RAF Finningley AAITC
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Hi
I have had a go at scanning some Pics from AAITC 139/140
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/icteqphoto/_RAFBuddies#
I have worked out quite a few of the names - any suggestions?
Nick
I have had a go at scanning some Pics from AAITC 139/140
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/icteqphoto/_RAFBuddies#
I have worked out quite a few of the names - any suggestions?
Nick
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90 + 91 AAITC late 1979
Konfused, Wishywashy and Smiter. Sounds like you were on my second course. I loved it so much I just had to go round again (hadnt quite attained SNCO qualities after performing on the stage with an exotic dancer at the Rugby club caberet). The only lead I was given was the first day for the TACEVAL and making sure you were all breifed on the SUnday night. Remember FS "Oaf" well, Mick Evans crooked smile and Derek Devitt. Al Pinnington was my first Flt Cdr on 90 cse. It seemed hard at the time but I learned a lot and only remember the good bits.
Regards AP
Regards AP
Had the chance to look round what is left of Finningley today. There's not a great deal but I was glad to see that the gym had gone, not so pleased that the No2 Mess was no more.
There are a few bits and pieces left but the ITC block, the rugby club and gatehouse have all gone. Though the area where they stood is now home to the Flying Start Day Nursery so, perhaps, not too much has changed.
Happy days.
There are a few bits and pieces left but the ITC block, the rugby club and gatehouse have all gone. Though the area where they stood is now home to the Flying Start Day Nursery so, perhaps, not too much has changed.
Happy days.
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After leaving Finningley the next time I bumped into "Oaf" was when he was escorting Harry Secombe around ASI. They rolled into the Exiles Club, drunk as monkeys, and drank some more.
I believe it was "Oaf"'s first station as SWO.
I believe it was "Oaf"'s first station as SWO.
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Buckton Pike
Great photos by Wessex boy on page 6.
I took a drive across to Wharfedale the other week and walked up Buckton Pike and across to Hag Dike. I still can believe I and a bunch of young lads hauled pine poles and a hernia box to the top!
Any ideas from the guys on Cse 146 where we spent the weekend in the Dales building a retaining wall?
ETD
I took a drive across to Wharfedale the other week and walked up Buckton Pike and across to Hag Dike. I still can believe I and a bunch of young lads hauled pine poles and a hernia box to the top!
Any ideas from the guys on Cse 146 where we spent the weekend in the Dales building a retaining wall?
ETD
DS view of AAITC
I got AAITC as my first command posting during its earlier days at FYY. I am happy to say that most of the staff at that time (at least 3 of whom have been named here) were pretty good at the job. I modelled my approach on what I had gone through as a direct entry officer cadet at South Cerney. Both courses sought to identify the strengths and, perhaps most importantly for the service, the weaknesses in the characters of the applicants, and to develop resilience in the students. In general, it seems to me that both courses achieved their aims. An important aspect of both courses is that you could always walk away from it. That so few did says a lot for the motivation of those accepted as aircrew recruits at whatever trade. Talking about walking away, I am still bemused by the ATC cadet warrant officer who went through all the trials and tests to get to South Cerney and, after one night in a barrack block, decided that an air force career was not for him!
Sadly, that was all of 52 years ago.
Here's to those aircrew serving right now, whatever the process now is to get there. (And only today saw a pair of Hercs at low level over Devon; first sighting for ages).
12in 95
Sadly, that was all of 52 years ago.
Here's to those aircrew serving right now, whatever the process now is to get there. (And only today saw a pair of Hercs at low level over Devon; first sighting for ages).
12in 95
No ITC block left? That must have been THE cleanest, shiniest block in NATO. Scrubbed and polished every night for decades. We did try covertly painting up some of the copper pipework around the sinks to try and reduce the brasso loading but when we returned from one of the camps, it was back to (now grotty) copper 
Least we can laugh about it now. Cheers to all fellow ex-inmates
Least we can laugh about it now. Cheers to all fellow ex-inmates
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RAF Finningley officially closed sometime in January 1996. I was SDO on New Years Eve 1995 (as a punitive punishment would you believe - it was only ever the depth...). Although I cannot be 100% certain, I am fairly sure I was the last rearcrew chap to step foot in the old ITC building.
