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This page was last updated 11 June 2011

This Web Page was initially raised based upon data held in the RAF Cranwell Association Database.
We are aware that this contains errors and omissions and therefore we request your help to correct any errors in the following.

Entry Representative: Bill Wilkinson

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 plus 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 a Senior Entry, 2 were discharged, and 1 was re-classed to a later Entry. This left 48 to Pass Out in July 1937.

Bill Wilkinson advised 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 ambitions apart from John Vanstone who later received pilot training under a short lived scheme whereby some selected Engineer Engineer officers were selected."

30th ENTRY ROLL CALL

Key:

KNOWN DECEASED

ASSOCIATION MEMBER

NON-MEMBER

UNTRACED

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NUMBER	SURNAME	INITS	KNOWN AS	CLASS	REMARKS	A2Z
567235	Allan	J	James (Titch)	7M7 B
567239	Allen	P	Patrick	7J7
567017	Armstrong	W	Walter	7M7 A
567066	Armstrong	L	Laurence	7M7 B	Died WOAS serving in HMS Avenger on 15th November 1942, listed on Panel 73 of Runnymede Memorial.
567166	Barnes	P C	Peter	7M7 B	Died circa 1948.
567046	Boon	E J	Ernest	7M7 A	Association Member.
567107	Booth	J R P B	James	7M7 B	Died date Not Known.
567015	Breeze	R D	Robert	7M7 A
566989	Brickwood	R	Ron	7M7 A	MBE. Died 7th December 2001.
567086	Cameron	L A	Leonard	7J7
567237	Campbell	J F	Jock	7J7
566964	Campbell	A	Alan	7J7	Died 27th February 1981.
566962	Chapman	C	Charlie	7J7
567058	Cordes	J A	John	7M7 B
567008	Curtis	A		7J7	Ceased Training.
567009	Davies	J E	John	7M7 A
566975	Dodds	W	Whitfield	7M7 A
567083	Edwards	C	Clifford	7M7 A
566973	Fazey	F	Frank	7M7 B	Association Member.
566987	Graham	G A	George	7M7 B	CEng MIET. Died 29th August 2006.
567057	Haire	O	Oscar	7M7 B	Mentioned in Despatches. Died WOAS with 77 Sqdn., on 12th April 1940, listed on Panel 21 of Runnymede Memorial.
566995	Hill	H	Harry	7M7 B
567059	Hind	J	John	7M7 B
567001	Holliday	J W	Joseph	7M7 B
566936	Humphrey	R	Robert	7M7 A	Joined with 29th Entry.
567242	Hunter-Rowe	D H		7M7 B
567108	Kennedy	D C	David	7M7 B
566983	Knight	V B J	Victor	7M7 B	Died date Not Known.
567002	Lawes	W F	Walter	7M7 A	Air Gunner. Died WOAS 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.
567078	Leddra	E	Edwin (Pompey)	7M7 A	Died date Not Known.
566969	Lewis	R	Ralph (Taff)	7M7 A	Died date Not Known.
566979	MacDonald	A	Angus	7M7 A	Japanese Prisoner of War. Died WOAS on 12th June 1943. Served with 39 Sqn. Buried at Kanchanaburi.
566988	May	A	Alan	7M7 B	Died 13th December 2001.
567038	Mitchell	R J	Robert	7M7 B
567076	Moreman	T K	Trevor	7M7 A	Died date Not Known.
566970	Parker	K		7J7
566991	Ridd	G B	George	7M7 A
567073	Rowbotham	PV	Paul	7M7 A	Died 1st August 1997.
566984	Scott	N A	Norman	7M7 A	Died 11th April 1939.
567149	Smith	C E H	Clarence	7M7 A
567007	Smitheman	G O	Oliver	7M7 B	Died 24th March 1996.
567039	Spells	H	Harry	7M7 B
567062	Thompson	A N	Alfred	7M7 B
567090	Trelford	A	Aston	7M7 B	Ceased Training. Died 5th November 1991.
567080	Vanstone	D J	John (Slim)	7M7 A	Died 21st September 2008.
566976	Ware	S E	Titch	7J7
567189	Wilkinson	W	Bill	7M7 A	Association Member.
567026	Wilson	G	George	7J7	Died 14th June 1945.
567082	Wood	L A	Lewis	7J7
567238	Wynne	R	Ronald	7J7

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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

The 7J, subsequently renamed the 7M7 / 7J7 (30th) Entry


Class 7J1 - Wireless Operator Mechanics - Became 7M7A

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

Class 7J2 - Wireless Operator Mechanics - Became 7M7B

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.

Class 7J9 - Instrument Makers - Became 7J7

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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