1 Sqdn 1(A)Wing

August 1965 - August 1966

Another first for the Ton 5s. When we moved up to 1 Wing, we occupied the Blocks immediately behind the Ton 4s. We were to be joined four months later by the Ton 6s in the last remaining Blocks in 1 Wing., that made three consecutive entries in 1 Wing, as well as three consecutive entries of Craft Aprrentices in 2(A) Wing

The GD Staff of 1(A) Wing 1 Sqdn were:

Squadron CommanderSqn. Ldr. V. A. Gough AFC
OC 'A' FlightFg Off McDill
OC 'B' FlightFlt. Lt. Brown
Squadron SNCOFlt Sgt Morley
'A' Flight SNCOSgt Ingham
'B' Flight SNCOSgt Stevens

"...screw up on a real airplane, instead of just something on a bench"

It was from here that we were to progress through our last year, including taking those 'wonderful' wobbly double decker buses to airfields. I think John Dillon of the Ton 3s , on his web site, summed it up when he said it was "A chance to screw up on a real airplane, instead of just something on a bench". Certainly it was the time most apprentices looked forward to, as schools were finished, the workshop training was finished, and it was time to polish off all you had learned in preparation for meeting the big wide RAF family.

One thing that sticks in my mind was the band competition. Every entry had members in the bands , and most entries, ours included could put out a complete pipe band. It had been tradition that the Senior Entry didn't participate in the competition, but that was something else that was to change. We lost the second to last competition, because (in the words of the adjudicator) the appearance and bearing of the band was not good enough. A plan was hatched which saw the whole entry on parade for the next (and our last) competition. Using the Entry personnel,(I now recognise it was in fact the RAF Halton Guard of Honour, which came from our Entry), we formed a Route Line from the top of the parade ground down to the centre, with the band following in behind and marching on through the route liners. Needless to say, and much to the chagrin of all the other entries... WE WON !!!!

The "Route Liners" ready to march on (SAA Ian Sloss front right)(Photo courtesy of Barry Nelson) The picture below was sent in by John Heppell, and shows the end effect of the band "Marching-on" through the Route Liners

"The guests were drawn from all over RAF Halton, a mixture of service and civilian..."

The highlight of any apprentices' time at Halton, is his graduation. This always takes the form of formal parade before a visiting reviewing office, followed by the prize giving ceremony, held in the main gymnasium. Prior to the day, it was tradition for the entry to host a dinner, where each apprentice was allocated a 'guest' to look after. The guests were drawn from all over RAF Halton, a mixture of service and civilian instructors, chaplains, GD staff and VIPs. I remember our dinner was held in the Bell House Hotel at Beaconsfield, and my allotted guest was Padre (Sqn Ldr) A. Glen Bowie. Frank Bowron managed to keep his menu. (If you click on them they will open in enlarged windows)

Menu_out_thumb.jpg (2418 bytes)Menu_in_thumb.jpg (1349 bytes)

So it was, that 2 days later, we had our Graduation Parade and Prize giving Ceremony (Photographs from Erik Farr-Voller, Bob Partridge and Frank Bowron can now be found in the Gallery section, Prize giving Documents from Paul Theobald)

"...all three colours of hat bands were on parade, and not just in the bands"

As can be seen from the invitation card, another first for the Ton 5s , Three Entries in Graduation. The 201st were the first entry of Craft Apprentices, and the 304th were Admin Apprentices. It also coincided that the entries were from 1(A) Wing - us, 2(A) wing - the 201st, and 3(A) Wing - the 304th, so all three colours of hat bands were on parade, and not just in the bands

After the parade, it was on to the main gymnasium for the Prize giving ceremony. Most of us had already been presented with our Apprenticeship certificate, and for many (including myself) the ONC in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. The majority of us never knew where we were in the Entry Order of Merit, or who were the main prize winners. I won't try to list the OM, but if anyone wants to know where they came, drop me an e-mail and I'll let you know. If you look in the InTouch page, you'll find all the entry personnel who passed out, as well as a few from the 104th and 1 from the 103rd who joined us for graduation.

Click on the image on the right to go to the Prize Giving page. After all the formalities were over, there was just time to get some group photos done, before parents were collected, bags were packed, and (for some of us) band instruments and regalia handed in, before we were bussed off to Wendover Station, for three weeks leave prior to taking up our postings.

Barry Nelson has sent on this picture of the Instrument trades, I'm sure there must be similar pictures of the other trades, and look forward to anyone sending them on. Click on the picture to bring up the Gallery pages, under Halton Memories, you'll also find all the names. Click on the gallery page picture and it'll enlarge. Dave Young has sent the Airframe trade picture, hopefully the names will come soon.., and now we also have the Engine wallahs courtesy of Chas Chapman, and the Electrical fitters (Yippeee - I'm in there), courtesy of Laurie Poulter. Now added the final set - the Dental Fitters -courtesy of John Heppell


105 Electrical

105i_thum.jpg (24224 bytes)

105 Instruments


105 Airframes


105 Engines


105 Dental