Pilot Officer Prune and his dog Binder were featured in many Tee Emm stories. Prune and Binder are contemporaries of Aircraftman Plonk, also drawn by Bill Hooper.
A regular and popular feature was the Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Finger, a fictional award for RAF servicemen exemplifying sheer stupidity and failure to follow proper procedures. Real cases (without naming names) were noted as lessons for others, and often featured pilots, since their screw-ups were the most obvious and dramatic. It was said that Bill Hooper received a citation from the Germans for the Iron Cross to be given to Pilot Officer Prune for destroying so many allied aircraft.
A few of the Irremovable Finger write-ups are copied here:
A few of the Irremovable Finger write-ups are copied here:
"Faith et Blind Hope"
Tee Emm, August 1942:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pupil Pilot ____ for Conspicuous Helpfulness to the Wrong People, and to Pilot Officer ____ for Conspicuous Helpfulness in the Wrong Manner.
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pupil Pilot ____ for Conspicuous Helpfulness to the Wrong People, and to Pilot Officer ____ for Conspicuous Helpfulness in the Wrong Manner.
As navigator of a Wellington the former officer took upon himself the responsibility of switching off the TR9 from the wireless operator’s position. Instead, however, he switched it to transmit. Unable to locate the primary target he gave the pilot the course to steer to reach the alternative target, over the inter-com. When over this target the pilot gave him the height, aircraft heading and Indicated Air Speed. The crew reported intense and accurate A.A. And no wonder.
The second award goes to the navigator of an Anson. His pilot, while flying low owing to bad weather conditions, opened the hinged emergency window near his seat, but found the screw catch would not hold the window open. Pilot Officer ____ therefore leaned across to help make it stay open, and inadvertently knocked the starboard switches to off. The pilot proceeded flying on one engine, not realising what had happened. In his further efforts to tie the window up with string Pilot Officer ____ knocked the port switches to off, and as the aeroplane was then at 300 feet, the pilot had to make a crash landing in a hedge.
Pilot Officer Prune says, "Any landing you can walk away from is a good one."
Tee Emm, December 1942:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to P/O ____ for complete Superfluous Devotion to Duty.
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to P/O ____ for complete Superfluous Devotion to Duty.
This officer on returning at night from a bombing raid in very poor visibility discovered he had accidentally set red on black and so had for some hours been flying on a reciprocal instead of the course for home. Realising his mistake he then set course for base (270°) expecting to get no further than Holland if lucky. When the fuel at last gave out – as he anticipated – he made a good forced landing and at once set fire to his aircraft to prevent it falling into enemy hands. He and his crew then made a quick escape across the countryside – only to find themselves almost immediately opposite the “Rose & Crown,” Little Muddycombe, England.
Binder always welcomed Pilot Officer Prune home.
Tee Emm, May 1943:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Sergeant ____ for Conspicuous Eagerness to Get Cracking.
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Sergeant ____ for Conspicuous Eagerness to Get Cracking.
About to start his first night flying in the Squadron, he taxied up to the post, and the A.C.P., being a keen type, gave him a “green.” He thereupon proceeded to take off, although he did not turn on to the flare path and could not see any semblance of a flare path. Eventually he effected an entry into a potato field through a gate, after passing through several hedges, a considerable amount of barbed wire entanglements and across a road. Special mention is made of his entry through the gate, as by so doing he incidentally, but not intentionally, saved his undercarriage.
Prune doesn't always save the undercarriage.
Tee Emm, June 1943:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pilot Officer ____ for the Best and Quickest Reply to an Enquiring Instructor.
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pilot Officer ____ for the Best and Quickest Reply to an Enquiring Instructor.
When asked by his Instructor what action he would take if, when approaching to land he heard the undercarriage warning horn, he replied: “I should open the throttles slightly to stop the horn blowing and upon landing would remove the fuse.”
The M.H.D.O.I.F. has also been awarded to Group Captain ____ Commanding ____ Station for Supremely Quick Recognition.
A Navigator on his Station was taking shots with his sextant when the Station Commander motored past. Seeing the Navigator he at once stopped his car, reversed, and bawled out: “Who gave you permission to use a camera?”
Carefree Pilot Officer Prune
Tee Emm, December 1943:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Sergeant Pilot ____ for Knowing How to Do a Turn Wrongly – and Doing It.
Subsequent to an accident he submitted this report: “I put the plane into a steep turn, but over-controlled on the rudder, and tried to correct by a backward movement on the control column. After the crash I realised this was wrong.”
In the heat of the moment, Prune forgets how to board a spitfire.
Tee Emm, November 1944:
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pupil Pilot ____ for Conspicuous Ability to Detect Even the Slightest Little Thing Wrong.
The most highly derogatory order of the irremovable finger (Patron: Pilot Officer Prune) has this month been awarded to Pupil Pilot ____ for Conspicuous Ability to Detect Even the Slightest Little Thing Wrong.
Detailed to take up a trainer aircraft, No. 80, he climbed into an aircraft whose number was 61 and started it up. It fired for a few revolutions and he then reported by R/T to the Control Tower that his engine was running very roughly. He was informed that this was perhaps to be expected as he was in an unserviceable aircraft, which was minus the propeller.
Prune's crew
Lessons from Pilot Officer Prune
RAF Uniform-ity
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