Boy Entrants 39th to 49th Entries [Archive]

DonExAir

5th Mar 2016, 16:58

Lyneham Lad

6th Mar 2016, 15:15

48th, airframe, er, umm, ahh - no that's it. ;)

ian16th

6th Mar 2016, 15:18

Have you tried:
http://www.rafbeainfo.org.uk/

ricardian

6th Mar 2016, 20:32

I was 38th Entry and was the organist at Cosford's PMUB church 1959-61. The padre did not tell me but when I passed out I found he had put me in for the sum of about 5 shillings for every service at which I had played - that's the main service and the Sunday school almost every Sunday for 18 months. It doubled my final pay parade and made the paying officer double check the pay sheet!

DonExAir

6th Mar 2016, 21:35

Hi Lyneham Lad,
I assume "er umm ahh" suggests that you can't remember. I can identify with that as the only way I can remember is from an old letter that I sent to my parents. I lost all my other information when it was destroyed at Changi.
A 48th entry rigger, I suppose that puts you at St. Athan to arriving January 1963 - a month after I left - possibly A or B flt. 1 Sqn. in the service number band ".19491.." if my entry is anything to go by.
The 43rd Service numbers I have assumed went from ".1944001" to about ".1944270" -ish so I also assume other entries were the same. I have not established though where Hereford and Cosford last 3's started. Maybe 300 to 600 for one station and 601 to 900 for the other but which was which? Perhaps someone will let me know? :ugh:
Thanks for your response so far.
Don

DonExAir

6th Mar 2016, 21:51

Hi Ian16th,

I have tried to contact someone to establish what information they have but it seems that I have to pay and join first when I don't know if it is likely to be helpful.
I have photos of most from my billet and there are only three that I cannot place and I am slowly but slowly sorting out the numbers thing.
I will see how it goes and give it a try if I can find out more from them.
Thanks for you input though - much appreciated.
Don. :ok:

ian16th

7th Mar 2016, 07:29

DonExAir

I think that if you join the association, you will find that most of what you are attempting is already well documented and archived.

The association has a membership of over 1000, has an annual reunion, subgroups such as Entries and Trades also have reunions, it publishes a newsletter, maintains a website and we have a Yahoo mailing list where members world wide communicate and interact.

Why re-invent the wheel?

http://i818.photobucket.com/albums/zz108/ian16th/Wheel.jpg

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

7th Mar 2016, 11:00

Why only the 39th to 49th entries?

Aaron.

Lyneham Lad

7th Mar 2016, 11:37

Hi Lyneham Lad,
I assume "er umm ahh" suggests that you can't remember.
Don

Well, I did include a ;) Maybe I should have included [Irony Mode] ;)
I still have all my Service documents and even remember the 'delights' of N Lines in the depths of the 1963 winter...

oldmansquipper

7th Mar 2016, 13:49

4t6th St Athan 1962-64 - Providing `reedin an ritin` advice to plumbers for over 50 years

:D

chevvron

7th Mar 2016, 15:55

My brother joined 44th Entry Air Radar Mechanics (ARM) at Cosford in '61.

DonExAir

7th Mar 2016, 21:20

Hi Chevvron,

At last another training base in the early '60s! Do you know your brothers last 3 or at least his last3 band eg .1945...(301 to 600 or 601 to 900+)?
Maybe Hereford will post as well and I will know when I am. :ok:
Regards,
Don.

DonExAir

7th Mar 2016, 21:29

Aaron, Hi,

Only 39th to 49th - why? So I wouldn't get bogged down I suppose and it sort of covered the time that I was in boy service. Feel free though if you can enlighten me with bases and last 3s. It's great to hear who was where and when and to sort out the numbers allocations.
Regards, Don.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

8th Mar 2016, 08:24

I only ask as I am 51st, enlisted Jan 64 (The last entry) and felt a bit left out of it;)
My number; W1950385.
My brother was 43rd Instruments General, St Athan.
His number; U1944274.
I know that 1950574 was 51st Telegraphist at Cosford.
1950004 was 50th, also Telegraphist at Cosford.

