RAF New Look Quarters
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Back to the thread topic ... Officers Quarters in 1981 were still with a coke boiler. Still, it was Uxbridge/Swakeleys.
Look after the V-Force troops first.
Look after the V-Force troops first.
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Since I started the thread, I thought I'd do some checking. It seems the building of quarters started in earnest with the expansion era airfields, but came to a holt during the war. It started again once finances got better after the war but style and design depended on financial year and area. I certainly have served at units where the 1960's era semi-detached quarters have garages (Brize) and some units (Waddington) don't.
My first quarter (Driffield 1994) still had its original kitchen complete with larder with airbricks to the outside for cooling!
My first quarter (Driffield 1994) still had its original kitchen complete with larder with airbricks to the outside for cooling!
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Our first quarter at Marham did not need an air brick for cooling, steel framed windows and drafts from doors made sure of that. Luckily (?) we had a Parkray and radiators, cost a mint to run. No garages attached in Airmans or WO's quarters, just groups of 20 ish around the patch.
Off Piste
One memory of the surge in power cost in the early 70's was seeing a JT walking across the hangar, almost in tears, because his quarterly electric bill had come in at more than his months wages
Off Piste
One memory of the surge in power cost in the early 70's was seeing a JT walking across the hangar, almost in tears, because his quarterly electric bill had come in at more than his months wages
I certainly have served at units where the 1960's era semi-detached quarters have garages (Brize) and some units (Waddington) don't.
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When I did my pre-commissioning tour at Brize as a cpl I was allocated a quarter in Hastings Drive. These quarters were ex-USAF quarters (and probably OMQ). They were a quantum leap from the 60s style AMQ that we had moved from at Scampton.
They even had showers - but, so as not to make us soft, they took a saw to the spigots. With a pair of pliers that was no problem though!
One drawback was the oil fired central heating and an open plan arrangement. The outlet louvres for the heating were at the top of the ceiling (go figure!) and I reckoned that it took a month's output from Saudi to get the house up to a reasonable temperature. Fortunately we had RAF subsidised heating oil because of this problem.
Next stop was OMQ at Rudloe Manor done tastefully in Bath stone.
They even had showers - but, so as not to make us soft, they took a saw to the spigots. With a pair of pliers that was no problem though!
One drawback was the oil fired central heating and an open plan arrangement. The outlet louvres for the heating were at the top of the ceiling (go figure!) and I reckoned that it took a month's output from Saudi to get the house up to a reasonable temperature. Fortunately we had RAF subsidised heating oil because of this problem.
Next stop was OMQ at Rudloe Manor done tastefully in Bath stone.
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When were the quarters that you refer to;
a. built?
b. allocated to airmen?
a. built?
b. allocated to airmen?
When I served at Brize Norton from 1971 to 1974 we were allocated an almost brand new house at Ampney Orchard in Bampton, where MOD had purchased an entire civil development to meet a shortage of AMQs. Ours was a 3 bedroom end of terrace. All these AMQs came with a detached garage at the end of the back garden; this "married patch" has also been sold off and civilianised.
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Blacksheep, you were lucky. I was at Brize 70-74 and was allocated a house in 'legoland'. I had every intention of buying a house when I returned from my overseas tour but houses were scarce and gazumping was rife. It was two years before we managed to move into our own house.
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AARON O'DICKYDIDO,
They were built for the RAF, Prefab no less, built as a short gap, still being used, asbestos and all! There are quite a lot of 60's era semi's built as AMQ quarters that have garages attached, there were some at Driffield and I have seen them at other camps.
As I said, there is no standard though and it, as today, depended on budget and year built.
They were built for the RAF, Prefab no less, built as a short gap, still being used, asbestos and all! There are quite a lot of 60's era semi's built as AMQ quarters that have garages attached, there were some at Driffield and I have seen them at other camps.
As I said, there is no standard though and it, as today, depended on budget and year built.
