THIS IS THE HOME OF
THE 56TH ENTRY
AIRCRAFT APPRENTICES
ROYAL AIR FORCE HALTON
No 56 Entry Aircraft Apprentices arrived at No 1 School of Technical Training Royal Air Force Halton in May 1947 and graduated in May 1950.
The Entry was one of the largest post war entries commencing with some 260 members and finishing with 248, comprising 87 Fitter ll Engine, 88 Fitter ll Airframe, 23 Instrument Makers, 30 Electricians and 20 Fitter Armourer
At the end of apprentice training the entry was the first non-wartime entry to have a proportion of its members posted to operational units rather than the whole entry going to the Maintenance Unit at RAF St.Athan in South Wales. Three of the entry gained cadetships to Cranwell, two finishing up with stars and knighthoods, one being the current Patron of the Royal Air Force Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association.
Shortly before leaving RAF Halton volunteers were called for aircrew training and a large proportion of the entry volunteered and were accepted in 1951 and began flying the following year. This was the time, it may be recalled, of the Korean war and there was a rapid expansion in the Royal Air Force.
Sadly many of the entry have now passed out to higher places (except probably for a couple of the skates) and those of us that remain are scattered throughout the world having all now finished with the Service, again with a couple of exceptions who still like to dress up.
The site has been kept fairly simple for the benefit of any of the armourers from the entry who happen to log on.
If anyone has pictures of the "Gash Trades" and can let me have them to borrow and copy I shall add them to the site.
RAF Apprentices and Boy Entrants On The WWW
RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices Association
