Last NCO Pilot entry?
Flew at Cranwell in in 1964 with F Sgt Lawton, and in 65 with a F Sgt Elliott and also a M Plt Jackson. The latter ISTR had only one ear lobe following an accident.
Jacko did the final Nav Test for a good friend, I A-R, sadly no longer with us. As they walked out Jacko insisted that A-R swapped his immaculately prepared map for the dog eared version in Jacko's flying suit. A-R flew an immaculate test and on landing was asked if he had "Any questions".
"Yes, sir", says A-R, "why did you swap maps?"
"Because your Father bollocked me for being late for Pay Parade in 1948. Anyway, you passed. 98%".
Jacko did the final Nav Test for a good friend, I A-R, sadly no longer with us. As they walked out Jacko insisted that A-R swapped his immaculately prepared map for the dog eared version in Jacko's flying suit. A-R flew an immaculate test and on landing was asked if he had "Any questions".
"Yes, sir", says A-R, "why did you swap maps?"
"Because your Father bollocked me for being late for Pay Parade in 1948. Anyway, you passed. 98%".
Last edited by Wander00; 25th Oct 2014 at 12:17. Reason: Found Lorton!
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Originally Posted by 26er
MPN11 - But we know what he did near Strubby !!!!!!
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During nav training 1964-1965
At Hullavington flew with Master pilots Trezise, Ward, Bryce, Moss, Reddell, Hunter, Waterman, Topp, and Culpin, all on Varsity and Valletta.
On Meteor NF 14 flew with Master pilot Chapell and Sgt Boulter.
What a wealth of experience, didn't really appreciate it as a sprog, 18 year old, Pilot Officer trainee navigator.
On Meteor NF 14 flew with Master pilot Chapell and Sgt Boulter.
What a wealth of experience, didn't really appreciate it as a sprog, 18 year old, Pilot Officer trainee navigator.
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There was a Sgt P A Boulter at Chivenor in 1967
23 June 1967: Meteor T.7 WH208 overshot runway at Bovingdon. Sgt PA Boulter, Gp Capt HL Calder-Jones.
He was still at Chivenor the following year when he flew a Meteor 8 at the Air Day.
23 June 1967: Meteor T.7 WH208 overshot runway at Bovingdon. Sgt PA Boulter, Gp Capt HL Calder-Jones.
He was still at Chivenor the following year when he flew a Meteor 8 at the Air Day.
Just picked up on this thread, and must say that as an Aircraft Ground Engineer late 80s early 90s I was lucky enough to fly on several routes with Brian Skillicorn. An absolute gentleman, and always a pleasure to work with.
Smudge
Smudge
An old and respected colleague at CFS, told me of his time at Feltwell, when all the students assembled in the Ante Room. The CI then announced that those standing at one end of the room were to become Officer Cadets - the others would be Sergeants!
Top West 50,
Do you really mean Feltwell?
Postwar, Feltwell was 3 FTS, then a Thor Missile base and afterwards the OCTU, at which ground branch candidates did their officer training, together with former serving non-commissioned personnel. It follows that in that last guise everybody was going for officer but as an FTS, arbitrary commissioning seems unlikely.
O-D
Do you really mean Feltwell?
Postwar, Feltwell was 3 FTS, then a Thor Missile base and afterwards the OCTU, at which ground branch candidates did their officer training, together with former serving non-commissioned personnel. It follows that in that last guise everybody was going for officer but as an FTS, arbitrary commissioning seems unlikely.
O-D
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Ahhh, JENKINS, why indeed commission pilots? 
At the risk of diverting this thread from its intended course, I once had the task of justifying the number of officer ATCOs vs SNCOs who did, fundamentally, the same tasks on console. The answer lay, of course, in the "supervisory and executive" roles that needed to be filled by officers, in addition to those in senior Staff appointments. That led to a requirement for a certain proportion of JOs working their way through the system, whilst SNCOs/WOs just did the basic tasks. Thus it was that 60% officers and 40% SNCO/WO was validated.
Could not the same philosophy also be applied to aircrew?
At the risk of diverting this thread from its intended course, I once had the task of justifying the number of officer ATCOs vs SNCOs who did, fundamentally, the same tasks on console. The answer lay, of course, in the "supervisory and executive" roles that needed to be filled by officers, in addition to those in senior Staff appointments. That led to a requirement for a certain proportion of JOs working their way through the system, whilst SNCOs/WOs just did the basic tasks. Thus it was that 60% officers and 40% SNCO/WO was validated.
Could not the same philosophy also be applied to aircrew?