Pre WWII BE numbers started at 550000 in 1934 and finished with 5540027 (Not sure about the year but I imagine about 1941)
Post WWII BE numbers started at 1920000 in May 1947 and finished with 1950602 in 1964.

Aaron.

DonExAir

9th Mar 2016, 16:28

Aaron Hi again,
It was untidy to not carry on to the end with the 51st entry. It would have been logical. :confused:
Thank you very much for the information passed it was just what I needed to disprove my understanding of the numbering "system" (is there one!) I thought with my limited information at the time that the format went - 42nd entry=1943..., 43rd entry= 1944..., 44th entry=1945... et c but, it seems, NO. :confused::confused: Such is life!
Your brother must have been one of my squadron and probably D flight too.
His number also further erodes my understanding of even my own entry. I always thought that Peter Stevens (...4268) was the last number in both D flight and 2 squadron. I am (was) W1944259.
Does your brother have a spare copy of his pass-out journal or could he copy it for me if he still has it? I lost all my boy entrant and all my training documents thanks to "woolly bugs" out in Singapore. As an inst. gen. man he may well remember the clp. boy Westrop of the day.
What was your trade Aaron? Were you also D flight 2 squadron?
Thanks again for your most welcome input, it is very interesting and informative.
Perhaps I will hear from a Hereford one soon. I know one wrote a very enlightening book and he was 43rd at Hereford but no service number to further erode my theory. :(
Best regards,
Don.

Ronnierecip1946

9th Mar 2016, 23:06

46th Entry, Cosford, Air Radar, as far as I can remember A flight, 1 Squadron, 1 Wing.
Jan 1962 - July 1963
1946658

handsfree

10th Mar 2016, 07:41

As a one-time brat at Hereford I could give vital information in that my number was 1949907B as a clerk sec

I have relayed that information for someone who cannot post on here.
I hope it makes sense.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

10th Mar 2016, 08:41

Does your brother have a spare copy of his pass-out journal or could he copy it for me if he still has it? I lost all my boy entrant and all my training documents thanks to "woolly bugs" out in Singapore.

Unfortunately my brother died as a result of a motorcycle accident in 1967 while stationed at RAF Colerne. So I cannot help there.
I was at Hereford training to be a Clerk Secretarial before I remustered to Airframes in 1969.

Shack37

10th Mar 2016, 10:03

DonExAir

Ex 40th, D Flt (Instruments), 2 Sqn?, 2 Wing, St. Athan

W1941305

40th/1941 so fits with your numbering system thoughts.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

10th Mar 2016, 11:14

Purely out of interest these were the 19***** allocation of numbers;

1900000 1910000 Sep 43 NI Non ATC
1910001 1919999 Not used 1913267 Nov 45 NI Non ATC
1920000 1925000 May 47 Boy Entrants
1925001 1930000 Sep 51 Boy Entrants
1930001 1950602 Jul 54 Boy Entrants
1950603 1960000 Not Allocated
1960001 1962999 Last No used 1962348 Oct 64 Craft Apprentices

DonExAir

10th Mar 2016, 16:46

40th, D Flt (Instruments), 2 Sqn?, 2 Wing.

2 Sqn would be correct and 2 Wing as well as 40th were on west camp in proper blocks not slumming it in the old wooden huts on east camp. :(
If the 43rd are anything to go by, D flt would be correct as the inst. guys were with the armourers.
Thanks for the info Shack.
Don.

chevvron

10th Mar 2016, 17:03

DonExAir

10th Mar 2016, 20:31

Thanks for the extra info. Sad to hear about your brother.
Regards,
Don.

DonExAir

10th Mar 2016, 20:56

A man from Castle Donnington/East Midlands Airport. I was based there for a while in the 80s.
Yes, I am a little confused - not unusual these days - I assume that you are posting for another ex-boy.
It also looks as if he was commissioned later at some stage as his letter is at the end of his number not at the beginning. I wonder if it was just a matter of the letter being moved when he passed out of OTU? Do you know which entry he joined at Hereford. Was it 48, 49 or 50th?
Thanks for passing on his information, at last a Hereford Boy, I am getting there - maybe! :ok:
Best regards,
Don

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

11th Mar 2016, 09:06

I forgot to mention that I was Hereford.

