The RAF College used to give out some nice prizes

[NutLoose]

Nothing to do with me btw, just admiring what at the time must have been an expensive prize.

1936 ROLEX OYSTER IMPERIAL EXTRA PRECISION GNTS WATCH R.A.F ENGINEERING PRIZE | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1936-ROLEX-OYSTER-IMPERIAL-EXTRA-PRECISION-GNTS-WATCH-R-A-F-ENGINEERING-PRIZE-/381287985794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item58c688f282)

[Wander00]

Didn't Frank Whittle win the Engineering Prize for his year ISTR

[longer ron]

Looks like C D Milne was also an ex Halton Brat (as was FW)

From Flight Magazine feb 1935

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/c%20d%20milne_zpsxcvsdxrb.png

[Wander00]

ISTR that Flight Cadet Menaul did quite well

[longer ron]

Not sure if same officer...


AIR 81/170 Flying Officer C D Milne: prisoner of war; Spitfire N3071 failed to return from a photographic sortie, 25 April 1940

Fit. Lt. C. D. MILNE, D.F.C. (33273) to Sqn.
Ldr. (temp.), ist Jan. 1946 (seny. ist Sept. 1941).

[longer ron]

Still not sure if correct officer but will park this here for now in case it is...


http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/volvosmoker/c%20d%20milne%202_zpscsm2xomw.png


AWARDS
His Majesty the King's Medal, presented to the Flight Cadet who
obtains the highest aggregate of marks in all subjects in the final
order of merit following the passing-out examination, has been
awarded to : —
Flight Cadet Sgt. Cecil Dunn Milne.

[longer ron]

Ok I am now pretty sure that the above officer is our watch winner - from RAF Commands - posted by Errol
Martyn

Milne entered the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice (No.?) at Halton in Jan 1932 following selection in New Zealand. A brother, Deryck had entered Halton two years earlier.

He then gained a cadetship at Cranwell, entering there in Jan 1935 and being granted a permanent commission on 19 Dec 1936 (33273).

His first squadron posting was to 57 Sqn, on 19 Dec 36. I don't know exactly when he transferred to the PDU.

Shot down on 24 Apr 40, he became the longest serving New Zealand PoW of WWII.

In 1947 he commanded 617 Sqn when it carried out a goodwill tour of North America with its Lincolns (one of his flight commanders at the time was fellow New Zealander Clive Saxelby). And later 'played a leading part in reorganising the RAF's Flying Training Command in the early 1950s. He was awarded an OBE for this work.'

When returning from leave in New Zealand in December 1950 he had a lucky escape when the 53 Sqn Hastings he was a passenger in crash-landed at Benia, Libya, on the 20th following separation of a propeller in flight which hit the fuselage and cut the rudder and elevator controls.

Gp Capt Milne, OBE, DFC retired from the RAF on 30 Nov 56 and returned to New Zealand where he took up a post as a mathmatics teacher at Papakura High School. He died in August 1985.

[longer ron]

Of course 5 mins after my last post - I was sitting on the crappeur and thought that I really should have scrolled down the ebay ad LOL
Where some of the info about Cecil Milne was already on there :)