Flt Lt Chris Ball, who usually defends the realm in a Tornado GR4, was told to give his prize whiskers the chop while seconded to the US Air Force's 336th Fighter Squadron in Afghanistan.

Under USAF rules, moustaches should not extend downwards beyond the upper lip or sideways beyond the corner of the mouth.

ENTER OUR TOP 'TACHE CONTEST!

But Flt Lt Ball's impressive facial furniture came in at six inches from tip to tip - almost the same as Lord Kitchener's.

To save his soup-strainer, he was forced to quote Queen's Regulations which state that a moustache should not extend below the edge of the mouth.

However, there are no rules on how wide it can be.

And after a 'frank exchange of views' with the General, the officer earned a reprieve from the razor.

"The Yanks are not allowed to grow a full-length tash," Ball told the media.

"After I was told to trim mine down I had to dig out the Queen's Regulations to prove I was not breaching our own code."

Handlebar moustaches have become a tradition in the Royal Air Force, with notable adherants including Gulf War hero Pablo Mason, whose 'tache was his trademark during Desert Storm.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman admitted that upholding the UK's military regulations with those of foreign forces during exchanges could be 'tricky'.

He added: "In this case, simple things like the time to turn up to work and go home would come under the USAF. But attire, facial hair and discipline would follow RAF rules."

Flt Lt Ball, who usually flies from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, is currently on operations flying an F-15 fighter targeting Taliban strongholds in the mountainous region near Kabul.


QUEENS REGS ON LIP RUGS

"Queen's Regulations for the RAF (QR209) state that if a moustache is worn, the upper lip is to be unshaven and the moustache is not to extend below the edge of the mouth.

"The commanding officer shall be the arbiter as to what is or not an acceptable style or length of cut.

"A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exists covering the exchange of Officers of the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force.

"The MOU states that 'Officers are to comply with the dress regulations of their own Service and the order of dress for any occasion is to be that which most nearly conforms to the order of dress of the unit with which they are serving.

"Local commanding officers should not issue instructions to officers which cannot be fulfilled by reasons of difference in dress regulations."