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RAF Aircraft Apprentices
RAF Cranwell 1942 - 1944
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Long Serving Entry Rep. — Sadly Arthur "Lucky"
Luck died of cancer on 24 October
2002
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Current Entry Rep: Ken Anthony
CRANWELL
We were at Cranwell from August 1942 to September
1944.
Due to wartime demands, our training period had
been reduced from 3 to 2 years.
Our original Entry was 75 strong.
On 1st January 1943 No.1 Signals School was
renamed No.1 Radio School.
In August 1942, 75 young hopefuls arrived at
RAF Cranwell as the 4M9 (45th) Entry to train as Wireless Operator
Mechanics. During
their training they gained 6 from Senior Entries, 8 ceased
training, while 11 of their number were re-classed to later Entries,
leaving 62 to pass out in September 1944.
The Entry List below is presented in alphabetical
order:
|
NUMBER
|
SURNAME
|
INITS
|
KNOWN AS
|
REMARKS
|
|
578935
|
Anthony
|
K
|
Ken
|
Lapsed Association Member
|
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578973
|
Arabin-Williams
|
C G
|
Cyril
|
Lapsed Association Member
|
|
579011
|
Atkins
|
A R
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Alan, AKA "Tommy"
|
Association Member
|
|
579067
|
Bailey
|
E J F
|
John, AKA "Titch"
|
Deceased Lapsed Association Member (25th
Feb 2007)
|
|
578941
|
Bailey
|
K C
|
Slim
|
Deceased 31st Jul 1986
|
|
579026
|
Barry
|
J
|
Blondie, AKA "John"
|
|
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579168
|
Beale
|
S W
|
Stan
|
|
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579138
|
Bishop
|
D R M
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Derek
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Deceased
5th Jan 2000
|
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578985
|
Blackhall
|
I R
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Ian, AKA "Blackie"
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Association
Member
|
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579141
|
Bolland
|
N
|
Norman, AKA "Bol"
|
Deceased 10th Jan 2006
|
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578956
|
Bower
|
J B
|
John
|
|
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578862
|
Boyd
|
T L
|
|
Joined with 44th Entry
|
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579151
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Brown
|
G
|
|
Discharged
|
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579167
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Bryant
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A R
|
Roy, AKA "Bry"
|
Deceased 31st Mar 2001
|
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579066
|
Bunning
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F W
|
Fred
|
|
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579055
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Butcher
|
L C
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Les, AKA "Butch"
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Lapsed Association Member
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578830
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Cash
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L B
|
Les
|
Joined with 44th Entry
|
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579089
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Clifton
|
B J
|
|
Discharged. Deceased date
N/K
|
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578936
|
Comer
|
L E
|
Les
|
Discharged. Deceased 17th
Jul 1997
|
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579085
|
Corby
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R P
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Raymond, AKA "Mush"
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|
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579111
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Dandy
|
G T
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George, AKA "Dude"
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Deceased Lapsed Association Member (15th
Apr 2002)
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578961
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Davies
|
E A
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|
Discharged
|
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579014
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Dinnage
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K W A
|
Spinner
|
Deceased 1983/84
|
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579010
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East
|
J C
|
John
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|
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579004
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Fagen
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D R
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|
Discharged
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579150
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Farrington
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F G
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Freddy
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|
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579064
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Fitchett
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M J
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Maurice
|
Association Member
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578964
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Fowler
|
J
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John, AKA "Chic"
|
Deceased Association Member (14th Oct
2003)
|
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579104
|
Frankish
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J W
|
Frank
|
Deceased Association Member (Jan 1993)
|
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579109
|
French
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P V R
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Pete
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Deceased 5th
Nov 1948
|
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579027
|
Fyles
|
L A
|
Les
|
Deceased Association Member (8th Dec
2000)
|
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578861
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Grimson
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E J F
|
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Joined with 44th Entry
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579146
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Guilor
|
A
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Alan
|
FT'd to 46th Entry
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579082
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Hall
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N R
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Neville
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Deceased 3rd
Jul 1994
|
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579120
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Harris
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R G
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Bob
|
Deceased Association Member (15th Mar
2003)
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579090
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Hatcher
|
R F
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Roger
|
Association Member
|
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578586
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Hewitt
|
J D
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Joined with 43rd Entry
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578937
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Hewitt
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M R S
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Mike
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Deceased 27th Jul 1946
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578997
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Holland
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P J
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Dutch
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579035
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Huskins
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K J
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Ken
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Not Traced. Nuneaton area.
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579105
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Isham
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D C
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Doug
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Deceased Lapsed Association Member,
(4 Nov 2007).
