...and the a/c were service by 17 year old former Boy Entrants, supervised by 19 year old Cpl's.

The Crew Chief's were old men of about 30.

It seems to come round about every three years. There was, actually, an earlier one which, thankfully, seems to have become lost in the mists of time!

... and the aircraft recovering in 10/10 clag were talked down by a 19-yo WRAF Controller ;)

In the late 1940s there was an advert 'Ginger's back - join him in the RAF', or very similar wording.

I had always wanted to join the RAF but I went out to Rhodesia with my parents when I was seventeen. Three years later there was an advertisement in the Rhodesia Herald put in by the RAF for pilots. Three British O levels, Maths, English and a science subject or equivalent were the educational requirements so I applied.

I was successful and on the 8th April 1960 I was attested into the Royal Air Force on a DC(B) commission.

I arrived on the VForce after flying training and even though I was on tankers I was severely disenchanted so I exercised my option to leave after five years IAW my contract.

That's when I found out that the DC(B) scheme had been terminated on the 1st April 1960 so I wasn't on any scheme at all and no, they wouldn't let me leave.

This impinged badly on my brownie points so I was pushed off to helicopters so instead of flying around the world above 8/8ths cloud I flew around it at 500 feet.

Totally stunning! What a result!
You got the big jet time for later and then the fun flying on rotary.

As I said before, I'm an ex MN engineer.
An old Chief, with whom I correspond, recollects a guy who'd just passed his 1st class Board of Trade engineer certificate and was, within a day headhunted to be chief engineer. They were very short of diesel chiefs. He was 28yo.

I rather like this early 1920's ad.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps26db0aa0.jpg


...what happy days they were when one could see the world and fly cutting-edge technology!

Far East Driver
 

I'm a bit confused by your reference to DC (B) - did you mean Direct Entry Commission?

When I applied to join in 1965 the DEC ( B ) was offered, as were DEC ( A ) and ( C ). A meant a commitment to 38/16 point, B allowed the individual an option to leave at either 8 or 12 years from joining and C offered a further option to leave after only 5 years. The option was the individual's and not the service.

I did hear the occasional tale that co-pilots on the Herc' would not get a command unless they waived their 8 year option well before the period stipulated in their original choice.

Time to embarrass one of our members again (I'm not saying who!)

V-Force Reunion - Gallery

(top row, far right) A couple of other V Force related recruiting posters on the top row as well.

Great days, captain of a Valiant at 25! Must have been an attractive proposition for a school leaver in 1963.

TTN
No faces I recognised, but one a/c I worked on.:ok:

Brian, DC preceded DEC for Supplementary List. I believe the upper age limit was 41 but it was believed once over 40 you were at a disadvantage in the job market so they changed to 38/16 and added the E to avoid confusion.

TTN, the Swinderby one reminds me, we had a Victor at South Cerney. Very impressive, hadn't seen one flying before and all we could do was swivel eyeballs to max up.

QUOTE:

and the aircraft recovering in 10/10 clag were talked down by a 19-yo WRAF Controller

Gracious me!

Whenever was 10/10 phased out, all I can remember is Oktas?.

Oktas [eighths] were introduced simply because it was considered easier to divide the sky in the mind's eye that way. How on earth could tenths be estimated?

They were both similar except the DEC did not have the five year option. Apart from that it was the same £1,500 at eight years and £4,000 at twelve.

I remember a recruiting advert from about 1976, in the magazine of the I Mech E (sorry don't have any link or reference to it) but found it memorable as it featured a mate from the polytech we both attended.

I believe he ended up as a Group Captain so it did not do his career any harm and nor did the 'ordinary' (no honours, 2.2,2.1 etc.) BSc in mechanical engineering we both obtained.

FED, there was a 5 year option.

DEC A was a straight 38/16 with the bonus of an extra £1/week, an extra 20%, but in cash terms £16!

DEC B with 8, 12 and 38/16 options

DEC C SSC 5 years. This taster commission was offered to very few, essentially good eggs who wouldn't sign on for longer in the hope they would extend.