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RAF CRANWELL APPRENTICE ENTRY NUMBERS
Whilst most training schools had simple number
sequences for Entries, two more puzzling systems were adopted for
Apprentices at RAF Cranwell. Both systems were intended to indicate
the TRAINING COMPLETION YEAR and
COMPLETION MONTH plus CLASS.
During the period 1926 to 1936
During this period they took the
form YEAR figure + MONTH letter +
CLASS figure, with only "J" for June and
"D" for December used for the MONTH.
Thus 9D1 meant
Class 1 Passing Out in
December 1929.
Trades in training during this period were
Wireless Operator Mechanics (WOM's), Electricians and Instrument
Makers. Classes 1 and 2 were normally Wireless Operator Mechanics,
Class 3 Instrument Makers (IM) and Class 5 Electricians but this was
not always the case.
Training
Period |
Equivalent
Halton
Entry No. |
Cranwell
Entry
Number |
Remarks |
Jan 1927 to Dec 1929 |
15 |
9D |
Flowerdown Entry Number 11.
Started training at Flowerdown but moved to Cranwell in
August 1929. Trained as WOMs and Electricians. |
Sep 1927 to Aug 1930 |
16 |
0J |
Flowerdown Entry Number 12.
Started training at Flowerdown but moved to Cranwell in
August 1929. Trained as WOMs and Electricians. |
Jan 1928 to Dec 1930 |
17 |
0D |
Flowerdown Entry Number 13.
Started training at Flowerdown but moved to Cranwell in
August 1929. Trained as WOMs and Electricians. |
Sep 1928 to Aug 1931 |
18 |
1J |
Flowerdown Entry Number 14. Started training at
Flowerdown but moved to Cranwell in August 1929. Trained as WOMs and
Electricians. |
Jan 1929 to Dec 1931 |
19 |
1D |
Flowerdown Entry Number 15. Started training at
Flowerdown but moved to Cranwell in August 1929. Trained as WOMs and
Electricians. |
Sep 1929 to Jul 1932 |
20 |
2J |
Trained as WOMs and Electricians. |
Jan 1930 to Dec 1932 |
21 |
2D |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Sep 1930 to Jul 1933 |
22 |
3J |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Jan 1931 to Dec 1933 |
23 |
3D |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Sep 1931 to Jul 1934 |
24 |
4J |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Jan 1932 to Dec 1934 |
25 |
4D |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Sep 1932 to Jul 1935 |
26 |
5J |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Jan 1933 to Dec 1935 |
27 |
5D |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
Sep 1933 to Jul 1936 |
28 |
6J |
Trained as WOMs and Instrument Makers. |
During the period 1933 to 1955
During this period they took the form
YEAR figure + TRADE letter + MONTH number +
CLASS letter.
Initially the trade letter J stood for
Instrument Makers while M stood for
Wireless Operator Mechanic (WOM) or
Wireless Electrical Mechanic (WEM).
Thus 6J12 meant
Instrument Makers (J) passing out in
December (12th month)
1936, while
6M12 meant a WOM or WEM (M)
passing out in December
(12th month)
1936.
Adding a Class letter would give say 6J12D and 6M12B.
During the 1940's four Entries of Polish
Apprentices were trained as Radio Mechanics. They were known
respectively as the 7P9, 7P11, 8P3 and 8P9 Entries.
The limitations, and confusions over a period
of time of this system, can be seen by considering say the 0M1 Entry
which applies to a 1940 Entry (the 36th) and also a 1950 Entry (the
55th). About 1948 this numbering format was officially discontinued
in favour of the simple Halton sequential numbering sequence, but
sometimes Entries still called themselves by the Cranwell notation.
Apprentices in peacetime were for 3 years, but
during the war, to bring urgently needed skilled tradesmen into
productive service quicker, this was reduced to between 2 and
2½ years.
Training
Period |
Equivalent
Halton
Entry No. |
Cranwell
Entry
Number |
Remarks |
Jan 1934 to Dec 1936 |
29 |
6J12, 6M12 |
IM's and WOM's. |
Aug 1934 to Jul 1937 |
30 |
7J7, 7M7 |
IM's and WOM's. |
Jan 1935 to Dec 1937 |
31 |
7J12, 7M12 |
IM's and WOM's. |
Aug 1935 to Jul 1938 |
32 |
8J7, 8M7 |
IM's and WOM's. |
Jan 1936 to Dec 1938 |
33 |
8J12, 8M12 |
IM's and WEM's. |
Aug 1936 to Jul 1939 |
34 |
9J7, 9M7 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. |
Jan 1937 to Dec 1939 |
35 |
9J12 > 9M9
9M12 > 9M9 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Originally called 9J12/9M12
but, because of war requirements, course length reduced and renumbered. |
Aug 1937 to Jan 1940 |
36 |
0J7 > 0J1
0M7 > 0M1 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Originally called 0J7/0M7
but, because of war requirements, course length reduced and renumbered. |
Jan 1938 to Apr 1940 |
37 |
0J12 > 0J4
0M12 > 0M4 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Originally called 0J12/0M12
|
Aug 1938 to Oct 1940 |
38 |
1J7 > 0J10 > 0J6
1M7 > 0M10 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Originally called
1J7/1M7 but, because of war requirements course length reduced and
renumbered. |
Jan 1939 to Jan 1941 |
39 |
1J12 > 1J1 > 0J10
1M12 > 1M1 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Originally 1J12/1M12 but,
because of war requirements course length reduced and renumbered.
