No. 1 School of Technical Training (No. 1 S of TT) is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school. It was based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme. The Aircraft Apprentice scheme trained young men in the mechanical trades for aircraft maintenance, the graduates of which were the best trained technicians in the RAF and would usually progress to Senior NCO ranks. However, ninety one ex-apprentices went on to achieve Air Rank. Many more became commissioned officers, including Sir Frank Whittle "father of the jet engine", who completed his apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell, before the move to RAF Halton.[1] Graduates of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme at RAF Halton are known as Old Haltonians.
As well as the three-year apprentice scheme No.1 S of TT also carried out training of Craft Apprentices on a newly developed two-year long apprenticeship, from 1964, commencing with 201 entry. Sgt Craft Apprentice Glenn Morton of 203 entry[2] was the first craft apprentice to receive a direct entry commission after graduating from Halton. The immediate past senior serving member of the RAF Halton Apprentices Association (Old Haltonians) is Air Vice-Marshal Paul Colley OBE, who joined the RAF as an apprentice of 127th entry. The oldest living member of the association is awarded the honorary title "King Brat" as a mark of respect.
Inside the New Workshops of No.1 SofTT at RAF Halton during the 1970s
The RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme was initiated by Lord Trenchard at the No.1 School of Technical Training,[3] RAF Halton in 1922. Initially started in 1920 at Halton camp, the site was not ready to accept apprentices until 1922 so the first four entries were trained at 'RAF Cranwell'.[4] Between 1922 and 1993, when the scheme ended with 155th Entry, over 40,000 young men known, more or less affectionately as Halton 'Brats' (or Trenchard's Brats)[5] had graduated. Richie Waylens (155th) is officially the last apprentice to graduate from the apprentice scheme at Cosford in 1993.[6]
In July 1952, No.1 S of TT received royal recognition when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented the School with a colour. The colour was received on behalf of the school by the 63rd Entry of aircraft apprentices; the colour party being Sergeant Aircraft Apprentice (S/A/A) F.M. Hines,[7] and identical twins S/A/A's Clive and Richard Grant. The Colour is unique among those awarded to United Kingdom forces in that it is paraded by non-commissioned personnel. This is a tradition inaugurated by the Queen when she presented the original Colour in 1952.[8]
Gp Capt Michael J Evans (70th entry of apprentices) - past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association
Gp Capt S P Rarsons
Gp Capt R H Kyle
Gp Capt S M Williamson-Noble
Gp Capt Ian R Blunt (84th entry of apprentices) - past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association (b. 1940; d. 20 November 2010)
Gp Capt Rodney Brumpton (retired as Air Commodore) (106th entry of apprentices) - past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association
Gp Capt Geoffrey O Burton (100th entry of apprentices) - past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association
Referencesedit
^Edwards, Richard; Edwards, Peter (2012). "17: Frank Whittle and the power jets company". Heroes and landmarks of British aviation. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 204. ISBN978-1-84884-645-6.
^"Ex-203 Entry, Craft Apprentices, No 1 School of Technical Training, Royal Air Force Halton". www.angelfire.com.
^"The laying-up of No 1 School of Technical Training's old Colour - Cosford Grapevine" (PDF). RAF Cosford. RAF Cosford. Summer 2015. p. 10. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
^Armitage, Michael (1996). "3: To Build an Air Force". The Royal Air Force. London: Cassell. p. 58. ISBN0-304-35312-4.
^"Final reunion for RAF Brats". RAF News (1406). High Wycombe: Royal Air Force: 23. 4 November 2015. ISSN 0035-8614.
^"Visit to RAF Cosford by HRH The Princess Royal". RAF Cosford. Royal Air Force. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
^"RAF Cosford History". RAF Cosford. Royal Air Force. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
Bibliographyedit
Pitchfork, Graham (Air Cdre (Ret'd)). The Royal Air Force Day by Day. Stroud, UK: History Press, 2008. ISBN978-0-7509-4309-3.