Aaron.

Shack37

11th Mar 2016, 10:37

40th, D Flt (Instruments), 2 Sqn?, 2 Wing.

2 Sqn would be correct and 2 Wing as well as 40th were on west camp in proper blocks not slumming it in the old wooden huts on east camp. :(

Hi Don, we were still occupying the wooden huts at "graduation" (Nov 28th 1961). The move to 5* accommodation must have come later.

DonExAir

11th Mar 2016, 12:50

Thanks Aaron,
I do have that but thanks.
Don.

DonExAir

11th Mar 2016, 12:57

Hi Don, we were still occupying the wooden huts at passing and leaving. The move to 5* accommodation must have come later.

It must have been the 42nd and/or the 44th that were pampered. ;)

Regards,
Don.

pmills575

11th Mar 2016, 15:05

I was in the last entry of Air Radar Mechanics at Cosford, May 1962 to December 1963 Service Number 1947575. We had our first reunion in 2013 after 51 years!.

DonExAir

11th Mar 2016, 15:40

I was in the last entry of Air Radar Mechanics at Cosford, May 1962 to December 1963 Service Number 1947575.
Hi pmills thanks for the post. What was the entry number? I thought that 51st was the last but that was probably another base.
Regards, Don.

pmills575

12th Mar 2016, 05:37

Well that was b****y silly of me to leave out the entry number. It was the 46th entry at Cosford. It was definitely the last of the Air Radar Mechanics, we were told that there were too many Radar mechanics and at a meeting held just before we passed out offered the chance to re-muster into a variety of trades. One or two took up the offer as I recall.

oldpax

12th Mar 2016, 13:16

As an aside to all this I met an ex 13th entry (Cosford)air wireless mech .Lives in Bangkok ,I met him in my favorite second hand bookshop in Pattaya ,wants more of my old "Growler"copies!!

ian16th

12th Mar 2016, 14:05

As an aside to all this I met an ex 13th entry (Cosford)air wireless mech

13th Air Wireless never went anywhere near Cosford.

All of their training was at Yatesbury.

DonExAir

12th Mar 2016, 15:47

It was the 46th entry at Cosford. It was definitely the last of the Air Radar Mechanics, we were told that there were too many Radar mechanics and at a meeting held just before we passed out offered the chance to re-muster into a variety of trades. One or two took up the offer as I recall.

Thanks Peter/Paul/Patrick?!,
Did it only effect the Air Radar trade or did the boy entrants of other trades continue at Cosford until July '65, the 51st entry?
Regards,
Don.

ian16th

13th Mar 2016, 09:07

It was the 46th entry at Cosford. It was definitely the last of the Air Radar Mechanics, we were told that there were too many Radar mechanics There were probably to many AIR Radar Mechs.

I know of ARM's who had to re-muster to Ground Radar to get their fitters course.

This probably was at least partially caused by the decision in 1952 to centralise all B/E training at Cosford.
Cosford didn't have any facilities to train GRM's. The Yatesbury u/t GRM's that had not started 'gears' were re-mustered to u/t ARM's.
The move to Cosford was delayed until the 15th Entry, the last that included GRM's, had passed out in 1953.
It seems as though the idea of centralisation was soon changed as some trades were moved to St. Athen and Hereford.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

16th Mar 2016, 14:39

I think the BE training camps were;

Hereford
Compton Bassett
Cosford
Kirkham
Locking
St Athan
Yatesbury

Aaron.

DonExAir

17th Mar 2016, 11:47

I think the BE training camps were;

Hereford
Compton Bassett
Cosford
Kirkham
Locking
St Athan
Yatesbury

Thanks for that info Aaron. Do you know when the last Boy Entrants passed out of each camp, which main trades and which S. of T.T. they were?
I have the details for St. Athan only.

Regards,
Don.

4mastacker

17th Mar 2016, 15:46

[............... Do you know when the last Boy Entrants passed out of each camp, which main trades and which S. of T.T. they were?
I have the details for St. Athan only.

