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Aviation History
1930
UNTITLED0 - 0093.PDF
FLIGHT, JANUARY 3, 1930 otitinued with the present senior term on the old syllabus, modified somewhat•r. stress the more practical side of the work. This term has completed the vllabus and achieved a very satisfactory standard of work. The work ofall terms has been good. Work in Air Pilotage has been satisfactory and keen interest has been.hown in particular by the term passing out. The standard of cross-country jiving has improved. The syllabus in parachutes has been carried out, and Cadets of the IVth1 >rm have received instruction in parachute inspection, packing, method .if jumping, and control when descending. No practice jumps have beenmade. A personal issue of parachutes has now been made to each Cadet, and it is hoped that Cadets will now acquire the habit of taking proper care*if their parachutes. During the period under review the total number of Cadets admitted tohospital was 33, as compared with 36 admitted during the period January to luly, 1929. The foundations of the new College building are now nearly completed.Cadets have taken a keener interest in Physical Training than in the previous term. The standard has been good though it could still be improved.The average improvement in physical development for the term passing out is:—Height, 0 • 9 ins.; weight, 9 • 6 lb.; chest measurement (normal), 1 • 8 ins. ;chest measurement (expanded), 1 '6 ins. One Boxing contest only has taken place during the term, against a team,,t officers of the Royal Air Force. The contest was lost by 4 fights to 5. The standard has been very satisfactory.The high standard in Rugby football of the previous season has been main- tained, and the match against the R.M.A. was drawn (6 points each), whilethat against the R.M.C. was lost by a narrow margin (12 points to 16). Twelve matches were played, of which 8 were won, 3 lost, and 1 was drawn. The standard of Skill-at-arms has been very satisfactory in all weapons.The following results were obtained :—v. Birmingham Fencing Club, lost, 10 points to 21 • v. London Rifle Brigade, lost, 15 points to 21.Seventeen Association football matches have been played, of which 7 have been won, 9 lost, and one drawn. The standard of play has been very satis-factory, but the team has rather lacked finish. The match against the R.M. A., Woolwich, was lost by 2 goals to 3 after a close game. In spite of dry weather, and hard ground, at the beginning of the season,the College Beagles have provided consistently good sport. A larger number of Cadets have attended the meets than was the case last season. The Sword of Honour, presented to the best all-round Flight Cadet in thesenior term, has been awarded to F./Cdt. Under-Officer George Reginald Alexander Elsmie. The R.M. Groves Memorial Prize, for the best all-round Pilot in the seniorterm, has been awarded to F./Cdt. Under-Officer George Reginald Alexander Elsmie.The Abdy Gerrard Fellowes Memorial Prize, for the Flight Cadet of the senior term obtaining the highest total marks in Mathematics and Science,has been won by F./Cdt. Under-Officer George Reginald Alexander Elsmie. The prize awarded to the Flight Cadet in the senior term obtaining thehighest marks in Humanistic Subjects has been won by F./Cdt. Sergeant Richard Lindsay Wallace. The Prize awarded to the Flight Cadet in the senior term obtaining thehighest marks in Aeronautical Engineering has been won by F./Cdt. Corporal Alfred Earle. School of Technical Training (Apprentices), Royal Air Force,Halton Extracts from the Report of the Air Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force,Halton, upon the occasion of the passing-out of the 15th (January, 1927) entry of aircraft apprentices. The January, 1927, entry is the 15th to complete the Service course oftraining as aircraft apprentices. This is also the first occasion on which an advanced course for corporals will not follow the passing-out of an entry. The entry has reached a relatively high standard in every department, andthe results as a whole are decidedly an improvement on some previous ones. The standard of drill and discipline is as good as can be expected, and hasshown gradual improvement, particularly in certain respects : in steadi- ness on parade, dress and appearance, cleanliness of barrack rooms, andupkeep and lay-out of kit. The general behaviour of the entry has been excellent on the whole. Within the limits prescribed by time and weather, physical training hasbeen satisfactorily carried out. The 15th entry has been well up to the average in games, and particularlyin Rugby, athletics,boxing and swimming. Games within the wing have been re-organised in order to introduce more competition and interest for the lesserlights. This has proved an undoubted success. Although great success may not have been achieved in every department of sport, at least great keennessand a pleasant sporting spirit has been shown. More grounds have been made available, to the general advantage. The health of this entry has been average. Some loss