Last NCO Pilot entry?
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was a nice man, the replacement was something I wouldnt step in................. Pulled me up one day for long sideboards, well it was the 70's.... asked who I reported to in the mornings, so thinking damage control gave him the name of a fair sergeant.... he called him on the phone and asked have you seen the state of this Airman? answered well he normally has is overalls on so cannot comment on his dress lol. had him over the guardroom, bollocked him and had him have a haircut too........ was not amused..There was also a slightly slow SAC? Brooks with a broad accent in the Guardroom whom everytime he made a tannoy message, we used to call the guardroom so the phone was ringing in the background, u would have thought he would have cottoned on............
Last NCO Pilot in RAF.
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In the guardroom at Manby in 65/66 was an SAC "Trade Assistant General" similarly attired with pilots wings and war medals. I was told he never adapted to life outside the RAF, and rejoined to stay 'within the family'.
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I seem to recall an Air Traffic Cpl at Valley who wore pilots wings....this would be in the 70's.
There were still plenty of "AG" and "B" brevet wearers around at that time and my first flight commander at Halton actually wore an "O" brevet. Which possibly made him unique at the time....68-70.
There were still plenty of "AG" and "B" brevet wearers around at that time and my first flight commander at Halton actually wore an "O" brevet. Which possibly made him unique at the time....68-70.
I was very nearly a Sergeant Pilot. On one of my interviews with the CGI at Oakington in 1961 I was asked whether I would like to be one; it must have been something to do with my Ps & Qs. I declined the offer inferring that I would rather leave the service. They must have been short of recruits because it was never mentioned again.
IIRC when the Varsities arrived from Valley I am sure that there were two sergeant students among them. When I arrived in Borneo in January 1966 there were two sergeant pilots on the squadron; Jim Lawn and Dave Cramp; possibly the same two.
Eventually Dave Cramp did my captains qualification and line check at Sumburgh in November 1978.
IIRC when the Varsities arrived from Valley I am sure that there were two sergeant students among them. When I arrived in Borneo in January 1966 there were two sergeant pilots on the squadron; Jim Lawn and Dave Cramp; possibly the same two.
Eventually Dave Cramp did my captains qualification and line check at Sumburgh in November 1978.
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There was a Master Pilot instructor on the Hunter Sim at Chivenor in early 70's. Can't emember if he moved to Brawdy when Chivenor closed and the OCU (TWU) went there.
At end of WW2 weren't there a lot of acting NCO aircrew who reverted to their substansive ranks at war end? Former F.SGt pilots with wings and medals dressed as SAC. Apparently a lot of people thought they had been demoted due to LMF or some similar 'crime'.
At end of WW2 weren't there a lot of acting NCO aircrew who reverted to their substansive ranks at war end? Former F.SGt pilots with wings and medals dressed as SAC. Apparently a lot of people thought they had been demoted due to LMF or some similar 'crime'.
There were still plenty of "AG" and "B" brevet wearers around at that time and my first flight commander at Halton actually wore an "O" brevet. Which possibly made him unique at the time....68-70.
Not quite unique, a certain senior officer at nav school 1969-70 still wore this brevet. There were some mutterings that the old description of the 'O' brevet as "the flying a****ole" was particularly appropriate in his case.
YS
On my Varsity course at Oakington (30/84 course) in early 1964 there were certainly 3, perhaps 4 Sgt. Pilots. One was subsequently on the same MOTU course as me in the September, another must have been on a later course, as both were on Shacks on 205 Sqn in Singapore in the late 60's. Another, I think went onto helicopters.
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Why does the RAF only recruit pilots who are commissioned these days?
Is it down to politics or is there a valid reason behind it, i.e. fast jet pilots usually only have a limited half life so would require a decent pension to retire earlier than 22 years?
Or is it down to the fact that the RAF insists that its senior Commanders are aviators so they have an understanding of air power?
Is it down to politics or is there a valid reason behind it, i.e. fast jet pilots usually only have a limited half life so would require a decent pension to retire earlier than 22 years?
Or is it down to the fact that the RAF insists that its senior Commanders are aviators so they have an understanding of air power?
Following on from Post 46, in addition to Jim Lawn and Dave Cramp there was also Cherry Springate and Mel Buckley. These guys all went through Ternhill or Tern Hill (depending on what the service decreed) at the end of 1964.
There were several non commissioned instructors of whom Master Pilot Don Sissons springs to memory and Master Navigator Les Fuggle who IIRC ran the crewman training.
Several experienced Masters came through from fixed wing but at least one didn't like the idea of sitting beneath a demonic telegraph pole and so returned from whence he came.
My last go in a Sycamore was with Master Pilot Ray Rowe in Singapore in late 1966 but several others, such as Taff Walker have already been mentioned.
Old Duffer
There were several non commissioned instructors of whom Master Pilot Don Sissons springs to memory and Master Navigator Les Fuggle who IIRC ran the crewman training.
Several experienced Masters came through from fixed wing but at least one didn't like the idea of sitting beneath a demonic telegraph pole and so returned from whence he came.
My last go in a Sycamore was with Master Pilot Ray Rowe in Singapore in late 1966 but several others, such as Taff Walker have already been mentioned.
Old Duffer
Is that a record?
Perhaps someone will be clever enough to find out, but I am just grateful as ever to Danny for resuscitating the thread.
Thread drift I know, but quite interesting to note from the thought-provoking link http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/Content...AA_amp_BoB.PDF that five of the fifty-six FAA pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain were Petty Officers, the equivalent rank/rating to Sergeant. I regret that I do not know when Chief or Petty Officer pilots were phased out of the FAA, although I would hazard a guess that it was probably in the mid 1950s.
Jack
Perhaps someone will be clever enough to find out, but I am just grateful as ever to Danny for resuscitating the thread.
Thread drift I know, but quite interesting to note from the thought-provoking link http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/Content...AA_amp_BoB.PDF that five of the fifty-six FAA pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain were Petty Officers, the equivalent rank/rating to Sergeant. I regret that I do not know when Chief or Petty Officer pilots were phased out of the FAA, although I would hazard a guess that it was probably in the mid 1950s.
Jack
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I seem to recall that on our IOT training course at South Cerney in 1962 we had some guys who were going through with us but were remaining as NCO aircrew. I believe a couple ended up as NCO Beverley navigators.
On my Bev OCU in 64 we had relatively young, ie not WW2, Fg Off Biff H.....d who wore the AFM or DFM (cant remember which) gained as a Sgt pilot on Meteors I believe. Ace bloke.
On my Bev OCU in 64 we had relatively young, ie not WW2, Fg Off Biff H.....d who wore the AFM or DFM (cant remember which) gained as a Sgt pilot on Meteors I believe. Ace bloke.