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The 76th Entry arrived at RAF Halton, the home of The No.1 School of Technical Training, on 19 January 1954.

The Entry was made up of 258 Apprentices, including four Ceylonese and four Rhodesians. During the next three years the original intake was considerably reduced by members getting, Recoursed, Transferred to a Skilled Trade, Free discharge, Medical discharge, Purchased discharge, Expelled etc. In fact 85 who joined originally, did not pass out with the 76th Entry, however 30 of these did pass out with later entries.

During the three years at Halton we were joined by 42 apprentices from other entries, so that the 76th Entry Graduation Parade, on a cold and frosty day, 19 December 1956, consisted of 205 Apprentices.

300 apprentices were at some time in the 76th! All of the 76th Entry started life in No.2(A) Apprentice Wing (housed in Groves barracks). The Engine trade being in No.1 Squadron, Airframes and Armourers in No.2 Squadron, and Electrical and Instruments in No.3

On arrival in January 1954 The 76th became the third Entry housed in No.2 Wing. Already resident were the 70th and the 73rd Entries. Re-organisation took place after the 70th passed out in December 1954. The 73rd were all located in No.2 Wing, 1 Squadron, the 76th in 2 Squadron, and the 79th in 3 Squadron. This particular arrangement brought in to focus the rivalries between entries.

In No.2 Wing particularly, rivalry between the 76th and the 73rd, coming to a head with a major battle on the eve of the 73rd pass out, most enjoyable, but very costly in terms of damage to property! This sort of action was mirrored in Nos.1 and 3 Wings. Perhaps as a result of the 76th / 73rd confrontation, another reorganisation took place at the beginning of 1956, with the 76th, and all other entries being evenly distributed over the 9 squadrons making up the three wings, in an attempt to eliminate conflict (hooliganism / entry spirit). Entry spirit however managed to survive the final year, indeed it's still alive in 2009!

To see who we have on the books see the listing links below.

Happenings at Halton, 1954 - 1956.

1954

1st January Air Commodore Tindal-Carill-Worsley CB CBE assumed command.
19th January 76th Entry (2W) arrived, consisting of RAF 257, RCyAF 4 and RRhAF 4.
4th April Wing Commander WG Brinn DFC DFM posted in to command 3(A) Wing.
13th April 68th Entry (1W) passed out. 242 plus 37 recoursed from previous, 59 retained for further training, 37 discharged, 183 passed out.
11th May 77th Entry (1W) arrived, consisting of RAF 196, RNZAF 6, RCyAF 7 and Burma AF 12.
26th July 69th Entry (3W) passed out. 357 plus 38 recoursed from previous, 74 retained for further training, 63 discharged, 258 passed out.
7th September 78th Entry (3W) arrived, consisting of RAF 303 and RRhAF 1.
15th December 70th Entry (2W) passed out. 223 plus 64 recoursed from previous, 40 retained for further training, 54 discharged, 184 passed out.

1955

19th January 79th Entry (2W) arrived, consisting of RAF 298, RCyAF 7 and RRhAF 3.
14th March Wing Commander FH Stubbs AFC DFM posted in to command 2W, vice Wing Commander E Donovan DFC, posted to Coastal Command.
6th April 71st Entry (1W) passed out. 175 plus 44 recoursed from previous, 33 retained for further training, 26 discharged, 133 passed out
18th April 80th Entry (1W) arrived, consisting of RAF 234, RCyAF 3, RRhAF 5, RNZAF 6 and Burma AF 13.
27th May Wing Commander WDG Watkins DSO DFC DFM posted in to command 1W, vice Wing Commander HA Paton.
27th July 72nd Entry (3W) passed out. 346 plus 47 recoursed from previous, 61 retained for further training, 85 discharged, 247 passed out.
7th September 81st Entry (3W) arrived, consisting of RAF 332.
9th October Nine Venezuelan AF apprentices arrived for English language training before joining an entry.
15th October Wing Commander P Peters OBE DFC posted in to command 3W vice Wing Commander WG Brinn DFC DFM posted to HQ Maintenance Command.
15th December 73rd Entry (2W) passed out. 229 plus 37 recoursed from previous, 35 retained for further training, 44 discharged, 176 passed out.

1956

1st January The organisation of the Wings into Squadrons by Entries, which had been introduced in January 1955 was abandoned and Apprentice Wings re allocated so that all Entries were evenly distributed throughout all Wings, Squadrons and Flights. The Squadrons by Entries system was abandoned for the following amongst other reasons.
1. Loyalty to the Entry appeared to be greater than loyalty to the Flight, Squadron, Wing, Station or Service.
2. Mass bullying on an Entry basis, ie organised in gangs by the worst element in the Senior Entries was prevalent and growing.
3. Segregation of Entries prevented apprentices from getting progressive experience in responsibility for juniors.
8th January 82nd Entry arrived, consisting of RAF 265.
9th February Lord Trenchard dies.
28th March 74th Entry passed out. 233 plus 41 recoursed from previous, 35 retained for further training, 43 discharged, 137 passed out.
18th April 83rd Entry arrived, consisting of RAF 202, RRhAF 5, RNZAF 7 and Venezuelan AF 9.
24th April The Freedom of Aylesbury Parade, lead by the 76th Entry. On parade were 24 Officers, 10 WOs, 40 SNCOs, 513 Apprentices, 160 Airmen and 58 Airwomen.
May 76th Entry at Summer Camp. RAF Woodvale.
14th May Air Commodore ED McK Nelson CB ADC posted in to command vice Air Commodore GNE Tindal-Carill-Worsley CB CBE posted to FEAF.
1st August 75th Entry passed out. 370 plus 56 recoursed from previous, 56 retained for further training, 57 discharged, 289 passed out.
10th September 84th Entry arrived, consisting RAF 315.
November The Suez Crisis. The station ordered to make a 10% saving in commodities and to increase the rate of saving over the next few months.
19th December 76th Entry passed out. 265 plus 57 recoursed from previous, 63 retained for further training, 54 discharged, 205 passed out

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Phil Kelly

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