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A link to a photo image of Blenheim Crescent. The old 1920s AMQ in Cordingley Road contrast with the 1950s built AMQs in Blenheim Crescent and Lysander Road. I note from the photo map that there are only the one pair of semi-detached AMQs with attached garages, about the right ratio for Warrant Officers to Erks. The rest of us had to bid for one of the detached garages in blocks to the rear. (The large buildings in the foreground and across the road from the Semi-D's were "Government Offices" occupied then by Admiralty staff.)
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Quarters at BZN
Came back to BZN December 1970, no quarters available at BZN so was moved into a 3 bed house with garage in Radley Close Swindon, half the houses were RAF, mix of airmen & Rodneys, balance Wiltshire police, never had it so good, after 4 years still no quarters (didn't want one anyway) so bought our first house in Fairford. Paul H.
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Technician ranks
If I am not mistaken, I believe that Master Technicians wore the same badge of rank as Master Aircrew, but without the 'golden eagle' in the centre. (I saw one once back in 1958!)
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Ah, the old technical ranks.
Time to give my age away 
My service, in a technical trade, was virtually coincident with the duration of 'the old technical ranks'. The then 'new trade structure' was introduced in 1951 and done away with in 1964. My service was '52 to '65.
I seemed to suffer from all of the worst aspects of it!
I started as a 15 year old Boy Entrant on an engagement of 10 years, the little catch was that the 10 years didn't commence until my 18th birthday.
Initially the 'experience' requirement between each technical rank was 5 years. But during this 5 year period, a J/T could be promoted to Cpl and a Cpl/Tech could be promoted to Sgt etc. and then, if the trade test was passed, go back to the 'Technical Ladder'.
Some time after the schemes introduction, but definitely by Feb '59, their Airships decided that to encourage long term recruitment, for persons on an engagement of 12 years or more these 'time' qualifications were reduced, from J/T to Cpl/Tech to 3 years and from Cpl/Tech to Snr/Tech a further 4 years or 7 in total from J/T to Snr/Tech. I can't remember the time to Chiefy, sorry I'll claim senility.
In my case, I passed my Cpl/T trade test just less than 3 years after my J/T, so I waited for more than another 2 years to become a Cpl/T. This by the way was worth 2/6 a day more than my then Cpl's pay. Shortly after my 5 years and promotion to Cpl/Tech, their Airships decided to apply the 3 year qualification to persons on a 9 year or longer engagement! This really made me feel good
Then in 1964 all the Cpl/Techs reverted to Cpl, on the same rate of pay as those that had sat on their *rses and not bothered to do any work to pass their trade test. Just another feel good factor.
Even worse was the treatment handed out to some Chief/Techs. In 1951 some Flt/Sgt's in the technical trades, took the option of becoming Chief/Techs. Many of them becoming Crew Chiefs on V-Bombers. Some of these guys were still Chief/Techs in 1964. At which time Chief/Tech became a rank BELOW Flt/Sgt!! So they were suddenly junior to guys that had been promoted to Flt/Sgt between 1951 and 64. Taking the crown of them and giving them the cloth propeller only rubbed in the insult.
My service, in a technical trade, was virtually coincident with the duration of 'the old technical ranks'. The then 'new trade structure' was introduced in 1951 and done away with in 1964. My service was '52 to '65.
I seemed to suffer from all of the worst aspects of it!
I started as a 15 year old Boy Entrant on an engagement of 10 years, the little catch was that the 10 years didn't commence until my 18th birthday.
Initially the 'experience' requirement between each technical rank was 5 years. But during this 5 year period, a J/T could be promoted to Cpl and a Cpl/Tech could be promoted to Sgt etc. and then, if the trade test was passed, go back to the 'Technical Ladder'.
Some time after the schemes introduction, but definitely by Feb '59, their Airships decided that to encourage long term recruitment, for persons on an engagement of 12 years or more these 'time' qualifications were reduced, from J/T to Cpl/Tech to 3 years and from Cpl/Tech to Snr/Tech a further 4 years or 7 in total from J/T to Snr/Tech. I can't remember the time to Chiefy, sorry I'll claim senility.