of time was experi-enced in the autumn of 1928, when several rooms were isolated on account of a small outbreak of scalet fever. In order to reduce the time lost from instruc-tion owing to sickness, a form of light duty has been introduced for the benefit of aircraft apprentices suffering from minor injuries only, enabling them toattend all training which does not involve physical effort. The training of the Fitters Aero Engine in this entry has not followed asUosely to the sequence of the syllabus as could be wished. The causes for this can all be traced to difficulties of either accommodation or establishment, andusually to both. Instruction in engine running faults has been given on small Austin engines,and this is a very satisfactory method. The course given on installation aud running aeroplane engines in airframes has been continued on the same lines ;ii before.This is the last entry of Carpenter Riggers to be trained at Halton. Efforts have been made to follow the same system Of teaching as that adopted fortitters, but, excepting rigging, the problem is entirely different as the work consists chiefly of practical exercises and aircraft construction. Theentry has constructed three Gamecocks, fitted two new longerons to an Avro tor the Training Flight, and repaired a crashed Avro for use in the WingRigging Bay. Skill at bench work varies more in individual cases than that of fitters, but at its best reaches a very high level. As regards coppersmiths and sheet metal workers, the general standardhas been well maintained. Two apprentices were selected from the trade this year to demonstrate sheet metal working at the Model Engineer Exhi-bition held in London. The entry began in a mediocre fashion, but soon improved and has con-tinued to progress steadily during the course. The passing-out examination results give abundant evidence of steady, persevering work throughoutthe course on the part of a large number of boys. It has been encouraging u> find that the lower classes have obtained comparatively good results.They have shown the greatest keenness to take advantage of the opportu- nities offered, and have developed an all-round ability. It is a gratifying indication to find that as a result of their training here alarge number of boys have sought advice in connection with further pursuit of their studies of aeronautical science after they leave Halton.In general studies, the emphasis laid upon Service work and outlook has given the course considerable point and definition. The apprentices of thisentry should have a grasp of the general conditions in the countries which they are likely to serve, and some understanding of the problems which face theEmpire, and of the part their service may be called upon to undertake in the solution of those problems. This entry has suffered to a considerable extent from the fact that classeshave had their education officers changed so often. This has been due to the abnormal number of education officers posted to and from Halton, and theresultant inter-wing postings. It is felt that this report would be incomplete without reference to the workof the training staff—service and civilian—who have given of their best in preparing the aircraft apprentices of this entry for their Service career.It is by no means an easy task to instruct, nor is the work of an instructor necessarily finished at the end of the routine working day. Nevertheless,opportunities are found by the staff to assist aircraft apprentices in finding some form of congenial occupation and showing them the right use of suchleisure time as Service life affords. These are the objects of the Debating and Dramatic Society, Model AeroplaneSociety, etc., and the instruction in boxing and other sports in which many of the staff also interest themselves for the benefit of the aircraft apprentice. The passing-out of this entry will bring into Service life a large number ofkeen and competent mechanics, who, if carefully fostered for a time amidst the somewhat different surroundings of productive work, will prove theirworth. It is of interest to note as an example of their keenness, that with the excep-tion of less than twenty, the whole of the entry volunteered for airman pilots. Prize Winners.—Grand aggregate :—561094 Dale, G. T. (F.A.E.). Highestin Educational Subjects : 561094 Dale, G. T. Best Fitter Aero Engine : 561345 Pattison, C. 2nd Best Fitter Aero Engine : 561249 Holmes, W. A. P.Best Carpenter Rigger: 561386 Weeks, G. W. Best Coppersmith and Silversmith Worker: 561324 Oxford, A. Cadetships : 561094 Dale, G. T. ;561206 Porter, E. F.; 561326 Needham, S. W. Wakeneld Scholarship : 561094 Dale, G. T. Cranwell School : Electrical and Wireless School, Royal Air Force Extract from Commandant's Report at the Passing-out Inspection ofthe January, 1927, Entry of Aircraft Apprentices, December, 1929. This is the eleventh Passing-out Inspection of Aircraft Apprentices whohave been trained at the Electrical and Wireless School. Altogether there are 244 Aircraft Apprentices under training at the Electrical and WirelessSchool (exclusive