There were only a handful of coppers, some maintenance civvies and myself left to keep watch - everyone else had long since departed - the ITC had gone to Cranwell several months previously.
Me and the plods were sitting round sneaking a few tinnies, when I got the urge to take the keys, wander across the parade square and look round the place. It was pretty damn emotional - I sat down at the same desk I had been at in October 1975 and the memories were pretty intense.
I was very proud to have been part of it all - still am.
There were only a handful of coppers, some maintenance civvies and myself left to keep watch - everyone else had long since departed - the ITC had gone to Cranwell several months previously.
Me and the plods were sitting round sneaking a few tinnies, when I got the urge to take the keys, wander across the parade square and look round the place. It was pretty damn emotional - I sat down at the same desk I had been at in October 1975 and the memories were pretty intense.
I was very proud to have been part of it all - still am.
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I graduated from ITC at Finningley thirty one years ago on 119 course and last week found myself at Cranwell on an ATC course. Popped over to the ITC building to say hello. There had been a grad on that day so everyone had thinned out. Chatted to a couple of the Rock DI staff and was glad to hear that the standards are pretty much the same, plenty of beasting still going on it seems!
It was 262 course that graduated - makes me feel old...
Well done to all those that went through the ITC, wherever it was and emerged the other side still smiling.
Cheers
rich
It was 262 course that graduated - makes me feel old...
Well done to all those that went through the ITC, wherever it was and emerged the other side still smiling.
Cheers
rich
It is interesting that a lot of the Stn Name Boards, Stn Cdrs prize winners etc are on display at Elvington. And just as important, there is also an Air Gunners display in the same Nissan hut. I think I even recognised a couple of the guys on the photographs, as they regularly frequented the mess on an evening.
Baffy_Boy
Quote:- Bidded Out, I wonder if you are speaking about Steve Askey on 119? One of the best blokes anyone could wish to meet. If you are I wouldn't mind following up on the rest of what you said. Even if if it's not the same course it's a bit strange that the one or two guys who put little into the team effort became AEO's. Not a little chip on a shoulder there somewhere is there?
Sorry, I haven't looked on her for a while. First question - Yes and I agree, hope he is doing well. Second question. I understand what you are saying but no, I decided to leave and do other things early on and never applied. The comment only applied to a couple of "Grey Men" who seemed to not stand out on the Squadron but played the game and ticked the boxes. Meanwhile, it was a delight to see a significant number of extremely talented NCO Aircrew try for Cranwell and make it through.
On another unrelated point. Despite adventures in Otterburn and picnics in the Dales seeming to be only a year or two ago, those of us on 120 course and beyond are now in our fifties or sixties. I wonder how many of us thought that because we were on a "non pensionable engagement", we werent entitled to a pension? I had a pleasant surprise when I wrote to MOD pensions just on the off chance and found that for my 8 years service as a pie eater , I do in fact have a modest pension and a lump sum payment at age 60.
. Might be worth looking into if you haven't already.
Quote:- Bidded Out, I wonder if you are speaking about Steve Askey on 119? One of the best blokes anyone could wish to meet. If you are I wouldn't mind following up on the rest of what you said. Even if if it's not the same course it's a bit strange that the one or two guys who put little into the team effort became AEO's. Not a little chip on a shoulder there somewhere is there?
Sorry, I haven't looked on her for a while. First question - Yes and I agree, hope he is doing well. Second question. I understand what you are saying but no, I decided to leave and do other things early on and never applied. The comment only applied to a couple of "Grey Men" who seemed to not stand out on the Squadron but played the game and ticked the boxes. Meanwhile, it was a delight to see a significant number of extremely talented NCO Aircrew try for Cranwell and make it through.
On another unrelated point. Despite adventures in Otterburn and picnics in the Dales seeming to be only a year or two ago, those of us on 120 course and beyond are now in our fifties or sixties. I wonder how many of us thought that because we were on a "non pensionable engagement", we werent entitled to a pension? I had a pleasant surprise when I wrote to MOD pensions just on the off chance and found that for my 8 years service as a pie eater , I do in fact have a modest pension and a lump sum payment at age 60.
