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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0245.PDF
FEBRUARY IOTH, FLIGHT ' Flight " photograph. the north airfieldA flight of Prentices pass over the imposing buildings of the R.A.F. College at Cranwell. Wide Syllabus for Officer-Training To-day SINCE His Majesty The King visited Cranwell in Julylast year to present the Royal Colour, the Royal AirForce College has received a new Commandant and new basic training aircraft. An opportunity was afforded last week for a brief visit to Cranwell to meet the Com- mandant, to see the cadets at work and to hear how the Percival Prentice has been received by the instructors and their pupils. Air Commodore G. R. Beamish, C.B., C.B.E., one-time Cranwell cadet and recipient of the Sword of Honour, also a former Irish and R.A.F. Rugby Football Captain, is the new Commandant. He replaced A. Cdre. R. L. R. Atcherley who has become A.O.C.-in-C. Pakistan Air Force. Air Commodore Beamish stated that returning to Cranwell after 25 years he found the standards very high and the structure of the organi- zation ready to stand up to any tests. As a result of the break during the war years when Cranwell became a flying training school and the College was closed, the new entries of cadets have the job of re-establishing the magnificent repu- tation enjoyed by the college in pre-war years and to which witness was borne by the outstanding war record of nearly one thousand ex-cadets. Pre-war Cranwell is well remembered by many, but too little is known of its aims, work and successes by the young men now at school who might well be attracted by the unique training and opportunities it offers. There are certain important dif- 5en,or members of the College ferences between the staff are (left to right) WiC. R. old and new arrange- i. P. Pritchard, O.B.E., D.F.C., ments, principal A.F.C., M.A., the C.F.I.; Mr. among which is the Patrick Johnson, O.B.E., M.A., director of studies; A. Cdre. G. R. Beamish, C.B., C.B.E., newly appointed Commandant ; and GjC. 1.0.W Oliver. D£0-- D.F.C., AssinShi Commandtilltf * —^ " Flight " photogra of training now covers eight terms, or two years and eight months, instead of two years. A very high standard is required to qualify for entry, and it is in part due to this that only 246 of a possible total of 320 cadets have applied and qualified for training. Regrettable and alarming though this reduction in intake undoubtedly is, it would be more regrettable to have to reduce standards to effect an increase in numbers. In case there is any misapprehension, it must be stressed that Cranwell is a college in the fullest sense—not a flying school with expanded syllabus. Cadets are trained to become Royal Air Force officers with the highest possible fact that the cost of training is now borne by the State instead of by individual parents. The period B 13
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