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578918
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Jackson
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P G
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Jacko
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Deceased March 2002
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578875
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James
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G L
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Gerard, AKA "Gerry, Jimmy"
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Joined with 44th Entry. Deceased
5th Mar 2003
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578917
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Jays
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K A
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Ken, AKA "Toby"
|
Deceased Association Member (10th Nov
2003)
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579022
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Jenkins
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F V B
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Vic
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Deceased Association Member 22nd Mar
2001)
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579048
|
John
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J K
|
Taff
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Deceased
19th May 1946
|
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579054
|
Johnson
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O N
|
Oliver
|
|
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578928
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Kent
|
J G
|
Godfrey
|
Deceased Association Member (2nd Mar
1996)
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579121
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Kington
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J A
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John, AKA "Konk"
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Deceased
Association Member (5th Mar 1996)
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578782
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Knight
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C T W
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Joined with 44th Entry
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579028
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Larder
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C W
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Bill
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Association Member
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579059
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Leese
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J A
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Andy
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Deceased Lapsed Association Member (May
2006)
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578942
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Luck
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A W
|
Lucky
|
Deceased Association Member (24th Oct
2002)
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578938
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Mathews
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I M
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Matt, AKA "Ivan"
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Association Member
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579144
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Mawson
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T W
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Tommy
|
Deceased 9th Jul 1953
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579047
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Maxwell
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P H
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Max, AKA "Maxie, Ginger"
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Deceased 30th Jan 2000
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579075
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McMillan
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D R
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Sambo
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Not
traced. London SE2. Deceased
date N/K
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579025
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McQueen
|
P
|
Paul, AKA "Mac"
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Association Member
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579001
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Menear
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G H
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Geoff, AKA "Min"
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Association Member
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579016
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Mills
|
J
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Johnny
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Deceased Association Member (16th Dec
2003)
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578927
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Neale
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C H
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Chris
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Discharged
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579003
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Newby
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J W
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John, AKA "Buff"
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Deceased mid 1980's
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579119
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Newman
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K L O
|
Kenneth, AKA "Jankers"
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Discharged
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578947
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Norman
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D J
|
Doug
|
Deceased 7th Feb 1992
|
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579159
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Page
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R A
|
Ron
|
Association Member
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579158
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Palmer
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G W R
|
Roy
|
|
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578931
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Peck
|
W G
|
Bill, AKA "Joe"
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Association
Member
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579140
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Peel
|
R
|
Ron
|
Deceased Association Member (29th Dec
1993)
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579063
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Radford
|
R V
|
Ron
|
FT'd to 46th Entry. Association
Member
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579132
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Rowland
|
A R
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Rolly, AKA "Dusty"
|
Not traced. East Barnet
|
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578932
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Schmuhl
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R C
|
Bob
|
Discharged. Lapsed Association
Member
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578924
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Shilton
|
R
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Rex
|
Association Member
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579125
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Simms
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T A
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Tom
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Deceased Association Member (5th Dec
1994)
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579147
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Simpson
|
T
|
Tom
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579042
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Smith
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D E
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Don, AKA "Doe"
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Not
Traced. Dunblane
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579165
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Stapleton
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L A
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Len
|
Association Member
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579160
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Statham
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G A
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Alan
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Association
Member
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579157
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Talboys
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N E
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Norman, AKA "Shake"
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579134
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Turner
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E G
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Eric, AKA "Joe Junior"
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FT'd to 46th Entry. Association
Member
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579072
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Walters
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H G
|
Harold
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|
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578958
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Wood
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F
|
Woody, AKA "Freddy"
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Deceased 11th Sep 1953
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ACHIEVEMENTS
At the age of 20, John Frankish was
parachuted into central Java with a team of 8, to
take over after the Japanese surrender, but in
advance of the arrival of the British Army. He was
decorated with the Military Medal by Field
Marshall Slim.
Military
Medal
579104 Corporal
John William
FRANKISH. Royal
Air Force.
Corporal Frankish
took over the
duties of Rawpi
Liaison Officer at
Djocjakarta, the
main centre of the
Indonesian
extremist movement
on 30th September
1945. He commanded
the airfield and
maintained the
communication
flight of light
aircraft. Corporal
Frankish also
negotiated with
the Chief of
Police and the
Sultan of
Djocjakarta,
securing the
release of a large
number of Japanese
airport personnel
who had been
disarmed and
thrown into prison
by the
Indonesians. When
the airfield was
attacked he
remained at his
post, organising
the flight
therefrom of
serviceable
aircraft. During
the fighting at
Mageland Corporal
Frankish operated
a wireless set for
70 hours.
Throughout the
long and dangerous
period Corporal
Frankish performed
his duties often
under fire,
displaying
outstanding
courage,
initiative and
strength of
character.
|
Ken Newman
|
Ken was with us for 1½ years of our
training, but then remustered to MT driver.
In later life he became Sir Kenneth Newman.
1942 RAF
1946 Palestine Police
1948 London Metropolitan
Police
1972 Commander, New Scotland
Yard
1973 Royal Ulster
Constabulary
1978 Knighted
1980 Commander, Police Staff
College
1982 Queen's Police Medal
(QPM)
1983 Freeman of the City of
London
1987 Knight of the Grand Cross of
the British Empire (GBE)
1987 Numerous policing and
security committees
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RECENT YEARS
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Several reunions have all been held at The Manor House
Hotel, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
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1994 35 members attended the
reunion on 23rd April.
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1996 26 members and 8 of their
ladies attended the reunion on 20th April.
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1997 26 members and 11 ladies
attended the reunion on 4th October.
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1998 24 members plus 1 5M3 and 10
ladies attended the reunion on 25th September.
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1999 28 members plus 1 5M3 and 15
ladies attended the reunion on 24th September.
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2000 24 members plus 1 5M3 and 10
ladies attended the reunion on 22nd September.
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2001 29 members plus 1 5M3 and 11
ladies attended the reunion on 21st September.
-
2002 18th August at Manor House,
Leamington Spa to celebrate 60
years, to the day, since we all arrived at RAF
Halton to join as Aircraft Apprentices.
-
2002 21st September the usual stalwarts were
at Warwick University for the CAA AGM.
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