raf halton apprentice records

This move coincided with the adoption of the rank of Aircraft Apprentice. We had lunch on airfield from field kitchens, on 3rd Sept 1939 I heard Mr Chamberlain say we were at war with Germany. SERGEANT Served from 1962 - 1975 Served in RAF Apprentices. This was, in effect, a direct replacement for AA training, but required lower academic qualifications on entry. Of the Halton apprentices who achieved air rank, thirteen were knighted. The move to Halton coincided with the 5th Entry in January 1922 when the rank of Aircraft . This scheme ended in 1972. For these reasons and others, Trenchard instituted the Aircraft Apprentice Scheme to be based at RAF Halton No. Age 15- 17 for a a three year course. Their success in the air and on the ground pays a finer tribute than any words of mine to the standard of Haltons achievements. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount Portal, Halton throughout the years has made an outstanding contribution not only to the RAF but to the country as a whole., Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle, One thing is absolutely true, the air battles of Burma were won in the classrooms and workshops at Halton; won not just by knowledge and skill of your maintenance crews, it was won by the spirit that Halton produced. Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten, Halton has given the Royal Air Force not only its hard core of efficient technical NCOs and airmen but also a magnificent core of officers many of whom are in high rank in all branches of the Service. Air Marshal Sir John Whitworth Jones. of the recipient to perform all necessary checks. The Halton trained men provided the nucleus on which the great expansion of the Air Force was centred surely the efficient maintenance of aircraft has also been one of the outstanding features of the war, and that has been made possible by the Halton training of our men. Recently, a member asked if we still accepted bequests or legacies and how he should proceed if he wished to make such an arrangement. As a result, the single-skill Aircraft Apprentice was replaced by a new breed, the Technician Apprentice (TA), who trained in the four trades of airframe, propulsion, electrical and weapons. If you were a 'Trenchard Brat' and not already a member, why not join this elite group; we have regular reunions involving hundreds of your ex-colleagues. All other recruits were enlisted, or commissioned, into the RAFVR. the training of our mechanics in the multiplicity of trades necessitated by a highly technical Service is to enlist the bulk of our skilled ranks as boys, and train them ourselves. Now with some 4,000 boys on strength Scarlett wanted an additional distinguishing feature on their uniforms to facilitate immediate recognition of the sections (later wings) to which they belonged. In 1917 there was an expansion of technical training in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), and Halton became the main training unit for aircraft mechanics. Staff appointments involved operations, search and rescue, training and personnel management. I would love to know what happened to this very courageous lady. The MOD has taken steps to keep this e-mail and any attachments free from Due to Peters expertise, our crew were given many specialist operations. So be careful when telling your RN friends this 62 snippet as they can get very upset to learn that the junior Service, in the form of Halton apprentices, provided an important element of the foundations on which the carrier force developed into a vital arm of the nations capability in WW II and beyond. By the early 1970s, RAF apprentice training had reached a crossroads. At Halton, they eventually joined the 49th and 50th Entries which graduated in the late 1940s. However, many apprentices believe that this antiestablishment activity contributed as much to the development of the famous Halton Spirit as did all of the communal living, sporting activities, marching with bands and discipline. We would overfly the target, not circle around, to ensure we did not attract attention. The Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Hospital Halton, was the first Royal Air Force hospital to be built that was dedicated to air force personnel.Located on what was then the largest of the RAF camps at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, England, the hospital treated over 20,000 patients during the Second World War and was the first place in the world to use penicillin on a large-scale. Whittle initially applied to join the 7th Entry at Halton in January 1923 but failed the medical owing to his lack of height. Many were soon commissioned rising quickly to executive positions on operational squadrons. Cliff Michelmore, ultimately became the anchor man for BBC TV news and current affairs programmes. Over the years, some members have made bequests to our Association in their wills in preparation for their final postings. 2nd May 2009, . The standards of behaviour expected of AETs when off duty was similar to that required from all RAF personnel. Block 3. I can just remember her small white face behind her goggles as she dropped into the night. after leaving RAF Halton, but whilst stll serving in the Royal Air Force, click here. Your help would be gratefully received. Under the continuing pressure on manpower another very important decision for the future of the RFC was taken; it was decided to recruit boys. He ew in Shackletons with 224, 205 and 201 Sqns, and Nimrods with 201 Sqn as Air Electronics Leader and aircraft captain. In his memorandum, Permanent Organization of the Royal Air Force, which was presented to the House of Commons as a White Paper by Secretary of State Winston Churchill in December 1919, Trenchard placed great emphasis on the importance of training, particularly of skilled ground crew. Among them were Sqn Ldr Ben Bennions, Wg Cdr Taffy Higginson, Flt Lt Geoffrey Sammy Alford and Gp Capt Frank Carey. These rules are necessary for your own benefit, apprentices were often told by their superiors. The population expanded and by the end of 1917 some 14,000 air mechanics were trained. