Herod - they were flown solo until the Whirlwind went out of basic training at Shawbury in 1979. When the Gazelle began to be used for basic, student solo EOLs were binned - after much heated discussion on both sides.
I recall a number of us crowding into the tower at Ternhill to watch the very very last basic student solo EOLs - Tom T was the QHI and IIRC one of the I** M*********s (there are two!) was the stude.
In the discussions, I remember John G W (no hyphen!) - who was in favour - saying words to the effect:
I know the Americans wouldn't and the Israelis would - whose camp would you rather be in!