AIR - Records created or inherited by the Air Ministry, the Royal Air Force, and related bodies; Division within AIR - General records of the Air Boards and Air Ministry; AIR 2 - Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence: Registered Files; Subseries within AIR 2 - Non-coded sequence (files registered from 1953, with some earlier files) Subsequently the RN sent 400 directly recruited Fleet Air Arm apprentices to train with the 38th to 41st Entries. This site uses cookies. 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. RAF apprentices were an elite band who went on to hold some of the highest ranks in the Royal Air Force, and make huge contributions to their country and the wider world. Age 15- 17 for a a three year course. Academic training was comparable with that of a good technical college and was to National Certificate level. The Royal Air Force Halton Apprentices' Association is a registered charity (No 292523) and operates within the rules of the Charity Commission., As a member you will have access to the Association membership database (subject to GDPR restrictions) which may well be able to assist you in renewing your friendships with past colleagues of your entry or your time at Halton. This kind of improvisation could not provide all of the men the RFC needed and rationalisation of the training machine became an urgent requirement. A squadron. The two views shown are the front and reverse faces of 'The Tribute'; a sculpture which is located in front of Kermode Hall, previously Patron - Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Armitage - Obituary, The Royal Air Force Apprentices' Association (RAFHAA), the Old Haltonians, was. 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. This scheme, which included Sir Frank Whittle "father of the jet engine", trained . and on 5th June 1943 was posted to RAF Hurn and transferred to 38 Group Airborne Forces. please notify the sender and then delete the e-mail (and file(s) if The rigorous selection procedure 13 ensured that recruits would be of the highest quality, and because of their resourcefulness and intelligence, they could be expected to complete their apprenticeships in three years rather than the five normally served by civilian engineering apprentices. 1 School of Technical Training at Halton in southern England. (05798215). A pass mark in all aspects of his trade training was an absolute for an apprentice to graduate. Royal Air Force Apprentices were a breed apart, a cut above, a group of boys who went on to become highly skilled craftsmen and airmen. It was a point of honour for apprentices to break 27 as many of the rules as they could, hopefully without getting caught. Dennison Pierce Broomfield 209 Squadron (d.8th Sep 1942). Please send me copies of any RAF or Halton Apprentice certificates and other items you think may be of interest to other members or visitors to the Website. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. The 13 year old became a University lecturer with a PhD. We had a station church, swimming pool, workshops and school buildings. In January 1917, following the impressive part played by the RFC in the great battles in the previous year, the Army Council authorised its expansion to a total of 106 squadrons (86 to be in France) and in July this was almost doubled to 200. She was on a on-way trip, we at least had a chance of getting home! He had left school in July 1964 and was headed off to join the Royal Air Force at RAF Hereford to enter a one-year Administrative Apprentice training course as part of the 301 st cohort known as an 'entry' (1) A week later, on the 2nd of September 1964, he took the Oath of Allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. The brass wheel badge, worn by all RAF boy recruits for some 75 years, to distinguish them from men, had been introduced in April 1919. Surely the efcient 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.. There is no doubt at all in my opinion, that Halton and the Halton spirit have been a pillar of strength to the RAF all over the world. Serving and retired RAF personnel should ensure the boxes, Service No, Rank, Entry, Joining Date, Trade and Current Occupation are completed. By creating an account you agree to us emailing you with newsletters and discounts, which you can switch off in your account at any time. Just before reaching her destination, which had been given to our navigator verbally just before take off, he alerted me to go aft, open the rear bottom escape hatch, attach her package to the static line, get her in position to jump (after also attaching her parachute to the static line). Our barrack room had 30 boys in it. We wish to have access to records, manuals, policy statements, annual reports, developments, evolution.. especially with respect to the care and education of the apprentices. Below are just some of our members who have served at RAF Apprentices. Halton Apprentice - oldhaltonians.co.uk At the end of 2017, only 45 ex-AETs were still serving, of whom some twenty were holding commissions, with several at senior officer level and seven at air rank. provided through resource and initiative training, field exercises at summer camps and the Apprentice NCO scheme. Search the Royal Air Force officers' service records 1918-1919 ( charges apply) online for officers who served in the Royal Air Force during the First World War ( AIR 76 ). This was, in effect, a direct replacement for AA training, but required lower academic qualifications on entry. I was up in the NAAFI listening to the wireless. 