![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmW2K8GfDMKBUoXoYowMsSnnK5pygdzaL7V2SDhML4kiKu/image.png)
			
One day in 1962-ish  while wandering down the road towards the  WRNZAF (women’s barracks) with my mind in neutral, thinking of clever things to say, to chat up the woman who would eventually become my wife, an officer walked past.

Suddenly he stopped and began to scream “Airman, you didn’t salute me as you walked past me. You will give me 20 salutes.  Now!” 

This was a reasonably serious mistake to make. As the lowest of the low on the pecking order, airmen had to acknowledge an Officer’s presence, and through him, HM The Queen, as he held a Queen’s Commission.

I had just started to salute as requested when the deep bass voice of the Base Warrant Officer, the controller of discipline and Air Force Law on base, spoke from behind the officer.

 “And an officer will return each and every salute he is given. Sir.”
  
So we spent the next 5 minutes waving to each other, on the Base W.O.’s count, until the punishment was completed, the officer took off with his tail between his legs for being caught.

The Base W.O. said to me “Keep your mind on what you are doing lad.  Carry on.”