. Might be worth looking into if you haven't already.
for my 8 years service as a pie eater , I do in fact have a modest pension and a lump sum payment at age 60. . Might be worth looking into if you haven't already.
CG (Bad knee jib-out of 91 cse, did 93 cse and finished my RAF time in the GST HSO role.)
Some of you guys that feel old having been on circa 100 course make me feel even older. I was on 36/38 AEOp course back in the very early 70's (got a recourse after 12 weeks of main course). Of course not at Finningley but Topcliffe. My only experience's of Finningley was for 10 days when the Royal Review took place in 1977 (the Nimrod crew I was on actually was introduced to Her Majesty), an AE Refresher course in 1981 and in the mid 80's when the Shack I was on had to divert with engine problems. Got invited into the Number 2 Mess and had a good night.
My memories of ITC are mixed but although stressful I really enjoyed the main course. Cannot believe that was 44 years ago.
My memories of ITC are mixed but although stressful I really enjoyed the main course. Cannot believe that was 44 years ago.
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90 course apparently, 20 August 1979
Completely forgotten most of AAITC, apart from press ups in the pub car park at Kettlewell while the staff sat and supped their pints.
The only names I remember are Al Pinnington and FS Hoath, I could not even remember my course number, but then I was one of the older ones. T' was 90, I had to dig out old paperwork to find that out.
The only names I remember are Al Pinnington and FS Hoath, I could not even remember my course number, but then I was one of the older ones. T' was 90, I had to dig out old paperwork to find that out.
This might stir a few memories....
From the station magazine - "Finningley Observer" Sept. 1986 - a letter from "our left seat correspondent"
Dear Mum
It has happened, I have been flying in a jetstream. It was really grate and has inspired me kwite a bit. I;m not shure wot actually wnet on Kos I had my hed in a bloo bag for most of the time. The hood in the other seat kept larfing at my discomfort and sed it wood mayk me a better man. He stopt larfing wen I dropped the bag. The hood teeched me sumthink to do with his airobik display. I did get one chance to hold the control kollum but I koodent do much kos the hood woodent let go of his kollom. He dus look very pale sumtimes. He says he will let go of his kollom wen I improov. Wen we got back on the ground I got a telling orf. The hood sed i'd hav to do better next time. He sed I lakt awareness but woodent tell me wot that was.
Till next time muther
your ever luving sun
MOLESWORTH
From the station magazine - "Finningley Observer" Sept. 1986 - a letter from "our left seat correspondent"
Dear Mum
It has happened, I have been flying in a jetstream. It was really grate and has inspired me kwite a bit. I;m not shure wot actually wnet on Kos I had my hed in a bloo bag for most of the time. The hood in the other seat kept larfing at my discomfort and sed it wood mayk me a better man. He stopt larfing wen I dropped the bag. The hood teeched me sumthink to do with his airobik display. I did get one chance to hold the control kollum but I koodent do much kos the hood woodent let go of his kollom. He dus look very pale sumtimes. He says he will let go of his kollom wen I improov. Wen we got back on the ground I got a telling orf. The hood sed i'd hav to do better next time. He sed I lakt awareness but woodent tell me wot that was.
Till next time muther
your ever luving sun
MOLESWORTH
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Is that bloke on the right....?
Despite the cunning disguise as some sort of 70s porn star...is the bloke on the right of the picture "The Black Flash"..... Formerly of the secret South Wales Air Base?
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Ex-163 member here (April 1991), VS'd halfway up a hill somewhere in the Dales after a big 
attack! I wanted AE but was given AEOp and the thought of so many hours in the back of a Nimrod wasn't a big enough carrot to get me to the end of the course. Just my luck that my fellow 163 mates reported back that the course got a lot easier after that particular hill!
Some good memories though and I still have my course picture on my office wall.
attack! I wanted AE but was given AEOp and the thought of so many hours in the back of a Nimrod wasn't a big enough carrot to get me to the end of the course. Just my luck that my fellow 163 mates reported back that the course got a lot easier after that particular hill!Some good memories though and I still have my course picture on my office wall.