In my case, I passed my Cpl/T trade test just less than 3 years after my J/T, so I waited for more than another 2 years to become a Cpl/T. This by the way was worth 2/6 a day more than my then Cpl's pay. Shortly after my 5 years and promotion to Cpl/Tech, their Airships decided to apply the 3 year qualification to persons on a 9 year or longer engagement! This really made me feel good
Then in 1964 all the Cpl/Techs reverted to Cpl, on the same rate of pay as those that had sat on their *rses and not bothered to do any work to pass their trade test. Just another feel good factor.
Even worse was the treatment handed out to some Chief/Techs. In 1951 some Flt/Sgt's in the technical trades, took the option of becoming Chief/Techs. Many of them becoming Crew Chiefs on V-Bombers. Some of these guys were still Chief/Techs in 1964. At which time Chief/Tech became a rank BELOW Flt/Sgt!! So they were suddenly junior to guys that had been promoted to Flt/Sgt between 1951 and 64. Taking the crown of them and giving them the cloth propeller only rubbed in the insult.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Visited an AMQ at St Evil (sic) once. Amazed. Opened front door, flight of stair straight up and door to living room on the right. IIRC the decor was a sort of sludge blue gloss paint with many layers applied over the years. The walls were brick and unplastered!
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Tony P-J
I think that you saw a Master Aircrew in a Greatcoat in 1958; the 'Brass' eagle can not be pushed trough the material of the coat. To the same end Flight Sergeants have cloth crowns on Greatcoats.
P G Hering's Customs and Traditions of the Royal Air Force (Gale and Polden 1961) has the Master Technician with a standard 'Tate and Lyle'
Regards CK
If I am not mistaken, I believe that Master Technicians wore the same badge of rank as Master Aircrew, but without the 'golden eagle' in the centre. (I saw one once back in 1958!)
P G Hering's Customs and Traditions of the Royal Air Force (Gale and Polden 1961) has the Master Technician with a standard 'Tate and Lyle'
Regards CK
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ian16th wrote:
Don't think that was so. I went from J/T to Cpl/Tech early '66, being Air Radio Fitter, ex-96th Locking. Additional stripe came with posting from Finningley to Sharjah. Fairly certain I wore them upside down as a techie.
Then in 1964 all the Cpl/Techs reverted to Cpl, on the same rate of pay as those that had sat on their *rses and not bothered to do any work to pass their trade test. Just another feel good factor.
Date of Change
Sorry Alisoncc, but the new trade structure came in on 1 April 1964. The differences that remained were in part caused by the List One and List two trades. The former retained the ranks of J/T and C/T and besides purely 'technical' trades included skilled professionals, such as musicians and some medical chappies (and chickies of course).
If you did have your stripes upside down in '66, I'm surprised some hairy great SWO didn't politely remind you, along the lines of: "I say, old boy, would you mind awfully getting properly dressed".
O-D
If you did have your stripes upside down in '66, I'm surprised some hairy great SWO didn't politely remind you, along the lines of: "I say, old boy, would you mind awfully getting properly dressed".
O-D
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Old Duffer,
Thanks for showing that I'm not yet senile
I was at Akrotiri 1 Apl 64, at the time of the change, and posted home in the Sept, 6 months before my demob. I hadn't turned my tapes over on my greatcoat at Akrotiri and I managed to have it 'in the tailors' at Marham in time to miss Armistice Day in Kings Lynn
So was my greatcoat one of the last Cpl/T's in the RAF?
Anyone ever notice how all Citreon's are Cpl/Techs?
Thanks for showing that I'm not yet senile
I was at Akrotiri 1 Apl 64, at the time of the change, and posted home in the Sept, 6 months before my demob. I hadn't turned my tapes over on my greatcoat at Akrotiri and I managed to have it 'in the tailors' at Marham in time to miss Armistice Day in Kings Lynn
So was my greatcoat one of the last Cpl/T's in the RAF?Anyone ever notice how all Citreon's are Cpl/Techs?