External linksedit
Royal Air Force Halton Apprentices Association (Old Haltonians)
May 08, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources No 1 School of Technical Training RAF news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2009 Learn how and when to remove this message No 1 School of Technical Training No 1 S of TT is the Royal Air Force s aircraft engineering school It was based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993 as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme The Aircraft Apprentice scheme trained young men in the mechanical trades for aircraft maintenance the graduates of which were the best trained technicians in the RAF and would usually progress to Senior NCO ranks However ninety one ex apprentices went on to achieve Air Rank Many more became commissioned officers including Sir Frank Whittle father of the jet engine who completed his apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell before the move to RAF Halton 1 Graduates of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme at RAF Halton are known as Old Haltonians No 1 School of Technical TrainingSchool badgeActive1919 presentCountryUnited KingdomBranch Royal Air ForceTypeDefence training schoolRoleAircraft engineering trainingSizec 2 000 students annuallyPart ofDefence School of Aeronautical EngineeringLocationRAF CosfordMotto s Crescentes Discimus Latin for Growing we learn ColoursRoyal colour awarded 1952InsigniaBadgeA beech tree bearing fruit on a grassy mountBadge heraldryRAF Halton where the school was formed is overlooked by a beech tree woodland Contents 1 History 2 Commandants 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory editAs well as the three year apprentice scheme No 1 S of TT also carried out training of Craft Apprentices on a newly developed two year long apprenticeship from 1964 commencing with 201 entry Sgt Craft Apprentice Glenn Morton of 203 entry 2 was the first craft apprentice to receive a direct entry commission after graduating from Halton The immediate past senior serving member of the RAF Halton Apprentices Association Old Haltonians is Air Vice Marshal Paul Colley OBE who joined the RAF as an apprentice of 127th entry The oldest living member of the association is awarded the honorary title King Brat as a mark of respect nbsp Inside the New Workshops of No 1 SofTT at RAF Halton during the 1970s The Patron of the Old Haltonians Association is Air Chief Marshal Mike Armitage 56th entry Aircraft Apprentices and the Vice Patrons are Air Marshal Cliff Spink 104th entry Aircraft Apprentices and Air Marshal Sir Graham Miller RAF officer 210th entry Craft Apprentices The RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme was initiated by Lord Trenchard at the No 1 School of Technical Training 3 RAF Halton in 1922 Initially started in 1920 at Halton camp the site was not ready to accept apprentices until 1922 so the first four entries were trained at RAF Cranwell 4 Between 1922 and 1993 when the scheme ended with 155th Entry over 40 000 young men known more or less affectionately as Halton Brats or Trenchard s Brats 5 had graduated Richie Waylens 155th is officially the last apprentice to graduate from the apprentice scheme at Cosford in 1993 6 In July 1952 No 1 S of TT received royal recognition when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented the School with a colour The colour was received on behalf of the school by the 63rd Entry of aircraft apprentices the colour party being Sergeant Aircraft Apprentice S A A F M Hines 7 and identical twins S A A s Clive and Richard Grant The Colour is unique among those awarded to United Kingdom forces in that it is paraded by non commissioned personnel This is a tradition inaugurated by the Queen when she presented the original Colour in 1952 8 From 1993 to the present No 1 S of TT has been based at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering Cosford 9 Commandants editAir Cdre F R Scarlett 8 December 1919 to 27 February 1924 Air Cdre C L Lambe 28 February 1924 to 31 March 1928 Air Cdre I M Bonham Carter 1 April 1928 to 30 September 1931 AVM N D K MacEwen 1 October 1931 to 26 December 1934 Air Cdre J T Babington 27 December 1934 to 9 July 1936 Air Cdre G R M Reid Air Cdre G B Dacre AVM O Swann Air Cdre G B Dacre Air Cdre H G White Air Cdre J F Titmas Air Cdre N Carter Air Cdre J G Elton Air Cdre J G W Weston Air Cdre G N E Tindal Carill Worsley Air Cdre E D McK Nelson Air Cdre T N Coslett Air Cdre B Robinson Air Cdre D M Strong Air Cdre A C Deere Air Cdre H P Connelly Air Cdre R H G Weighill Air Cdre B Hamilton Air Cdre M P Stanton Gp Capt J P Downes Gp Capt O J Truelove Gp Capt Michael J Evans 70th entry of apprentices past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association Gp Capt S P Rarsons Gp Capt R H Kyle Gp Capt S M Williamson Noble Gp Capt Ian R Blunt 84th entry of apprentices past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association b 1940 d 20 November 2010 Gp Capt Rodney Brumpton retired as Air Commodore 106th entry of apprentices past Chairman of the Old Haltonians Association Gp Capt Geoffrey O Burton 100th entry of apprentices past Chairman of the Old Haltonians AssociationReferences edit Edwards Richard Edwards Peter 2012 17 Frank Whittle and the power jets company Heroes and landmarks of British aviation Barnsley Pen amp Sword p 204 ISBN 978 1 84884 645 6 Ex 203 Entry Craft Apprentices No 1 School of Technical Training Royal Air Force Halton www angelfire com The laying up of No 1 School of Technical Training s old Colour Cosford Grapevine PDF RAF Cosford RAF Cosford Summer 2015 p 10 Retrieved 4 May 2016 Armitage Michael 1996 3 To Build an Air Force The Royal Air Force London Cassell p 58 ISBN 0 304 35312 4 Final reunion for RAF Brats RAF News 1406 High Wycombe Royal Air Force 23 4 November 2015 ISSN 0035 8614 Pitchfork 2008 p 352 Pitchfork 2008 p 240 Visit to RAF Cosford by HRH The Princess Royal RAF Cosford Royal Air Force 13 May 2014 Retrieved 4 May 2016 RAF Cosford History RAF Cosford Royal Air Force Retrieved 4 May 2016 Bibliography edit Pitchfork Graham Air Cdre Ret d The Royal Air Force Day by Day Stroud UK History Press 2008 ISBN 978 0 7509 4309 3 External links editRoyal Air Force Halton Apprentices Association Old Haltonians Old Haltonians social networking site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title No 1 School of Technical Training RAF amp oldid 1144099499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