Cranwell in mid 60s, FS Lawton and MPlt Jackson; as previously mentioned; plus Mplts Saxby and Gunnell, all JP QFIs. There were a couple more MPlts on the Varsity, but I cannot recall their names. However all were gone by 1970. In the same period, MPlt Shepherd was a QFI at Oakington who was later to become a wizened but equally competent Fg Off. Shep was the last and oldest crossover that I can recall.
YS
YS
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YS
Was this the same M Plt Shepherd who had been a Vampire QFI at Swinderby and then a JP3/4 QFI at Syerston. If so he was my instructor for a year at SJ and I could tell some interesting tales about him.
He had been thrown off three commissioning courses at Jurby for drinking too much but I am glad he finally got commissioned.
ACW
Was this the same M Plt Shepherd who had been a Vampire QFI at Swinderby and then a JP3/4 QFI at Syerston. If so he was my instructor for a year at SJ and I could tell some interesting tales about him.
He had been thrown off three commissioning courses at Jurby for drinking too much but I am glad he finally got commissioned.
ACW
ACW418
That's the man, definitely one of the air force's characters.
YS
Was this the same M Plt Shepherd who had been a Vampire QFI at Swinderby and then a JP3/4 QFI at Syerston. If so he was my instructor for a year at SJ and I could tell some interesting tales about him.
YS
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Uffington sb,
I knew Master Pilot Blackwell, he was an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Manston in 1979, I believe he had flown Spitfires, Hunters and I think the Lightning before he changed Branch. Still collected his flying pay!
He made quite an impression on me as a young LAC AATC, he was most respected by all at Manston.
I remember he was an avid Arsenal Fan!
Anyone know if he is still around?
I knew Master Pilot Blackwell, he was an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Manston in 1979, I believe he had flown Spitfires, Hunters and I think the Lightning before he changed Branch. Still collected his flying pay!
He made quite an impression on me as a young LAC AATC, he was most respected by all at Manston.
I remember he was an avid Arsenal Fan!
Anyone know if he is still around?
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When ?
As a former Sgt/Pilot myself (don't get me started on when I was a fortnight overdue for my "crown" - and never did get the money), I did, on my return as a Fg.Off. in '49, receive uniformly excellent instruction from P2 Lamont (Harvard), P2 Willis (Meteor), and as a Flt.Lt. from M/P Wiseman (Balliol), and Sgts McCockle and Quinney (Harvard).
(Ring any Bells ?)
Of course, up to retirement in '72, there were still old M/Ps and some old F/Sgts in ATC, and all over, and some still flying, and may be yet for aught I know. So, among the flood of reminiscences, may I draw attention to the #1 Post (eight years ago) from FirstFiveEighth:
"G'day,
Following a question from my uncle, an ex-RAF Flt.Sgt. Pilot (Mosquitos), I'm trying to ascertain when the RAF stopped recruiting and training NCO Pilots. I have the feeling it was pre-Korean War, possibly 1949".
So when did they ? Someone must know. Danny.
(Ring any Bells ?)
Of course, up to retirement in '72, there were still old M/Ps and some old F/Sgts in ATC, and all over, and some still flying, and may be yet for aught I know. So, among the flood of reminiscences, may I draw attention to the #1 Post (eight years ago) from FirstFiveEighth:
"G'day,
Following a question from my uncle, an ex-RAF Flt.Sgt. Pilot (Mosquitos), I'm trying to ascertain when the RAF stopped recruiting and training NCO Pilots. I have the feeling it was pre-Korean War, possibly 1949".
So when did they ? Someone must know. Danny.
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NCO Pilot recruitment.
Danny,
The final batch of NCO pilots were recruited in 1961. All recruitment was limited to serving personnel and I believe not more than 100 were taken. Training was conducted from 61 to 64.
The success/failure rate was similar to commissioned students with the exception that a significant proportion were ex-NCO aircrew who, with the advantage of experience, mostly succeeded.
Again, most of the successful graduates from pilot training were either commissioned immediately or within a few years.
I recall that all NCO pilots were destined for multi-crew aircraft and underwent AFTS on the Varsity at Oakington. Many found their way into the rotary force. A few became first tour QFIs after which they entered the fast jet world.
Hopefully, my memory of those days has not failed too badly. I was one of them.
The final batch of NCO pilots were recruited in 1961. All recruitment was limited to serving personnel and I believe not more than 100 were taken. Training was conducted from 61 to 64.
The success/failure rate was similar to commissioned students with the exception that a significant proportion were ex-NCO aircrew who, with the advantage of experience, mostly succeeded.
Again, most of the successful graduates from pilot training were either commissioned immediately or within a few years.
I recall that all NCO pilots were destined for multi-crew aircraft and underwent AFTS on the Varsity at Oakington. Many found their way into the rotary force. A few became first tour QFIs after which they entered the fast jet world.
Hopefully, my memory of those days has not failed too badly. I was one of them.