Because of the grave shortage of IM, emergency arrangements were
made for them to Pass Out in October 1940 so they were re-designated
0J10. IM transferred to Halton in Aug 1940. |
Aug 1939 to Sep 1941 |
40 |
1J9 > 1J6
1M9 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Because of war requirements
course length reduced. Because of the grave shortage of IM, emergency
arrangements were made for them to Pass Out in June 1941 so they were
re-designated 1J6. IM transferred to Halton in Aug 1940. |
Mar 1940 to Mar 1942 |
41 |
2J3, 2M3 |
IM's, WEM's and WOM's. Because of war requirements course
length reduced to 2 years. IM transferred to Halton in Aug 1940.
|
Aug 1940 to Sep 1942 |
42 |
2M9 |
WOM's. Because of war requirements course length reduced to 2 years. |
Aug 1941 to Sep 1943 |
43 |
3M9 |
WOM's. Because of war requirements course length
reduced to 2 years. |
Feb 1942 to Mar 1944 |
44 |
4M3 |
WEM's and WOM's. Because of war requirements
course length reduced to 2 years. |
Aug 1942 to Sep 1944 |
45 |
4M9 |
WOM's. Because of war requirements course length reduced to 2 years. |
Feb 1943 to Sep 1945 |
46 |
5M9 |
WOM's. Because of war requirements course length
reduced to 2 years. |
Aug 1943 to Jul 1946 |
47 |
6M9 |
Commenced training as WOP's but after 1 year the
"operator" training was ceased and training continued as
Wireless Mechs. Passed out as Radio Fitter Air or Ground. |
Feb 1944 to Feb 1947 |
48 |
7M3 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Jul 1944 to Jul 1947 |
49 |
7M9 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Sep 1944 to Jul 1947 |
49 |
7P9 |
Polish Entry. Radio Mechs. |
Nov 1944 to Nov 1947 |
49 |
7P11 |
Polish Entry. Radio Mechs. |
Feb 1945 to Mar 1948 |
50 |
8M3 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Feb 1945 to Mar 1948 |
50 |
8P3 |
Polish Entry. Radio Mechs. |
Aug? 1945 to Sep 1948 |
50 |
8P9 |
Polish Entry. Radio Mechs. |
Aug 1945 to Sep 1948 |
51 |
8M9 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Feb 1946 to Feb 1949 |
52 |
9M3 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
May 1946 to May 1949 |
53 |
9M5 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Aug 1946 to Sep 1949 |
54 |
9M9 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Jan 1947 to Jan 1950 |
55 |
0M1 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
May 1947 to May 1950 |
56 |
0M6 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Aug 1947 to Sep 1950 |
57 |
0M9 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Jan 1948 to Jan 1951 |
58 |
1M1 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
May 1948 to 19May 51 |
59 |
1M5 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Sep 1948 to Sep 1951 |
60 |
1M9 |
Air & Ground Radio Fitters |
Feb 1949 to Jan 1952 |
61 |
2M1 |
Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters |
Jun 1949 to May 1952 |
62 |
2M5 |
Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters |
Sep 1949 to Jul 1952 |
63 |
2M9 |
Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters |
Jan 1950 to Dec 1952 |
64 |
3M1 |
Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters.
Passed out at RAF Locking. Entry had Pakistani members. |
May 1950 to Mar 1953 |
65 |
3M5 |
Ground Wireless, Ground Radar & Air Radio
Fitters. Passed out at RAF Locking. Entry had Pakistani members. |
Aug 1950 to Jul 1953 |
66 |
3M9 |
Ground Wireless, Ground Radar & Air Radio
Fitters. Passed out at RAF Locking. Entry had Pakistani members. |
Jan 1951 to Dec 1953 |
67 |
4M1 |
Ground Radar &
Air Radio Fitters. Passed out at RAF Locking |
Apr 1951 to Apr 1954 |
68 |
4M5 |
Ground Wireless, Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters. Passed out at
RAF Locking. Entry had Pakistani, and 2 New Zealand members. |
Aug 1951 to Jul 1954 |
69 |
4M9 |
Ground Wireless, Ground Radar & Air Radio
Fitters. Passed out at RAF Locking. Entry had Pakistani, Ceylonese
and New Zealand members. |
Jan 1952 to Dec 1954 |
70 |
5M1 |
Ground Wireless, Ground Radar & Air Radio Fitters. Passed out at
RAF Locking. Entry had Burmese, Canadian, Rhodesian, New Zealand and
Pakistani members. |
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