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. . Some apprentices clocked up cricket type scores in days of Jankers, but someone had the good sense to rule that punishments awarded for youthful offences were to be erased from apprentice records on graduation. - RAF Malton, in A Squadron initially. To ascertain we had the right spot, we had to look for a small light (mainly small electric hand torches) flashing a previously agreed letter or letters, which we had to recognise immediately or we were instructed to fly on and bring the load back. 2 Wing. The January 1973 Entry, the 123rd, was the first to undertake AET training. Passing out parades were always impressive. He commanded the whole apprentice population and also enjoyed the privilege of commanding his Entrys graduation parade, and parades for visiting VIPs and Royalty. Need more information, contact the General Secretary by email to. Top 10 most popular library books since 2016. It was in the earliest days of the aircraft apprentice scheme that the term Trenchard (or Halton) Brat came into vogue, initially as a term of derision used by old sweats who took a rather jaundiced view of these clever young upstarts who were destined for rapid promotion to corporal. Dear Royal Air Force, When will the RAF conduct a full investigation into the sexual abuse and cover up of such by staff at RAF Halton during the years of it's existence. We also have our Entry Window in St. George's Church at RAF Halton. They eventually found their true vocations with the advent of the Nimrod and the Tornado in the early 1970s. (05798215). Posts. A large number of these men are senior Air Vice-Marshals and Air Commodores running the highest technical ofces in the Air Force. If you have any unwanted These certificates were awarded for achievement in all aspects of trade and academic training. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. As the rudimentary methods of training RFC tradesmen hitherto were unlikely to meet the massive new manpower requirement, it soon became clear that the RFC would have to train its own air mechanics. This one marked the graduation of the 20th Entry in July 1932. more so than on Mondays when they were usually faced with a crop of charges resulting from apprentices enjoying themselves beyond lights out on Saturday nights. To keep abreast of changes in RAF engineering practice, four different types of apprenticeships were introduced over the lifetime of the scheme. Two hundred of these Polish boys, 14/15 year olds and one only 13, were selected to train at Halton as aircraft apprentices, and another 100 at Cranwell. Halton made us the people we are today. To meet the immediate need for these 61 skills, volunteers were invited from the 35th, 36th and 37th Entries to transfer to the Royal Navy, and 160 of Haltons apprentices answered the call. Its trainees graduated as LAC with many of them still less than 17 years of age. Source: RAF Halton Defence Aerodrome Manual [2] Royal Air Force Halton, or more simply RAF Halton, is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom. Our The types of missions which my squadron undertook while I was with them are described below: mySociety It is the responsibility A National Certificate, or at least a B Grade pass in the final school examinations, was sufficient to qualify an apprentice academically for commissioning: a C Grade was the minimum requirement for graduation. It is tomorrow we must prepare for and so the success of Halton as the birthplace of the RAF, mind and spirit is of the most vital importance. Wairarapa New Zealand. it gained a reprieve with the introduction of the Apprentice Engineering Technician (AET) scheme. CHIEF TECHNICIAN Served from 1969 - 1993 Served in RAF Apprentices. Contact us if you think it should be reopened. Thousands of former apprentices made senior officer rank and many more Flight Lieutenant. 1 School of Technical Training at Halton in southern England. Technician apprentices were recruited with a minimum of four GCE O-levels and more emphasis was placed on their academic training to ensure that most graduated with a National Certificate. Finlay arrived at RAF Halton as an Apprentice in 1925. A high proportion of TAs were commissioned in the engineering branch. One, Sir John McGregor, left the RAF as a sergeant after WW II, emigrated to Hong Kong where he joined the colonys Civil Service in a lowly position and made his way up the promotion ladder to become head of the Hong Kong Executive Council and adviser to the last Governor, Mr Chris Patten, during the negotiations leading to the transfer of the colony to China in 1997. 57K However, the latter improved with the opening of large training workshops in 6 early 1918 which had been rapidly constructed with the help of thousands of German POWs. The brass wheel badge, introduced in April 1919 and subsequently worn by apprentices on the upper left sleeve. These targets were mainly coastal gun emplacements and launching sites for the V-weapons. You can help us achieve lasting recognition for ex-Halton brats by making a gift to RAFHAA in your will. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. For example, a new training school was set up at Netheravon with 200 men, another was formed at Reading with 1,000, and one in a converted jam factory at nearby Coley with another 2,000, and there were many others, large and small. concurrently with the TA scheme. Applicants for Friend Membership must supply details of their relationship with the deceased (wife, brother, sister, etc) together with their service details (Service Number, Apprentice Entry and Rank) if . In 1919 Lord Trenchard established the No. The Halton trained men . However, certain aspects of the original scheme were retained such as the apprentice entry numbering system and AETs were accommodated separately from airmen. He has also told us in Family . We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. Gp Capt Min Larkin CBE MRAeS Min joined the RAF as an aircraft apprentice in 1949. . A Definitive History of the RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme - Min Larkin, The consistent technical excellence of the RAF has rested upon the skill and high devotion to duty of those who learned at Halton their trades and first formed their sense of duty. It withstood crash landings better and, whereas the Rolls-Royce Merlin engines with which the Lancaster were fitted were magnificent engines, they were liquid cooled and just a bullet or two in the cooling system would rapidly put the engine out of action; whereas I have known air-cooled Hercules engines still give out some power even with a cylinder shot away. Then on 25th November 1943 she moved to RAF Ringway near Manchester, 38 Group. In 1969 a one-year Mechanic Apprentice course was introduced starting with the 401st Entry. Watermead If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 261373 your information is still in the queue, please do not resubmit, we are working through them as quickly as possible. The official contact address for the RAFHAA is as follows: 2021 The Old Haltonians | All Rights Reserved. However, following a concerted campaign led by the RAF Halton and RAF Cranwell Apprentices Associations, supported by some prominent ex-apprentices serving at air rank, NCO apprentice ranks and the wearing of the iconic wheel badge were reinstated in 1982. and on 5th June 1943 was posted to RAF Hurn and transferred to 38 Group Airborne Forces. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and We did not charge him with being improperly dressed, recalled Air Cdre M J Evans, one of five former Halton apprentices who returned to command the station. Joining the RAF as an aircraft apprentice at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire. He remustered to aircrew as an Air Signaller/Air Gunner in 1953 and was commissioned as an Air Electronics Ofcer in 1959. The CA Scheme lasted ten years, ending with the 231st entry in 1974. AC1. Whilst the TA scheme took care of engineering support for future aircraft and equipment coming into service, there was a continuing need for single-skill fitters. Promoted to substantive Corporals on graduation, after two years satisfactory productive service they could look forward to being promoted to Sergeant. Since then he has been Haltons historian and archivist and in 1995 he founded the Apprentice Museum, renamed the Trenchard Museum in 1999. Uniquely, at the moment (2016) two former Halton Craft Apprentices hold high executive 69 positions in the two principal RAF Charities: Air Mshl Sir Dusty Miller 210th, is President of the Royal Air Forces Association, and Mr Lawrie Haynes 216th, CEO of Rolls Royce Nuclear and Marine, is Chairman of the Trustees of the RAF Benevolent Fund. The Royal New Zealand, Pakistan, Ceylon and Royal Rhodesian Air Forces, and the Burmese, Malayan and Venezuelan Air Forces all sent boys to Halton to train alongside British apprentices. The Oath of Allegiance. My father was in the RAF after the war, based in Ismalia, by now married, with mum and me as a baby. In addition to their responsibilities under the tenets of normal military discipline, each apprentice was issued with a small booklet entitled Standing Orders for Apprentices. It was clear that Trenchard wanted highly skilled men at a price the Service could afford from its very meagre budget, and men who would foster an Air Force spirit. These boys moved to Halton in the late summer of 1917 where, by the end of the 4 year, 2,000 boys were under training as air mechanics living in Spartan conditions in dilapidated wooden huts previously occupied by infantry troops. A.C.I/LAC Donald George Porritt MU/MEF 107 B Squadron. Welcome to the Brit-Gen forums. There was a lot of sport I did swimming, cross-country running and athletics. AET Prevett, the Parade Commander, was so chuffed, he wore a wheel on both arms. Our Association details are provided on the rear page of the Haltonian and are sufficient for most lawyer's needs. After the introduction of a new trade structure in 1951, all aircraft apprentices graduated as junior technicians with some gaining accelerated promotion to corporal. Suitable adults proved difficult to recruit after WW1, but he persuaded Mr Winston Churchill, then Secretary of State for Air, that boys between the ages of 15 and 17 years should be recruited to be trained at Halton; and the Halton Apprentice was born. We provide commercial . This request has been closed to new correspondence. Finlay was one of 116 former apprentices who flew as pilots in the Battle; several of them became aces, some destroying more than 12 enemy aircraft. Most exapprentices did exactly that. It was a point of honour for apprentices to break 27 as many of the rules as they could, hopefully without getting caught. To see photographs of our reunions and of ex 78th entry members . The majority of these pilots became aircraft captains, two making notable contributions to the introduction of the Blind Landing System. Craft Apprentices graduated as junior technicians but without formal academic qualifications, unless taken ex-curriculum.

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