Regards,
Don.
Hereford (3 S of TT)- 51st Entry (July?) 1965. Clerks/Suppliers/Cooks.

DonExAir

18th Mar 2016, 21:14

Hereford (3 S of TT)- 51st Entry (July?) 1965. Clerks/Suppliers/Cooks.
Thanks 4Mastacker,
Two down - five to go!
Don

Geordie_Expat

18th Mar 2016, 21:34

Cosford 51st 1965 Telegs and Photogs?

I was 303rd Craft apps from May 65 and the 51st were still there.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

19th Mar 2016, 12:52

Cosford No.2 School of Technical Training
Compton Bassett No.3 Signals School
Hereford No.3 School of Technical Training
Kirkham No.10 School of Technical Training
Locking No.1 Radio School
St Athan No.4 School of Technical Training
Yatesbury No.2 Electrical and Wireless School

If you register with the BE Association you will get info on Trades/Entries/Stations.

rafbeainfo.org.uk

Aaron.

Dundiggin'

20th Mar 2016, 18:45

I was 1948064V (47th Entry) Leading Boy Entrant at 3 OR 4 S OF TT RAF Hereford from Sep'62 - Mar '64. Clerk GD 'E' Flt 2 sqn.

kaitakbowler

20th Mar 2016, 22:35

I was 50th Cosford,9/63 to 3/65, Telegs, Photogs and Nursing Assistants(?).

PM

DonExAir

22nd Mar 2016, 11:47

I was 1948064V (47th Entry) Leading Boy Entrant at 3 OR 4 S OF TT RAF Hereford from Sep'62 - Mar '64. Clerk GD 'E' Flt 2 sqn.
Hi Dundiggin,
Thanks for your post. It would be 3 SofTT at Hereford. I note that your letter "V" is at the end of your number not at the beginning. Were you commissioned later in service?
Regards, Don. (43rd Entry, 4 SofTT, St. Athan)

DonExAir

22nd Mar 2016, 12:02

I was 50th Cosford,9/63 to 3/65, Telegs, Photogs and Nursing Assistants(?).

PM
Thanks for your post PM. Were you a .1949... or .1950...?
Regards,
Don. (43rd)

DonExAir

22nd Mar 2016, 12:11

Can anyone provide the entry number and dates of the last boy entrants to pass out of Compton Bassett, Yatesbury and Kirkham?
Regards,
Don. (43rd entry 4 S of TT St. Athan).

ian16th

22nd Mar 2016, 13:09

Yatesbury, 15th Entry, Summer 1953. The last entry to have Ground Radar.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

22nd Mar 2016, 15:33

As I understand it;

Yatesbury - The 15th were the last entry to pass-out from Yatesbury. The 16th, 17th 18, 19th enlisted at Yatesbury but passed out from Cosford.

Compton Bassett - The 15th were the last to pass out from CB.

Kirkham - Not sure. The 8th enlisted at Kirkham but I believe they passed out from Cosford.

I think the pass-out dates were;

8th - Jul 51
9th - Dec 51
10th - Mar 52
11th - Jul 52
12th - Jul 52
13th - Dec 52
14th - Mar 53
15th - Jul 53

Aaron.

DonExAir

24th Mar 2016, 21:24

Thanks Iain and Aaron - very helpful. Perhaps someone from Kirkham can verify the 8th as last - there again it was a long time ago.

Don.

AARON O'DICKYDIDO

25th Mar 2016, 10:38

Don,

After further research I think the 8th enlisted at Kirkham but passed out at Cosford.

The 15th enlisted and passed out at Cosford.

What happened in between I do not yet know.

Aaron.

DonExAir

28th Mar 2016, 14:00

Don,

After further research I think the 8th enlisted at Kirkham but passed out at Cosford.

The 15th enlisted and passed out at Cosford.

What happened in between I do not yet know.

Aaron.
We need the guy who switched out the lights when he passed out at Kirkham!

Regards, Don.

kaitakbowler

28th Mar 2016, 16:59

DonExAir, I was 19500, but we started in the 1949's, and yes we had a 007, ISTR he didn't last initial 12 week phase.