of this Passing Out Entry) :—110 of these are being trained as wireless operator mechanics, and 134 as electricians. The discipline ofthis entry has been very good. They have set a high standard, which, it is hoped, the junior entries will emulate. All have satisfactorily completedtheir drill, and have fired Table " A " of the Musketry Course. In technical subjects the aircraft apprentices of this entry have madesteady progress, and have attained a good average standard. This is the more creditable when one bears in mind the considerable dislocation due tothe move to Cranwell from Flowerdown, and the real discomfort of the latter station during the cold weather last spring. As classes, they have co-operatedwell with their various instructors, and have been easy to handle. In W/T operating the standard is well above the average, and the abilityto handle traffic speedily and accurately was most marked during their examinations in the W/T Out-Stations.The progress and general standard in the workshops is satisfactory, and the advent of the new workshop equipment, in the form of power-drivenlathes, afforded an incentive to produce better work. The electrician appren- tice, have taken a particular interest in their practical workshops, and as faras skill of hand is concerned, they represent the best class in the entry. In air operating and aircraft wiring, the work of the entry compares veryfavourably with that of preceding entries. Amongst other benefits, the move to Cranwell has enabled facilities forevening study and practice to be put at the disposal of all pupils to a far greater extent than was possible formerly. It is satisfactory to report thatthis entry has made full use of these facilities, and has undoubtedly reaped great benefit from the informal manner in which they have been able to bringtheir difficulties to their instructors. In educational subjects the entry has attained a fair average standard.The entry now passing out did not attain quite as good a standard as the entry of January, 1926 ; the difference is small, as shown by the examina-tion results, and is probably due to the severe weather and widespread minor sickness general amongst the apprentices in the term immediately beforetheir examination. Individual members of the entry have done exceptionally well. Four of the apprentices have scored more than 75 per cent, in theirthree years' work, and justly claim the distinction of " Pass with Credit." Forty-four of the apprentices have done well enough to be exempt fromcompulsory educational test until their promotion to sergeant becomes a matter of moment. How serious this matter is to the individual will dependupon the use he has made of the educational facilities provided on all stations. The health of the aircraft apprentices has, on the whole, been very good.This entry has reached a high standard of physical training. At Cranwell, with the increased facilities of a drill hall, a gymnasium and a swimmingbath, the j uuior entries will benefit by a more comprehensive physical training course than has been possible at Flowerdown. In Rugby football, fourteen apprentices of the passing-out entry playfor the Squadron 1st XV. A good fixture list has been secured, and although soma matches have had to be cancelled owing to the hard ground, up to thetime of writing this report, four matches have been played aud won. The Squadron has entered its Association 1st XI in the local leagues,and up to date they have won four out of seven matches in the Ruskington League, and three out of five matches in the R.A.F. Athletic Championships.There is a most satisfactory keenness in boxing and shooting. During a recent boxing match of 20 fights, arranged between the apprentices and theWinchester Rifle Dapot Recruits, the Rifle Depot won the match with 33 points against the apprentices 27 points, but in view of the fact that the apprenticeswere fighting against men, this result is considered to be most satisfactory. All the fights were exceptionally clean and open, and punishment was givenand taken extremely well. With this passing-out entry we lose Flight- Leading Apprentice Wright, who is the R.A.F. Aircraft Apprentices' Welter-weight Champion. Of the present entry, 10 have passed out as Leading Aircraftmen, 35have passed out as Aircraftmen First Class, and 16 have passed out as Aircraft- men Second Class. There have been no failures.Cadetships have been offered to 561306 A./A. Monks, R. ; 571317 A. /A. Pyke, A. ; 561178, A./A. Harries, E W. The winner of the " Hyde-Thomson " Memorial Prize is 561306 A./A Monks, R. 561306 A./A. Monks,R., wins the prize offered by the Air Ministry for theaircraft apprentice who obtains the highest aggregate marks in all sections. 561317 A /A. Pyke, A., wins the prize offered by the Air Ministry for theAircraft Apprentice who obtains the highest marks in technical subjects. 561336 A./A. Patterson, J. H., wins the prize offered by the Air Ministryfor the Aircraft Apprentice who obtains the highest marks in educational SJbjec's. 93
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