I went to Biggin Hill in July at the age of 15 having already passed 8 'O' levels at 14. A few days of tests, interviews and hangar stuff, which seemed pretty straightforward, then I won my RAF Scholarship in October. But I had to wait another 18 months before I could do my flying at Cranfield! Then Cranwell in September....and university the following September!
The RAF must have been desperate for aircrew recruits back then!