12-08-2021, 8:00 PM. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. RAF Halton. The museum also records the background to Apprentice training at the Halton camp through examples of the tools, work and test pieces completed by Apprentices. Thirty-eight years later he was promoted to Air Chief Marshal to be a member of the Air Force . Coincidentally with the arrival of this large entry, as a war emergency measure the 50 duration of training was gradually shortened, initially to 2 then to 2 years. The limiting factor to this huge expansion turned out to be not a shortage of aircrew, nor of aircraft manufacturing capacity, but rather a lack of skilled groundcrew of which more than a dozen were needed to maintain each front-line aircraft. The AET scheme ended in June 48 1993 with the graduation of the 155th Entry, which also marked the end of apprentice training in the RAF. We never failed to drop our load. Fortunately for thousands of apprentices yet to come, this point was not pursued. On 25 July 1952, No 1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton received the highest accolade that any unit in the RAF can receive the award of a Queens Colour. In February 1920, still known as Boy Mechanics, the first intake of 235 was accepted at Cranwell for a three-year apprenticeship. My father was in the RAF after the war, based in Ismalia, by now married, with mum and me as a baby. Our Heritage plans are extensive and likely costly. 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. During our time HRH Duke of Kent (Prince George) came round workshops to inspect our work. From 3rd November 1943 to 14th November 1943 she was detached on course to W.O.S Windemere in the Lake District. At the end of the war, November 1918 . For more information, please see our Privacy Policy, Please enter a password with 6 characters or more. Under these circumstances it would appear that, if any payment is to be made, it should be made by the parents of the boys, and not by the State.. Halton was arguably one of the first aeronautical engineering colleges in the world and certainly the first in any air force. The Main Force targets, mentioned above, were the well known bombing missions on German towns and industrial targets, involving many aircraft concentrated over as little time as possible, to saturate defences. These boys are not only extremely well lodged, fed, and clothed, but are taught trades which will be useful to them in after-life. After the re-introduction of the wheel it was paraded for the first time at the Graduation of the 134th Entry on 29th September 1982. When the expansion of the RAF began in the mid-1930s, ex-apprentices, as Trenchard had planned, formed about 50% of the trained strength of the Service. He set an RAF record for the 120 yards High Hurdles in his first race, and represented his country at the High Jump whilst serving as an aircraft apprentice. They have set and maintained an extraordinarily high standard of efciency. The arrival of the first RAF Commandant, Air Cdre F R Scarlett CB DSO, in December 1919 heralded many improvements to all aspects of boy training, in particular the tightening of disciplinary standards which had been allowed to drift downwards after the armistice. Many of the initial Halton transferees were killed in various sea battles during the war; fifteen went down with HMS Glorious at the end of the Norwegian campaign in 1940. Ironically, many of the apprentices serving at this time were keen to see these symbols of their past heritage restored. These publications are free to members and assist in keeping us all in touch. England Royal Air Force Records for Family History - International I was confirmed in the station church. Whittle initially applied to join the 7th Entry at Halton in January 1923 but failed the medical owing to his lack of height. The heavy losses sustained by Bomber Command are reflected in the 2,000 casualties listed in the Apprentices Roll of Honour in St Georges Church at Halton. Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from RAF Apprentices. Flight Engineers accounted for more than 400 of these names. Halton Apprentice Roll of Honour This is now on the net www.oldhaltonians.co.uk then look in the Tribute section. 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. British Path video of the Apprentice training scheme at Halton in 1938. On 14th October 1945 she resigned her Commission and left WAAF Service. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Welcome to the Brit-Gen forums. The first entry numbering 235 boys were accepted for three-year apprenticeships in January 1920 and began training at Cranwell, as accommodation at Halton had not been completed. Cliff Michelmore, ultimately became the anchor man for BBC TV news and current affairs programmes. The trades taught evolved with the ever developing advances in aeronautical engineering but they were principally engines, airframes, armaments, instruments, electrics and wireless. Rowland James George Bazell B Flight 90 Squadron. We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! We also have our Entry Window in St. George's Church at RAF Halton. I will happily attempt to copy some of the photos if needed. On the 22nd July 1941 she was posted to RAF Peterhead in North East Scotland, aFighter Station. AET Prevett, the Parade Commander, was so chuffed, he