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Post by camtech on Nov 10, 2008 22:08:09 GMT 12
I joined in January 1966 as a member of No1 Airman Cadet Course, and I can recall us being referred to as No 22 Course, so I guess that confirms the earlier discussions. I still have the programme from our graduation parade.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Nov 13, 2008 11:49:45 GMT 12
The last Boy Entrant course was No.21 which commenced in January 1964 and finished in November 1964. I was on that course followed the following year by No.40 Telegraphis course at No.2TTS which incidentally was the last Teleg course!
Paul
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 13, 2008 14:23:55 GMT 12
That is interesting because my cousin definately joined up a lot later than 1964 and he told me he had to do a year in basic training. Was this some interum thing before it changed again to the way it is now?
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Post by camtech on Nov 14, 2008 8:53:48 GMT 12
Just realised I boobed on the date of No1 ACS - should be 1965!!! Doh - must be old age and lack of work!! I joined with such luminaries as Joe Carter, Thunder Wilcox, Tom O'Grady, Baggy Notton, Red Ross, Bill Salt, Al Deal, BJ Germain, Bob Cox
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Post by shorty on Nov 14, 2008 11:49:32 GMT 12
Dave, you aren't taking into account Airman Cadet School which is what the Boy Entrant School became.
Question now is when did ACS cease?
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Post by 14liney on Nov 17, 2008 10:24:23 GMT 12
Dave, you aren't taking into account Airman Cadet School which is what the Boy Entrant School became. Question now is when did ACS cease? Yes and I don't know. My section record says No. 23 Intake Airman Cadet School.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 17, 2008 18:46:26 GMT 12
Thanks Shorty. That must be what Brian went through, which he said was a year long course like yours' were.
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Post by vansvilla on Sept 27, 2012 20:39:34 GMT 12
Shorty, I have the nominal roll for cse no 34 in 1977 then the following year cse no 2/78 but entrants were still ranked? As Air Cdt. So the last course was either 77 or 78. The first ACS looks to have been cse no 22 in 1965, I have nominal rolls for all those courses for those interested.
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Post by curtiss on Sept 27, 2012 20:56:01 GMT 12
I was on a 12 month Airman Cadet course in 1977 which I think was the last year long course. Airman Cadet School (ACS) changed to Recruit and Airman Cadet School (RACS) in 1978. 1978 was also when the first WAAF intakes started at WB.
We had a dugout (not tunnel) under our barrack block that we used for storing beer......unfortunately when we were away at dip flat , new lino was laid which covered up the entrance and we never bothered to open it up again. The last few flagons are probably still there!
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Post by ngatimozart on Sept 28, 2012 16:03:46 GMT 12
I agree it's good. I went through GSTS in Jan-Mar 1989 and they stopped smoking there in the barracks around two years later when some sort of health and safety inspection deemed that all the polish on the floor was a fire hazard, and they apparently (we heard through the inter-base gossip in 1991 or 1992) carpeted the barracks to eliminate the fire risk. I don't know if that's true because I never went back there. Doesn't make much sense though. Seems they have forgotten their history. In the 1960s at Wigram part of the barracks at No 2 Officers Mess (OCDTs) burnt down apparently taking a whole building out. The story goes that apparently the polish on the floors from many years of polishing by eager officer cadets had never, or rarely, been scraped so built up to a point when it spontaneously combusted. My old primary school in Gore did the same thing and it was far older building. St Marys was run by Mercy nuns & they like GSIs fair loved polishing floors. Was a very spectacular fire but tragic in that a lot of history was lost. They used to have photos from every class going back 3 generations hanging on the walls & all our dads & granddads etc., were there.
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Post by ngatimozart on Sept 28, 2012 16:19:11 GMT 12
Ok going from memory. I think Nurk Mk 1 Harwood went through ACS in 1973 or there abouts. His brother Nurk Mk 2 went through the school in 1974 with likes of DB Harper etc. Both Nurks were grocers. I went through GSTS in 1974 and knew the 2 Nurks & DB Harper. I was at Woodbourne in 1975 - 76 and the Air Cdts only got evening leave on Friday nights, and IIRC day leave in weekends. There'd be no way they could have dug a tunnel to the Waafry from ACS because it would have had to go under SH6 as the Waafry was on airfield side of SH6. Would have been a fair distance. Only got into that Waafry once because head Waaf was a real stickler. IIRC it was 9 Sqn RAAF doing mountain flying exercise from Woodbourne and every night was very boozy. A plan was hatched in the airmens club one night to do a snake through the base, which we did and it involved most of 9 Sqn. Went through the waafry, W/Os& SNCOs and the Officers mess led by a piper. Was a very had week on the body and I was only 18 the time.
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8
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Post by gappy on Feb 21, 2014 14:10:29 GMT 12
Shorty, Last BES was 21st BES 1964. 1965 was first of Airman Cadets. 21st BES having 50th reunion at Blenheim 21,22,23 March this year. Regards Gappy.
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8
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Post by gappy on Feb 21, 2014 14:18:46 GMT 12
Paul, I was a 21st BES entrant, Last of BES. Pretty certain I ran into Thunder Wilcox at some point in my service, as I recall he was a big lad, hence the name? Regards Gappy [ Roger Twiss ].
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2014 20:05:57 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Roger. That must have been an exciting time to join up with so many new aeroplanes coming into service at that time.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 23, 2014 14:36:25 GMT 12
Hi Roger,
yep he was one of us, there were several large lads "Coozer" Cameron was one that springs to mind, ended up being a GSI/GSO. Of interest to the group, 132 started the 21 BES course on 4 January 1964 and 128 graduated.
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Post by camtech on Feb 23, 2014 20:39:47 GMT 12
Thunder Wilcox was a member of 22 ACS course 1965. Hope to catch up with him next January at our 50th anniversary.
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gappy
Leading Aircraftman
If your mouth is moving then you're not listening.
Posts: 8
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Post by gappy on Feb 27, 2014 15:07:21 GMT 12
I recall signing up on the 7th. My 16th birthday was the 6th. May be I wasn't "legal" on the 6th.
I also recall Flight Simpson asking me if I played the violin. That puzzled me until he sent us all to Blenheim in a bus for a hair cut. { Duhh ]
gotogo bye
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Post by isc on Oct 1, 2014 19:57:59 GMT 12
81511 Boy Clark. I. S. A Flight, 21 course, we had a great reunion in March, it was good meeting up with the "Boys" of 50 years ago, and sad to learn of the ones that passed on, the latest being Ra Butler. isc
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Post by isc on Oct 5, 2014 21:24:57 GMT 12
a flt20 Course tried to sell us the floor polisher, We went shopping in Blenheim, and got one cheaper, We were a stingy bunch/well broke anyway. I wasn't around at the end of the year to find out what happened to it, but I seem to remember getting my share back. isc
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joebale
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by joebale on Aug 14, 2016 9:22:00 GMT 12
I commenced BES No 12(?) Course starting in January 1958 (at the tender age of 16yrs and 4mths) and believe this to be that last of the 18 month courses. Thereafter, each BES course was only 12 months. After graduation then went on to T25 Telegraphist course at 2TTS, Wigram.
Not sure if this is the forum to post a photo of those who attended T25 Telegraphist course?
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