1st kilt

**Highlander31** · 13th October 08, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by The Unkilted Heathen

The kilt arrived last wensday which was fast since i ordered it monday night, unfortunataly i started work tuesday night and only got home this morning.
I have tried it on and i will endevour to put up pics in the forseeable future(when i figure out how after ive taken them)

Congratulations on its arrival. Looking forward to seeing the photos.

**Jordan** · 13th October 08, 10:53 AM

Here we go i said i would have a picture up and here it is compleat wih my ugly mug.
I will apologise for the belt it looks great with tr

users but not so good while kilted

**Riverkilt** · 13th October 08, 11:36 AM

Try the kilt without the belt. Some of us don't wear belts with our kilts. I find them much more comfortable that way. Can't see straps on your kilt so maybe you have to wear a belt.

As you said, this is your first kilt. Do keep the RAF tartan kilt on your wish list. You qualify now as someone who appreciates the RAF.

I wear the RAF tartan kilt to honor some of the finest cavalry that ever rode in our Colonial Indian Wars back when.

Okay...seriously...my father was a Flying Sergeant with the RAF in 1942. But it is a beautiful and honored tartan. Do get one and fly the tartan in honor of a proud heritage.

Ron

**Jordan** · 13th October 08, 12:54 PM

I did originaly try it without my belt but even at it's tightest it's just a smidgen to loose so it tends to slip.

I am keeping my sights set on a RAF tartan I can see an expensive tank in my future if I get my way, especialy beacuse I've been in the air cadets for the last 6 years and plan on becoming a member of staff and going for a commision when I turn 20.

You said your dad was a flying seargant did you mean a SGT who had his wings or a flight seargant? Sorry for being nosey I just can't help myself. I like your pics in your last post I hope I get to look that good and comfterble in a kilt

Jordan

PS. I forgot to say that my kilt has the three buckles one on my left and two on my right about hip level

**Riverkilt** · 13th October 08, 01:47 PM

Guess the belt covered the left buckle...

My father learned to fly with the pre-war civilian college program here in the States.

When the war started he already had a medical discharge from the Navy in 1937 (something to do with his boozing antics and a fall from some tower). So, he enlisted with the RAF in Spokane, Washington. The RAF sent him to British Refresher School in Imperial, California for more flight training. Then he and his buddies took a train to Nova Scotia, shipped over to the UK via the Clyde. They were officially enlisted in the RAF as Flying Sgts then sent to the PRC Personnel Receiving Center at Bournemouth. ( he wrote home of watching some of the German bombing attacks on the city from the roof of their hotel rather than holing up in the shelter).

After Bournemouth, he was with 59 OTU Operational Training Unit as a pilot on various training and operational assignments. He flew a few Spits but mostly Hurricanes. He flew on the Dieppe Raid, of course most every one in the RAF did too.

When the U.S. finally got organized in England all the Americans in the RAF were transferred to the Army Air Corps as Second Lts. He was assigned to the 346th Fighter Squadron of the 350th Fighter Group. Their ground crews took P-39s out of crates bound for Russia, assembled the aircraft, then dad and his squadron flew them from England to North Africa. We were losing in the early days. Dad flew P-39s in North Africa attacking the Afrika Corps. He was shot down at Kassarine Pass and fortunately for me was able to land near the retreating First Armored who were nice enough to give him a lift out of harm's way.

Shortly after he contracted Malaria and encephilitis and was shipped home to train the guys who were fighter pilot instructors. So, after a year and a half of flying combat with the RAF and the Army Air Corps he spent the rest of the war as an instructor of instructors....made Captain by the time the war was over. Not bad for a Navy reject.

Ron

**Carolina Kiltman** · 13th October 08, 05:31 PM

Thanks, Riverkilt. Nice bit of personal info, and a good story to boot. My father was too old for WWII, being born in the 1870's, but as my Mother (born 1900) had 6 younger sisters, I had plenty of Uncles to tell me war tales after it was all over. Here's to all the WWII vets!

**Tetley** · 13th October 08, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

Try the kilt without the belt. Some of us don't wear belts with our kilts. I find them much more comfortable that way. Can't see straps on your kilt so maybe you have to wear a belt.

As you said, this is your first kilt. Do keep the RAF tartan kilt on your wish list. You qualify now as someone who appreciates the RAF.

I wear the RAF tartan kilt to honor some of the finest cavalry that ever rode in our Colonial Indian Wars back when.

Okay...seriously...my father was a Flying Sergeant with the RAF in 1942. But it is a beautiful and honored tartan. Do get one and fly the tartan in honor of a proud heritage.

Ron

Well now, there's something I didn't realise you could do in a kilt. I'll bet mounting is a bit tricky.

Mark

**Jordan** · 14th October 08, 03:00 AM

Thats incredible and more than not bad for someone who was a navy reject.
My being the next generation it was my grandfather (on my mums side) who was in the royal navy for ww2 unfortunataly im not sure what or where he did.

Jordan