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Entry Representative: Bill Wilkinson
This Web Page has been raised by the Webmaster,
initially
based upon data held in the RAF Cranwell Association Database, then
subsequently updated based upon advice from the Entry Representative.
In September 1934, 50 young hopefuls arrived at
RAF Cranwell, initially known as the 7J Entry, and formed 2 Classes
(7J1 and 7J2) to train as Wireless Operator Mechanics and one Class
(7J9) to train as Instrument Makers. Subsequently under
a revised Entry Numbering System they were known as the 7M7 Entry
(WOMs) and 7J7 Entry (IM). During
their training they gained 1 from Senior Entries, 2 were discharged, while 1 of their number was re-classed to a
later Entry,
leaving 48 to pass out in July 1937.
Bill Wilkinson advises me
that: "We were the last of the small entries before the
expansion. Reasonably good at all sports we were less evidently distinguished in
our professional studies as revealed at our graduation. No cadetships were
awarded and there was only one LAC (Humphrey from an earlier entry). The rest of
us made AC1 or AC2.
We all hankered after becoming pilots and this
meant that we had to qualify to LAC under our own arrangements after we left Cranwell.
To achieve this we had to sit a paper and then to spend a week at West
Drayton undergoing practical tests and a few of us did this. Unfortunately having
qualified as LAC we became eligible for posting to the Fleet Air Arm, as some
of us were to our chagrin. Although some of us had been recommended for pilot
training, the RN would not release us to return to the RAF and when we did eventually get
back during the war we were told to "go away because it was easy to get pilots
but there was a great shortage of WOMs". So we never fulfilled our ambition apart
from John Vanstone who later received pilot training under a short lived scheme
whereby some selected Engineer Engineer officers were so selected.
The Entry List below is presented in alphabetical
order:
7M7's
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NUMBER
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SURNAME
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INITS
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KNOWN AS
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REMARKS
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567235
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Allan
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J
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James, AKA "Titch"
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567066
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Armstrong
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L
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Laurence
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Deceased (Missing) 15th Nov 1942
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567017
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Armstrong
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W
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Walter
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567166
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Barnes
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P C
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Peter
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Deceased 1948.
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567046
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Boon
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E J
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Ernest
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Association Member
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567107
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Booth
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J R P B
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James
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Deceased date N/K
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567015
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Breeze
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R D
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Robert
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566989
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Brickwood
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R
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Ron
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Deceased Association Member (7th Dec
2001).
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567058
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Cordes
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J A
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John
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567009
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Davies
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J E
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John
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566975
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Dodds
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W
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Whitfield
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567083
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Edwards
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C
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Clifford
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566973
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Fazey
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F
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Frank
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Association Member
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566987
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Graham
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G A
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George
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Deceased Association Member. (29th Aug
2006)
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567057
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Haire
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O
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Oscar
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Deceased 12th Apr 1940 while flyng with
77 Sqn.
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566995
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Hill
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H
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Harry
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567059
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Hind
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J
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John
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567001
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Holliday
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J W
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Joseph
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566986
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Humphrey
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R
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Robert
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Joined with 29th Entry.
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567242
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Hunter-Rowe
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D H
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567108
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Kennedy
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D C
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David
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566983
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Knight
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V B J
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Victor
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Deceased date N/K.
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567002
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Lawes
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W F
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Walter
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Deceased. Shot down serving
with 13 Sqn on 16th May 1940 aged 21. Is buried in a joint grave with Pilot Officer T.H. Borg-Banks in the N.W.
part of Vieux-Conde Communal Cemetery, France.
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567078
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Leddra
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E
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Edwin, AKA "Pompey"
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Deceased date N/K.
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566969
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Lewis
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R
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Ralph, AKA "Taff"
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Deceased date N/K.
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566979
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MacDonald
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A
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Angus
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Deceased with 39 Sqn on 12th Jun 1943.
Buried at Kanchanaburi.
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566988
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May
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A
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Alan
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Deceased 13th Dec 2001.
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567038
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Mitchell
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R J
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Robert
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567076
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Moreman
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T K
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Trevor
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Deceased date N/K.
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566970
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Parker
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K
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Not recognised by Entry Rep and
Entry Members as having
served with them. Under Investigation.
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566991
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Ridd
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G B
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George
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567073
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Rowbotham
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PV
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Paul
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Deceased 1st Aug 1997.
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566984
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Scott
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N A
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Norman
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Deceased 11th Apr 1939.
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567149
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Smith
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C E H
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Clarence
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567007
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Smitheman
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G O
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Oliver
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Deceased Lapsed Association Member.
(24th Mar 1996)
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567039
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Spells
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H
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Harry
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567062
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Thompson
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A N
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Alfred
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567090
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Trelford
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A
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Aston
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Discharged.
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567080
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Vanstone
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D J
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John, AKA "Slim"
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Association Member.
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567189
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Wilkinson
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W
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Bill
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Association Member.
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7J7's
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NUMBER
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SURNAME
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INITS
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KNOWN AS
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REMARKS
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567239
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Allen
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P
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Patrick
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567086
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Cameron
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L A
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Leonard
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566964
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Campbell
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A
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Allan
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Deceased date N/K.
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567237
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Campbell
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J F
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Jock
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566962
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Chapman
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C
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Charlie
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567008
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Curtis
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A
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Medical Discharge.
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567317
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Richards
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C I
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FT'd to 31st Entry.
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566976
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Ware
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S E
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Titch
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567026
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Wilson
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G
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George
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Deceased 14th Jun 1945.
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567082
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Wood
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L A
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Lewis
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567238
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Wynne
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R
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Ronald
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ENTRY REUNIONS
In the 1990's the 7M7/7J7's combined with the Halton
30th Entry for some 3 or 4 Reunions at the George Hotel in Solihull.
Regrettably due to the problems in contacting Entry
members, only 9 Cranwellians and their wives attended.
ENTRY PHOTOGRAPHS
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The following photographs were
provided by Bill Wilkinson.
Click on any image to
see an enlarged version.
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The 7J, subsequently renamed the
7M7 / 7J7 (30th) Entry
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Class 7J1 - Wireless Operator Mechanics
- Became 7M7A
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Back Row: Lewis, Smith, Brickwood,
Vanstone, Wilkinson, Edwards, Davies, Humphrey, Breeze
and Dodds
Front Row: Leddra, Rowbotham, Moreman,
Scott, Macdonald, Armstrong (017), Boon, Ridd and Lawes
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Class 7J2 - Wireless Operator Mechanics
- Became 7M7B
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Back Row: Trelford, Mitchell, Spells,
Smitheman, Thompson, Allan, Haire, Armstrong (066),
Hunter-Rowe, and Hill.
Front Row: Cordes, Kennedy,
Holliday, May, Booth, Hind, Fazey, Graham, and Barnes.
Not
on Parade: Knight.
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Class 7J9 - Instrument Makers
- Became 7J7
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Back Row: Allen, Wood, Campbell A,
and Campbell J
Front Row: Cameron, Wilson, Chapman,
Ware and Wynne
Not on Parade: Curtis (CT'd) and
Richards (FT'd 31st)
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