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This page was last updated 10 October 2011

This Web Page was initially raised based upon data held in the RAF Cranwell Association Database,
and was then updated with advice from Entry Representatives.

RAF Aircraft Apprentices

4M9/45th Entry

RAF Cranwell 1942 - 1944

Long Serving Entry Rep. — Sadly Arthur "Lucky" Luck died of cancer on 24 October 2002

Current Entry Rep: None

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 training they gained 6 from Senior Entries, 8 ceased training, and 11 of their number were re-classed to later Entries. Thus 62 Passed Out in September 1944.

The Entry List below is presented in alphabetical order:

45th ENTRY ROLL CALL

Key:

KNOWN DECEASED

ASSOCIATION MEMBER

NON-MEMBER

UNTRACED

Quick name Finder - Click the button with the Initial letter of Surname.
Return here by clicking on button (right-hand side) marked

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NUMBER	SURNAME	INITS	KNOWN AS	CLASS	REMARKS	A2Z
578935	Anthony	K	Ken	4M9C
578973	Arabin-Williams	C G	Cyril	4M9A
579011	Atkins	A R	Alan (Tommy)	4M9A	Association Member
578941	Bailey	K C	Slim	4M9A	Died 31st July 1986.
579067	Bailey	E J F	John (Titch)	4M9B	Died 25th February 2007.
579026	Barry	J	Blondie (John)	4M9C	Died 10 February 2010.
579168	Beale	S W	Stan	4M9D
579141	Bolland	N	Norman (Bol)	4M9B	Died 10th January 2006.
578956	Bower	J B	John	4M9
578862	Boyd	T L		4M3D	Joined with 44th Entry.
579151	Brown	G		4M9B	Ceased Training.
579167	Bryant	A R	Roy (Bry)	4M9D	Died 31st March 2001.
579066	Bunning	F W	Fred	4M9C
579055	Butcher	L C	Les (Butch)	4M9C
578830	Cash	L B	Les	4M3B	Joined with 44th Entry.
579089	Clifton	B J		4M9D	Ceased Training. Died date Not Known.
578936	Comer	L E	Les	4M9	Ceased Training. Died 17th July 1997.
579085	Corby	R P	Raymond (Mush)	4M9C
579111	Dandy	G T	George (Dude)	4M9D	Died 15th April 2002.
578961	Davies	E A		4M9C	Ceased Training.
579014	Dinnage	K W A	Spinner	4M9D	Died 1983/84.
579010	East	J C	John	4M9
579004	Fagen	D R		4M9A	Ceased Training.
579150	Farrington	F G	Freddy	4M9B
579064	Fitchett	M J	Maurice	4M9A	Association Member.
578964	Fowler	J	John (Chic)	4M9C	Died 14th October 2003.
579104	Frankish	J W	Frank	4M9	MM. Died January 1993.
579027	Fyles	L A	Les	4M9B	Died 8th December 2000.
578861	Grimson	E J F		4M3D	Joined with 44th Entry.
579120	Harris	R G	Bob	4M9D	Died 15th March 2003.
579090	Hatcher	R F	Roger	4M9C	Association Member.
578586	Hewitt	J D		3M9	Joined with 43rd Entry.
578937	Hewitt	M R S	Mike	4M9A	Died 27th July 1946.
578997	Holland	P J	Dutch	4M9B
579035	Huskins	K J	Ken	4M9D	Nuneaton area?
579105	Isham	D C	Doug	4M9A	Died 4th November 2007.
578918	Jackson	P G	Jacko	4M9C	Died March 2002.
578875	James	G L	Gerard (Jimmy)	4M3B	Joined with 44th Entry. Died 5th March 2003.
578917	Jays	K A	Ken (Toby)	4M9C	Died 10th November 2003.
579022	Jenkins	F V B	Vic	4M9B	Died 22nd March 2001.
579054	Johnson	O N	Oliver	4M9
578928	Kent	J G	Godfrey	4M9A	Died 2nd March 1996.
578782	Knight	C T W		4M3D	Joined with 44th Entry.
579028	Larder	C W	Bill	4M9B	Died 8th July 2010.
579059	Leese	J A	Andy	4M9A	Died May 2006.
578942	Luck	A W	Lucky	4M9C	Died 24th October 2002.
578938	Mathews	I M	Matt (Ivan)	4M9C	Lapsed Association Member.
579144	Mawson	T W	Tommy	4M9B	Died 9th July 1953.
579047	Maxwell	P H	Max (Ginger)	4M9C	Died 30th January 2000.
579025	McQueen	P	Paul (Mac)	4M9A	Association Member.
579001	Menear	G H	Geoff (Min)	4M9C	Association Member.
579016	Mills	J	Johnny	4M9D	Died 16th December 2003.
578927	Neale	C H	Chris	4M9C	Ceased Training.
579003	Newby	J W	John (Buff)	4M9B	Died mid 1980's.
579119	Newman	K L O	Kenneth (Jankers)	4M9B	Ceased Training.
578947	Norman	D J	Doug	4M9A	Died 7th February 1992.
579159	Page	R A	Ron	4M9B	Association Member.
579158	Palmer	G W R	Roy	4M9
579140	Peel	R	Ron	4M9D	Died 29th December 1993.
579132	Rowland	A R	Rolly (Dusty)	4M9D	East Barnet?
578932	Schmuhl	R C	Bob	4M9A	Ceased Training.
578924	Shilton	R	Rex	4M9A	Died 12th June 2009.
579147	Simpson	T	Tom	4M9D
579165	Stapleton	L A	Len	4M9B	Association Member.
579157	Talboys	N E	Norman (Shake)	4M9B
579072	Walters	H G	Harold	4M9C
578958	Wood	F	Woody (Freddy)	4M9C	Died 11th September 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.

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

REUNIONS

Several reunions have all been held at The Manor House Hotel, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

1994 35 members attended the reunion on 23rd April.

1996 26 members and 8 of their ladies attended the reunion on 20th April.

1997 26 members and 11 ladies attended the reunion on 4th October.

1998 24 members plus 1 5M3 and 10 ladies attended the reunion on 25th September.

1999 28 members plus 1 5M3 and 15 ladies attended the reunion on 24th September.

2000 24 members plus 1 5M3 and 10 ladies attended the reunion on 22nd September.

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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