FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1398.PDF
628 FLIGHT. JUNE 13, 1935. R.A.F. UNITS VISITED THE CADRE SQUADRON at HUCKNALL No. 504 (County of Nottingham) (Bomber) Squadron By MAJOR F. A. de V. ROBERTSON, V.D. WHEN the non-regular squadrons of the Home Defence Force were established, most of them were located near large industrial towns, with the idea, partly, that such towns would provide a good recruiting ground for trained mechanics as aircraftmen for the squadrons. In some cases this expectation has been fulfilled, but in others it has turned out that recruits want to join an Air Force trade as different as possible from that which they follow during the week. The motor car mechanic will be anything rather than an engine fitter in the Air Force. He does not want a busman's holiday, although he will come out regularly to the aerodrome every week-end and work like a Trojan at some trade completely different from his own. That is the experience of the Cadre squadron at Hucknall. This tendency certainly implies keenness, and one can not spend five minutes on Hucknall aerodrome without becoming aware of the air of enthusiasm which permeates all ranks. No. 504 (County of Nottingham) (Bomber) Squadron comprises four classes, the regular and the Special Reserve officers, and the regular and the Special Reserve airmen. All alike are obviously full out for the squadron. Perhaps the first thing which strikes a visitor is a board in the Commanding Officer's office, on which there are seventy-eight hooks, representing the establish ment of Special Reserve airmen. On each hook hangs a small full-length photograph of one airman, with details attached. There are no blank hooks, which shows that the squadron is up to establishment. It also shows that the CO. (Sqn. Ldr. H. S. Kerby, D.S.C., A.F.C.) takes a personal interest in each of his S.R. men. As a matter of fact there is a waiting list of very desirable young men who want to enlist in the squadron, but must wait for a vacancy. During Flight's visit to Hucknall, three very smart young men turned up, who might from their appear ance have been applicants for com missions, but who wanted to enlist. The Territorial Army would give a great deal to see such a class of recruit, but these young men had to be put on the waiting list. It is much the same with the offi cers. The establishment provides for six regular officers, including the C.O., and seventeen Special Reserve officers, including one Flight Lieu tenant in the Medical Branch. Whereas the airmen are all Notting ham men, the officers come from all over the country, some from Lon- *'..' • •' ' r.~ ' ' •Mt"~" 1 don, some from Manchester, and some from other places, also not very near to Nottingham. Their undertaking obliges them to do at least twenty-four hours' flying per annum, but such a paltry minimum as that would not be tolerated in No. 504 Bomber Squadron. Most of them drive up every Saturday afternoon and take up their residence at Hucknall for the week-end, and they work hard until the moment when they have to set off once more for the offices or other haunts in which they earn their living. In the officers' mess esprit de corps is obviously the predominating feeling, regulars and Special Reservists showing no difference at all in their enthusiasm for flying and for all forms of squadron work. " A " Flight is the regulars' flight, and is regarded largely as the training flight The S.R. officers are taught to fly ab initio in the squadron. Within the last eight months two S.R. officers of the squadron have been given short-service commissions in the R.A.F. and one wa^ given a permanent commission. Conss-
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