Dundiggin'

28th Mar 2016, 17:25

DonExAir

30th Mar 2016, 16:43

DonExAir, I was 19500, but we started in the 1949's, and yes we had a 007, ISTR he didn't last initial 12 week phase.
Wow! That's a prize number.
So "Mr Bond, J. 007 didn't make it perhaps he was offered a better job with MI5. ;-)

Thanks for the post.
Don.

DonExAir

30th Mar 2016, 17:02

Hi DonExair, Yes I was Commissioned and the letter changed to the back of the number. However, the letter was at the beginning of the number for some time probably because of being NCA. I had no letter leaving Hereford...
Great. It shows my understanding of the numbering "system?!" is improving - slowly but only in part (1948... does not equal 49th Entry but 47th - at least at Hereford?)
I think that the letters were not allocated until May '64 but most of us it seems were not given them until much later.
Thanks for getting back to me.
Don.

superplum

30th Mar 2016, 21:37

I seem to recall that the letters were added to bring all airmen's numbers up to 8 characters as part of the introduction of computer records. Mine, being an ex-app was only 6 characters and had A0 added to the beginning. On commissioning, the "A" moved to the tail and I lost the "0".

kaitakbowler

30th Mar 2016, 21:49

DonExAir,

Indeed his name was Bond.

PM

chevvron

31st Mar 2016, 03:15

Prior to his going to Cosford to join 44th ARM, I distinctly remember my brother going to Cardington for about 3 days presumably for some sort of selection tests?
Myself, my father and my sister went with him on the train to Bedford where there was a nissen hut in the station car park as a reception point.

The Oberon

31st Mar 2016, 05:52

Sorry about an ex-App bursting in, but there was another 007 Bond. He was 688007 A/A Bond in the 100th. entry at Halton. I don't think I could have lived with that for 22 years.

Cardington was used for interviews and selection, when I went, I wanted to be an Engine Fitter but I had my mind changed for me, based on my entrance exam results, and I went to Locking as Air Radar.

ian16th

31st Mar 2016, 11:07

Great. It shows my understanding of the numbering "system?!" is improving - slowly but only in part (1948... does not equal 49th Entry but 47th - at least at Hereford?)It has been investigated and there is no direct relationship between Service numbers and Entry numbers.

Other than, over the years they both incremented!

I seem to recall that the letters were added to bring all airmen's numbers up to 8 characters as part of the introduction of computer records.The alpha character that was added to service numbers in 1965, was indeed because of the introduction of computers. The alpha character was a 'check character'.

If a service number was incorrectly entered into a computer, it would produce a different check character. When compared to the original check character it would indicate an error.
The system was not 100% fool proof, but pretty close.

The extra digit may well have been added to former apps numbers to create a constant field length. It makes sense.

I was demobbed Feb 65 so never had the alpha character added, but I did then enter the world of computers and quickly learn't what a check digit was.

By the way, most check digits are numeric, as in you bank account number. In civil life I never came across a check system that used alpha characters.

As for guys called Bond getting the last 3 of 007, there appears to have been several cases of clerks making the unsuspecting guy wait until the stamp getting to 006 and saying, 'Right its your turn now!'

DonExAir

1st Apr 2016, 15:36

It has been investigated and there is no direct relationship between Service numbers and Entry numbers.

Other than, over the years they both incremented!

The alpha character that was added to service numbers in 1965, was indeed because of the introduction of computers. The alpha character was a 'check character'.

If a service number was incorrectly entered into a computer, it would produce a different check character. When compared to the original check character it would indicate an error.
The system was not 100% fool proof, but pretty close.

The extra digit may well have been added to former apps numbers to create a constant field length. It makes sense.

I was demobbed Feb 65 so never had the alpha character added, but I did then enter the world of computers and quickly learn't what a check digit was.

By the way, most check digits are numeric, as in you bank account number. In civil life I never came across a check system that used alpha characters.