wore a wheel on both arms. The information was collated from graduation records, confirmed by research at the PMA. Bill Liddle. Records Search now. The RAF Administrative Apprentice | Genealogy Ensemble May be difficult to read. John King No 1 School of Technical Training RAF Halton, 17th Jan 1939 575533 Aircraft Apprentice J King. There is a label at the Imperial War Museum which reads;- If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small 3rd June 1935. We also have our own garden of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum. People | RAF Apprentices Halton This Atlantic Star (1939-1945) was sent to the next of kin of Sergeant 570858 Dennison Pierce Broomfield, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action on 8 September 1942, aged 22 years, while serving with No 209 Squadron. Following a visit by members of a Parliamentary Select Committee in 1923, they reported that they were; [] of the opinion that the management and training of these boys is conducted in a very efficient manner; they were much struck with the discipline, with the order which was kept, and the arrangement by which they were efficiently taught a trade [and they] receive a payment of 10s. AETs were trained as dual-trade airframe and propulsion technicians and initially followed the National Certificate curriculum in their academic training as their predecessors had done. Over 1,000 other 65 gallantry awards went to former aircraft apprentices and some 3000 were Mentioned in Dispatches. Every November we organise the annual Apprentices Service of Remembrance at the Halton Tribute. caused as a result of any virus being passed on. The Halton trained men have provided the nucleus on which the great expansion of the air force was centred. Medically fit potential recruits were offered training in the trade of their 12 choice, or one the selectors thought more appropriate for them. Supply Drops - again very small targets often just a map reference in the middle of a wood. Join | The Old Haltonians Royal Air Force personnel - The National Archives a week. The RAF Medic is able to handle ambiguity . In June 1917 Maj Gen Sefton Brancker, Deputy Director-General of Military Aeronautics, submitted proposals to centralise the technical training of men, women and boys in a new large school to be located at Halton. These rules are necessary for your own benefit, apprentices were often told by their superiors. 6d. In 1930 he won the first of his 8 Amateur Athletic Association titles and represented his country at the Empire Games. Only five of Haltons Polish contingent elected to return to Poland. 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 . Joining the RAF as an aircraft apprentice at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire. The oldest living member of the Association is awarded the honorary title "King Brat" as a mark of respect. 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. He was in Egypt by June 1941. A large number of these men are senior Air Vice-Marshals and Air Commodores running the highest technical ofces in the Air Force. Wairarapa New Zealand. With ever increasing numbers now volunteering for the RAF, the size of Halton intakes ballooned, in 1936 reaching over 1,000 boys per entry. They gave of their best in the inter-war years, during WW II, throughout the Cold War and in peacetime, in all theatres, in all circumstances and rightly earned the sobriquet, The Backbone of the Royal Air Force. It is as an apprentice engineering school that Halton is best remembered, and indeed revered, not only in this country but across the industrial world. 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. Why Forces War Records? Boys from the age of 15 took a series of highly competitive exams and tests, and the select few were invited to join the most exclusive boarding school of its time. He became Sergeant 570858 of 209 Squadron RAF Volunteer Reserve. 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. They spent most of their first year at Halton and Cranwell settling into their new country and learning English. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. The Imperial War Museum holds all of his documents including his flying log, photographs of his funeral & personal potographs letters etc. We had lunch on airfield from field kitchens, on 3rd Sept 1939 I heard Mr Chamberlain say we were at war with Germany. Introduction of the Halton apprentice scheme. I think he may have joined up in Jan 1940? This new school was under the 2 direct control of the War Office and commanded by Lt-Col Ian Bonham Carter. This was a new air-crew category specifically for the four-engined bombers then coming into service. He went on to say that apprentices would form 40% of all ground crews in the Royal Air Force, and 62% of all the skilled tradesmen. Former Halton apprentices were ideally suited to this new challenge and volunteered for it in their thousands. An introduction to the Aircraft Apprentices Scheme at Halton Keith Robinson. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. RAF Database Global Search: Enter a name, number or an Aircraft Serial to search all our databases! Halton Apprentices - The State Awards and Honours, Wing Commander Taffy Holdens inadvertent flight in Lightning XM135, The Stained Glass Windows of St. George's Church (Part 2), The Stained Glass Windows of St. George's Church (Part 1), The Halton Grove at the National Arboretum, The Halton Tribute to the Apprentice Scheme, The official contact address for the RAFHAA is as follows: These are a daily record of events in each Command or Force entered on form 540, often with appendices which contain documents illustrating and expanding the record. Gp Capt Min Larkin CBE MRAeS Min joined the RAF as an aircraft apprentice in 1949. The top rank, normally flight sergeant apprentice, was in effect the head boy of the School. This very deliberate commissioning from the ranks was an outstanding example of social mobility, uncommon for the time. I can just remember her small white face behind her goggles as she dropped into the night. The 40th Entry, which enlisted in August 1939, was the largest ever with 1,285 boys taking the Kings shilling. Oct 2004. This request has been closed to new correspondence. on to dismantling engines first De Havilland Gypsy engines, then Rolls-Royce Kestrel and Merlin engines and reassembling them, also Bristol Pegasus radial engines, carpentry, blacksmithing, pipework etc. Records of RAF Halton apprentice scheme - WhatDoTheyKnow 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. One or two of the photos, have all the names on the back, a group, with names, is dated 28th Aug. Cosford. The museum is named in honour of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount Trenchard, who is regarded as the Founding Father of the Royal Air Force, who also launched the Aircraft Apprentice scheme which brought worldwide recognition to RAF Halton. Halton apprentices loyalty and devotion to duty during WW II was recognised by the large number of decorations they received. Most pre-war apprentices soon attained LAC rank but, following the Great Depression, from the late 1920s to the start of WW II, many did not advance beyond corporal, unless selected for flying training. Bucks HP19 0GF. 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. Run by Volunteers and powered by Alaveteli. My Grandmother always said that if she had her time all over again and had option to delete her war service, she most definitely would not and is rightly proud of her achievements. There was absolute secrecy about this, no mention of it in squadron operational records or our log books - she did not in fact exist. We can reunite you with your friends who served at RAF Apprentices and we have a wealth of information on different units, bases and ships in the site. Watermead By the early 1970s, RAF apprentice training had reached a crossroads. Several hundred ex-apprentices serving on these engagements at the start of hostilities were, however, retained in flying posts. John Rogerson. The aircraft industries were naturally the first port of call for many ex-apprentices where they made magnificent contributions on the shop floor, at all levels of management, and in the boardrooms. In the latter respect, two Cranwell apprentices excelled, one becoming a bishop and another followed in Lord Trenchard's footsteps by becoming head of the Metropolitan Police. . Add a Name to this List. However, because the permanent barrack building 72 programme at Halton had fallen behind schedule, this entry was trained at Cranwell. On 25th October 1942 she moved to RAF Hurn near Bournemouth, Hants. We provide commercial Their adult status was recognised by the discontinuance of the apprentice NCO ranks and the removal of all apprentice insignia from uniforms. The Halton Apprentice label soon became synonymous with aeronautical engineering excellence, a reputation that rapidly gained international recognition particularly in the aircraft Industries. Want to find out more about your relative's service? A world-class RAF hospital on the doorstep ensured their medical 20 and dental care were second to none, and spiritual needs were more than well looked after; but few enjoyed the compulsory church parades every other Sunday! We are interested in the apprentice scheme run at RAF Halton No1 Technical Training School from 1922 until closure in 1993. Records of the Royal Air Force | The National Archives Thames Valley Police have concluded an investigation and agreed that such crimes did take . Leadership and management experience were Time-expired airframes were used to provide hands-on experience. RAF Halton | Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force Apprentice scheme began in 1920, having been devised by Chief of the Air Staff Hugh Trenchard and approved by Winston Churchill. The statements expressed in this e-mail are personal and do not In 1919, Air Marshal Lord Trenchard foresaw the need to produce a pool of skilled aircraft engineers for the RAF. The whole estate was purchased by the British Government for the nascent Royal Air Force at the end of the First World War for ?112,000. What and where may we have access to such information? My first flight was in an Avro Tutor 2 seat biplane at Halton airfield. In 2007 he created the Station Archives. Most notable of these was Cliff Michelmore who was an aircraft apprentice in the 32nd Entry which graduated from Halton in 1938. Our navigator, Peter Ashford, was excellent; throughout every flight, even when he knew fairly certainly where we were, he continually checked his calculations. Also in 1919, Halton House - a French style mansion built by Lionel de Rothschild . If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. Public opinion over the recent scandals of child sexual abuse in institutions is now demanding that full Inquiries be carried out.