Another Royal in the RAF

[CAEBr]

From the latest announcement from Kensington Palace, it seems we now have LAC Cambridge - starting at the bottom it would appear. As Louis Albert Charles however, he will be destined to remain an LAC, even if he gets a higher honorary rank in the future.......

[ValMORNA]

How about Louis Albert Charles William? Does the unisex RAF have such people as LACW's in these enlightened times?

[ExAscoteer]

Not since 1 Apr 1994 when the WRAF formally merged with the RAF.

[ValMORNA]

Thank you for that valuable information. That is almost 40 years after I left so my ignorance is possibly forgivable.

[MPN11]

Louis Arthur Charles according to my Newsfeed, but I will still call him HRH/Sir ;)

[Geezers of Nazareth]

... and if LAC ever does become King, then he will be 'King Louis' (or 'King Lewie' to the spams). We've already had a King Lewie ... Disney's 'Jungle Book'.

[Fareastdriver]

As long as he doesn't follow the footsteps of Louis XVI he should be OK.

[langleybaston]

From the latest announcement from Kensington Palace, it seems we now have LAC Cambridge - starting at the bottom it would appear. As Louis Albert Charles however, he will be destined to remain an LAC, even if he gets a higher honorary rank in the future.......

Pedanr alert.

LAC is not the bottom, as my father would have pointed out.

[Ormeside28]

In the PNB Scheme, passing out from ITW as an LAC meant seven shillings and three pence a day, up from three shillings. Riches indeed!! (1942/3)

[The Oberon]

I thought that, on succession, the Monarch could assume any of their christian names they wanted. There was a rumour that Charles was considering being known as King George VII.

[DON T]

How about Louis Albert Charles William? Does the unisex RAF have such people as LACW's in these enlightened times?

No need to add William, he is a Windsor therefore already an LACW.

[gzornenplatz]

Methinks Charles Phillip Louis would at least have given us our first JNCO Royal.

[fantom]

So, did you write to the Telegraph today or was your idea nicked?

[Danny42C]

Ormeside28 (#9),

August 1941, got only 2/- a day as AC2, went up to 5/6 a day as LAC on completion of ITW. Are you sure you got 50% more just a year later? - there wasn't all that much inflation in UK during the war. By 1942 I was a Sgt/Pilot swaggering round on 13/6 a day, can't remember what the erks were getting. Happy Days!

Danny.

[Tankertrashnav]

The rank of AC2 had gone by the time I joined in 1964, and by then ACs were on £1 a day, which was my paid rank when at OCTU. Don't think I got much more as an APO when I was commissioned.

[Danny42C]

When I came in, I was told: "You'll never get rich - but you'll meet a lot of very nice people on the way". So it has proved.

I'd give the same reply to anyone who asked.

Danny.

[ian16th]

At any point in time, the lowest paid ranks were Aircraft Apprentice and Boy Entrants who were under the age of 17½, if they attained the age of 17½ before passing out, they were paid at the lowest current rate for an Airman.

Conversley, if a Boy Entrant passed out while still under the age of 17½, he was also paid the lowest Airmans rate. This is what happened to me.

During the period 1952-54, for the first 12 months a Boy or App was paid 2/6 a day, after 12 months this was increased to 3/6 a day.
On attaining the age of 17½ or passing out under 17½, the rate was 7/- a day.

From memory, during this period and up to April 1st 1956 regular Airmans rates that I knew were:

AC2 7/-
AC1 Don't know
LAC 10/-
SAC 11/-
J/T in Trade Groups 1-4 14/6
Cpl in Trade Groups 1-4 17/6

On April 1st 1956 there was a BIG pay rise!

An AC2's pay was increased by 100% and I remember the OC RAF Lindholme proudly announcing that a W.O. in an Advanced Trade, Married & Living Out was now getting a £1,000 a year!

I was an SAC on my Fitters Course at the start of the year, on 11/- a day, I finished the course, put up my J/T in February, got the pay increase in April and my Cpl's stripes in August, on 24/6 a day.

Life was good for this 19 year old.

[goudie]

I was an SAC in Germany when the big pay rise happened. The old sweats were cockahoop because it meant they would be getting a decent pension. To we erks it meant more beer tokens and a decent meal in a local restaurant.

[Ormeside28]

Danny. Yes, I am quite sure that PNB after ITW and LAC was 7/3 per day, as I left Barclays as a junior clerk on joining RAF in Nov 1942 at a weekly wage of 35/- shillings and increased that by nearly 50% as LAC. (May 42 ). In USA, Terrell, Texas we drew 25 dollars every two weeks. Again all found. After Wings 13/6 daily as a Sgt Pilot, then after a year 15/- as a Flt Sgt, and after another year as W/0. 17/6 per day. Food and accommodation all found, not like today I believe. When I rejoined as Sgt in 1951, pay had not gone up much and after commissioning, virtually the same, but a mess bill! The big pay rise virtually doubled our pay, hence the new car sales went up, lots of Ford Populars, with windscreen wiper ( yes, wiper!) almost stopped on steep hills. Happy days though, plenty of aeroplanes, and places to take them,!!