As for guys called Bond getting the last 3 of 007, there appears to have been several cases of clerks making the unsuspecting guy wait until the stamp getting to 006 and saying, 'Right its your turn now!'
Thanks Ian,
A lot has been explained on both counts.
It makes sense as I recall I was in Singapore when I received my"letter" and that was in '65. I still have the punched card with it on.
So we can't blame it on the Bossa Nova - it was computers all the time!!
Regards, Don.

DonExAir

1st Apr 2016, 15:43

So many BONDs out there. I have a few here too -Brook Bond, Premium Bond, Basildon Bond and many more I am sure! :-)
Don.

Elginlad75

25th Oct 2017, 16:06

Hello people, my father Mac brown was a 46th entry at cosford in air wireless, he sadly passed away in 2015, i am eager to find people who knew him especially out in Singapore and Malaysia to understand my fathers story?

gopher01

27th Oct 2017, 14:29

The listing of 1960 service numbers jars rather with the fact that as a Craft Apprentice in the 202nd Entry RAF Halton Jan 65 my service number was initially 1960323 on joining Jan 5th '65, shortly after amended to have the letter " O " added as a prefix, shortly amended to have the letter "P " as a prefix as I presume the " O " could be mistaken for a zero.
I believe that the 201st entry started with 1960001 as without any fiddling or sleight of hand Apprentice Bond J of the 201st had the service number 1660007 to plague him for what I gather was a fairly short service career and who can blame him!

kilwhang

27th Oct 2017, 15:21

I remember the whole entry being assembled in a large room in St Athan and issued with our prefix letters. I can't remember if it was done alphabetically.

I do know that I became S1949693 (Airframes, 50th Entry, St Athan)

sandozer

29th Oct 2017, 11:59

I just know you will be transfixed and amazed as to how they got the last checksum letter on your service number, someone posted this a while back, sorry can`t remember who. Works on BE service numbers, not sure of others.

Multiply the first digit by 8
second by 17
third by 4
forth by 16
fifth by 2
sixth by 13
seventh by 5
Add these up to produce answer A

Divide A by 23

Chop all the decimal places then multiply by 23. The result is answer B.

Subtract B from A to produce answer C which is a letter of the alphabet where Zero = A, 1 = B, 2 = C etc. But omit "O" and "I" to avoid confusion with "0" and "1".

A slight change to the algorithm fixes it. Multiply the last digit by 1 (not 5), discard "I" and "O" in the alphabet and start at zero when counting through.

I was 48th entry St Athan, and it gives me the correct check letter. 1948...N

Lyneham Lad

29th Oct 2017, 18:21

Saint Jack

31st Oct 2017, 07:00

45th Entry, 1946003, St. Athan, Airframe Mechanic (or was it "Fitter", I can never remember). I became A1946003 shortly after arriving at my first posting, RAF Leeming. I'm still in touch with one guy I met at Saints, in fact my wife and I spent a few days with him and his wife at their home in Scotland just last week. How many other former Boys out there have kept in touch with people they met at ITS.

Wander00

31st Oct 2017, 14:36

Computer geeks never do anything by halves do they!

llamaman

31st Oct 2017, 22:35

Have PM'd you.

avro63

18th Dec 2017, 18:12

Hi DonExAir, 48th entry, A flt , 3 sqdn, Supplier General at #3 Sof TT at RAF Hereford, Jan 63 - Jul64 and my old service number is E1948643

Ray

option911

24th Jan 2018, 12:44

I have been asked by a company who mounts medals if I can source details of the ribbon used in a comemorative medal purchased by former Boy entrants. Apparently it was crimson coloured or very similar.

This is not a medal that will be worn alongside issued medals but is to be inserted into a wooden frame and wall mounted.

Any help or pictures would be much appreciated.

Steph Hadwin

14th Sep 2020, 11:54

If you are an ex-boy entrant in the above entry band I would love to hear from you, where you trained, what trade you followed and what Flt., Sqn. and Wing you were in.
I am trying to compile who we all were back then in the 1960s.

Best regards,

Don, ex 43rd Entry, D Flight, 2 Sqn. 1 Wing, RAF St Athan.
4259.
My father joined the 41st at Cosford in 1960.
He then was at Benson. His name Ian Allison aka Ally. Would love to hear from anyone who has any stories about him.