I was one of the 54(ish) apprentices that joined the RAF as the 225th Craft
Apprentice Entry (B Flight) on 4 Nov 1971
I say -ish- because depending on the different lists referred to the numbers are different! Don't ask me why though but I'll try and explain
I don't know when this photo was taken... anybody got an idea?
These photos are of the Passing In Parade held on 11 Dec 1971, 6 weeks
after we joined up.
They were taken by one of the Cpl Apprentices from a senior entry, Cpl Todd was
probably his name (big chap with dark hair and a dark moustache?) [thanks to
Robert Dick for jogging my memory].
Some further photos of small groups at the entrance to Gibson Block were recently supplied by Steve Allen - let me know if you can fill in or conform the names.
225 Craft Apprentice Entry B Flight assembled at RAF Locking, Somerset on 3 Nov 1971, the following day was attestation day and for better or for worse we were 'in'. B Flight (with the yellow discs behind our cap badges) were destined to become Ground Communication Fitters (L Fitt GC - Electronic Fitter - Ground Communications) 2 years hence. Also beginning that 2 year path on the same day was our 'sister flight'. A Flight (with red discs) was a little smaller than B Flight and was destined to churn out Ground Radar Fitters (L Fitt GR).
I have a copy of a loose minute written by our flt cdr, Flt Lt Burke, dated 4 Nov 71 which advises 22 addressees of the nominal role of B Flight. The nominal role is tabulated in 5 columns: Number: Rank; Name and Initials; Religion; and Date of Birth. I'll just list the names here:
ACKERLEY, WV
ALLEN, SF
BACON, RJ
BIDDLE, MJ
BILLS, CWT
BOOTS, G
BOYES, AJ
BROWN, IG
BROWSE, TM
CORKISH, A
DAWES, TF
DICK, RH
GERRARD, RA
GLEW, JB
GLITZ, PD
GRANTHAM, N
GRIFFITHS, SM
HARKER, DWJ
HOLGATE, CM
HOLLAND, JM
JOHNSTONE, JD
KING, GG
KIRK, RC
KNIGHT, DP
LANE, GC
MANTON, SP
McARTHUR, RP
McELHINNEY, NCM
MOLE, WN
NICOL, B
PERCIVAL, RS
POLLEY, R
ROBERTS, BA
ROBINSON, LS
SALISBURY, MA
SANDERS, K
SARGENT, ID
SEVIOUR, SJ
SHEPPARD, AM
SMITH, AL
SOLOMON, AG
SPARKS, TC
SPEIGHT, B
STARKEY, GT
STEEN, G
STONER, CM
STRATHEARN, PJ
STREET, MP
THOMAS, GH
TORKINGTON, LD
WARREN, PL
WILLIAMS, C
WYTON, MF
YOUNG, NJ
Well, that's a list of 54 names which all have a ring of familiarity with me, but then I came across another list which, apart from listing 42 names from A Flight had some definite odd ones from B Flight. The extra B Flight names which don't ring any bells for me are:
CORION, MG
REYNOLDS, SR
But then the following names that are on the first list are missing:
DICK, RH
GERRARD, RA
STEEN, G
WARREN, PL
Anyway, that's all a bit puzzling and after 28 years is going to remain a puzzle I'm thinking. One explanation may be that people were occasionally down-entried for various reasons, maybe due to an illness that meant they didn't keep up with the academic progress of their entry, or perhaps they failed key exams but it was decided they should get another chance. Whatever the reasons those people would join a later entry and be included in their roll. This was the case with DAVID CLARE who I've been informed started in 223 entry, but was down-entried to 225. There were probably others.
So, for the A Flight radar and ex-radar boys here's your names:
ADCOCK, HA
BARNETT, E
BARROWS, BE
BEALL, ST
BONNER, MJ
BOONE, LJ
BURTON, B
CLARK, NT
CLARKE, H
CODLING, MW
COX, RN
CRAWFORD, DN
DODD, FS
DOWD, CP
DOWRICK, TC
EYMUR, GN
FARRINGTON, JC
FERGUSON, J
GRAY, A
HAWKINS, PJ
HOWIE, JD
HUGGINS, C
HURN, P
KAYE, GW
KNOWLES, S
MURPHY, CJ
OGBURN, WD
ORLOWSKY, AD
PEASE, CT
PEMBERTON, WO
RAMSAYER, FM
RAY, MG
ROGERS, ME
RUFFELL, J
SAMPSON, DR
SENTANCE, KJ
SHORE, JC
STACEY JC
SWADLING, RG
TISCHLER, L
WATERS, PJ
WRIGHT, CA
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This page was last updated on the 23 February 2021