Before the advent of Chief Technicians in the RAF, Flight Sergeants were often known and addressed as "Chief" or "Chieffy"

The rank of Chief Tech came into being in 1951!

Flt Sgt's were called 'Chief' for many years after that.

Dunno if they still are.

Chief Tech and Junior Tech were the only Tech ranks to survive the 1964 changes. J/T of course has since disapeared

I was nearly the last NCO pilot as I was selected at Biggin Hill to be an NCO pilot. While waiting for my course they cancelled that rank, So back to Biggin Hill for another selection procedure. When they asked if I was interested in a different trade, maybe Navigator, at least I could say I have already been assessed for pilot training so "no thanks"

I still wonder what happened to Taff.

M.Plt at Ballykelly
 

There was a Master Pilot at Ballykelly on 204 in the early 60s - I think his name was Bill? Burgess

Hello, Alec HAMMOND is my Dad and as you know he sadly passed away in 1999. Flying was his life and if you knew him you will know that he didn’t suffer fools gladly and had little time for ‘desk pilots’. A man I’m sure that rubbed a few up the wrong way but to me a great Dad and friend and I’m welling up just writing this as I miss him so much, (I’m 68!). After retiring from the reserves at Manston Mum and Dad moved from Mayfield up to Grantown on Speyside where he indulged his love of golf and after several years they moved south to Woodhall Spa (where Mum still lives), where he continued golfing on the old Woodhall Spa RAF course.
we live in France and both Mum and Dad have visited on many occasions and we’ve had many happy times.
It was really lovely to read your comments and thank you for your kind words,
Kind Regards
Ian HAMMOND
[email protected]

Hello Ian, Sadly Cofffman starter who posted the original photo's is also no longer with us :( if you cannot view them properly there is a download to make photobucket images show again.

I will PM donthaveone for you as he may not see this

Holy thread resurrection Batman!
 

An ex brat Cpl was celebrating his selection as NCO pilot at Abingdon in the early ‘60’s, and arriving back at camp with his buddy, they decided that the decorators weren’t doing a very good job, and so proceeded to improve their efforts. The 252 was deemed so serious, it ended up before Staish, who decided to let them off with a fine as our hero was only going to be an NCO pilot, and he didn’t want to ruin his career. NCO pilot training finished as he commenced training, so he was commissioned, and then got into further trouble as an officer!

Sorry to be a bit late to the table with this but I worked in ASCOC with a Master Pilot Ken Shardlow, he was still around in 77 IIRC. He was a larger than life character whose tales of Brigand and beyond kept us all entertained on nights. He sported a full handlebar moustache and was very fond of a pint of best. If this is your man I am pleased to fill in a few blanks.

Jim Lawn was the last NCO helicopter pilot trained. You can find him on the monthly LAA "zoom" meetings, also 230 Sqn Assocn.

lsh
:E

Was he subsequently with Bristow? Retired flying the HS125.

`Ish`, sorry to correct you ,but you should refer to #75/24/10/14,#78,,and #136 by `pgaruk`#.I was on 160 Cse. at Syerston and awarded `Wings `on 20/3/64 along with Bill Taylor,who went to Shacks;I went to helos in May `64.Later commisioned in Dec.64,on posting to 225 in Borneo..

Jim Lawn had probably graduated from Syerston in late`63,then to helos and then 230..I do not recall our paths crossing at Ternhill in `64.

No probs!
Jim told me this a year or two back.
lsh

That sounds familiar.

lsh

I was, I think, 186 course at Cerney ('63). As I remember there was a gentleman who had been medically recoursed and was still a Sgt waiting to graduate who supervised our bang seat demo on he rig.. I remember that there was an SRO at Cerney saying that failing OQs one could no longer transfer to NCO Aircrew. We had at least 2 Master Pilot instructors at Acklington, and when I went to Manby as a co on Varsities there were several Master Pilots going through refresher training. I don't think I flew with any more although there were still NCO Aircrew on 85 when I held there on the Meatbox in '65.

There was a Sergeant Signaller on 152 Sqn in Bahrain in 1959/61 called Tony Stafford, who flew with me a lot on Twin Pioneers and Pembrokes and we got on very well.I returned to the UK in August 1961 and heard Tony had been accepted for pilot training as an NCO in 1962. I understand he went on to helicopters, but this was not confirmed and I never met him again.

My Late father Master Nav John Lennard flew with Sgt Noddy Eden a pilot on Varsitys at Topcliffe between 1968 and 1970. I don't think Dad ever knew his real name and Noddy never explained why he hadn't been promoted or commissioned.

Master Pilot Reg Taylor
 

One of them may well have been my father, R H W "Reg" Taylor. Does anybody remember him? - would welcome contact from anyone who does. He went on to instruct at Syerston and Leeming. Top photo in attachment taken in Aden, 1958 or '59.