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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1421.PDF
23 October^ 1953 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News 575 No. 7 Sqn. Standard Presented AT a ceremony held recently, No. 7 L Squadron received its Sovereign's Standard; it is the first unit of Bomber Command to be so honoured. In the fear—ultimately unjustified—of bad weather, the parade was held under cover, in a hangar draped in red and sky blue and with squadron crests as decora tions. Prominent among these was the squadron's old badge, used before the College of Heralds insisted upon a standard style. The presentation was made by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Salmcnd, G.C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O., D.C.L., LL.D., who, in May 1914, was the unit's first commanding officer. He must have been extremely proud of them at the cere mony, for their drill was perfect. Equally effective was the "stage management." On arrival, No. 2 Regional Band, R.A.F., and the squadron marched in through the centre doors; but at die conclusion of the ceremony the squadron, widi its new standard flying, marched up to the end of die hangar, the doors of which opened only as the leading files arrived. Large numbers of old members of No. 7 Squadron were present and many of the officers from other units, which are also stationed at R.A.F. Upwood, lent a hand in ushering the guests. Provosts for Ternhill 1T is announced that No. 6 Flying Train-x ing School, Ternhill, Shropshire, is to become the first school to instruct R.A.F. student pilots with the Percival Provost. The new training programme has already begun and two flights are equipped with die new aircraft. The change-over will be completed early in the New Year and Tern hill will be die first complete Provost equipped flying training unit in the R.A.F. The history of Ternhill goes back to the days of the R.F.C. It was first opened as an operational base in 1916 but closed in 1920. During the expansion of the R.A.F. in 1935 it re-opened as a flying training school and the first course commenced in February 1936. Although there have been seveial different units at Ternhill it has always been the home of an F.T.S. No. 6 F.T.S. was formed in May 1920, when a nucleus of the unit was established at Spitalgate, Lines. In September 1921, the school moved to Manston, Kent, as a lodger unit of the School of Technical Training, with S/L. J. T. Babington, D.S.O. (later to become a member of the Air Council), and S/L. W. S. Douglas, M.C., D.F.C. (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Lord Douglas of Kirdeside) as squadron commanders. The school then was largely concerned with refresher courses for officers who already had their "wings." In April 1922, however, the school closed. As part of the R.A.F. expansion of the mid 1930s, No. 6 F.T.S. was re-formed at Netheravon, Wilts., in April 1935 but in August 1938, it moved to Little Rissington, Glos. At the outbreak of the last war its tide changed to No. 6 Service Flying Training School and die courses were shortened and the pupil establishment increased to 160. When new schools were set up in the Dominions under the Empire Air Training Scheme, No. 6 S.F.T.S. at Little Rissington, in April 1942, was reorganized into No. 6 (Pilot) Advanced Training Unit to deal with the products of the Canadian schools. In December 1945, No. 6 (P) A.F.U. was re-formed into No. 6 (S) F.T.S. From 1935 until February 1942, when it became a P.A.F.U., No. 6 F.T.S. passed out some 2,016 pilots. During die World War II, ex-pupils of the school won 588 awards for gallantry, including the V.€-. gained by W/C. Guy Gibson, the D.S.O. won by W/C. J. J. K. Fleetwood for locating the prison ship Ahmark, and 23 Allied awards. 'Flight" photographs STANDARD PRESENTATION: (Top right) FjO. D. G. Gibbons with the new No. 7 Squadron Standard after presentation by Marshal of the R.A.F. Sir John M. Salmond. In the background is S/L D. C. Saunders, who commands the unit. (Above) Sir John Salmond arrives in a D.H. Devon, to be greeted by the Station Commander, G/C. R. A. C. Carter, D.S.O., D.F.C. (Right) Marching-off the Standard at the end of the parade; it is between A Flight, commanded by F/L. H. I. Popay, D.F.M., and B Flight, com manded by F/L D. H. Tew. F/S. W. D. £. Martin and F/S. W. T. Ball formed the Standard Escort.
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