Frances Louise Wilkinson - The Territorial Air Force: The RAFs Voluntary Squadrons, 1926–1957

THE TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

For my mum, Kathleen Wilkinson, I am so glad that you knew I had passed my doctorate. You were always so very proud of me. I love you and miss you every day.

For Che and Lenna, you bring so much joy to my life. I love you both. May you always be happy.

THE RAFS VOLUNTARY SQUADRONS, 19261957

LOUISE WILKINSON

THE TERRITORIAL AIR FORCE

The RAFs Voluntary Squadrons, 19261957

First published in Great Britain in 2020 by

Air World

An imprint of

Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Yorkshire Philadelphia

Copyright Louise Wilkinson, 2020

ISBN 978 1 52675 104 1

eISBN 978 1 52675 104 1

Mobi ISBN 978 1 52675 105 8

The right of Louise Wilkinson to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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So many people have contributed to the completion of this book, and each one deserves recognition. Firstly thanks must go to Professor John Buckley of the University of Wolverhampton, who was my Director of Studies and encouraged and supported me throughout my PhD. Thanks also go to the Royal Air Force Historical Society who awarded me the Henry Probert Bursary to help with my research visits to London. Thanks go to veteran John Pollock who had served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and provided me with much needed information and photographs. Ernie Cromie and Alan Taylor helped me with information on the University Air Squadrons which I was struggling to find.

Finally, thanks go to Pam, Lyndsey and Kerrianne who have been with me all the way through my research and studies, and have never really complained about it, even though they werent remotely interested in what I was doing !!!

Service with the RAF Volunteer Reserve Recruiting advertisement July 1948

Spare Time Recruiting advertisement August 1948

Air Minded Recruiting advertisement January 1949

Theres a Place For You in the Part-Time RAF Recruiting advertisement January 1950

Managing Directors are Proud to be Mechanics Recruiting advertisement March 1950

You Dont Have to Fly to Join Recruiting advertisement May 1950

Spend Flying Weekends Recruiting advertisement June 1950

Do a Grand Job in Your Spare Time Recruiting advertisement December 1950

Help Keep Britain On Top in the Air Recruiting advertisement January 1951

Theres a Place For You in the Part-Time RAF Recruiting advertisement January 1951

Theres a Place For You in the Part-Time RAF Recruiting advertisement June 1952

Theres a Place For You in the Part-Time RAF Recruiting advertisement September 1952

Berlin 1943 and Back 1953 Recruiting advertisement March 1953

Letter to RAuxAF Squadron Members from the Secretary of State for Air 11 November 1957

Punch Cartoon 30 January 1957

Table 1 Principles Governing the Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons

Table 2 To Maintain or Merge the Special Reserve Squadrons

Table 3 Auxiliary Air Force and Special Reserve Initial Data

Table 4 600 and 601 Squadron Combined Data by Category

Table 5 Auxiliary Air Force and Special Reserve Southern Squadrons Showing Percentage of Men with Biographies

Table 6 Auxiliary Air Force and Special Reserve Northern Squadrons showing Percentage of Men with Biographies

Table 7 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Initial Data

Table 8 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Data by Category

Table 9 Auxiliary Air Force and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve actual numbers as a direct comparison by category

Table 10 Reconstituted Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons Name, Classification and Location

Table 11 Reconstituted Auxiliary Air Force Pilots in Training Type of Aircraft against Percentage of Pilots

Table 12 Name of Individual Auxiliary Air Force Squadron and New Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Squadron and New Air Defence Unit

Table 13 Pre-War Auxiliary Air Force Officers who re-joined the Post-War Royal Auxiliary Air Force

Table 14 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Initial Data

Table 15 600 and 601 Squadron Comparison Between Pre and Post-War Initial Data

Table 16 600 and 601 Squadron Comparison Between Pre and Post-War Data by Category

Table 17 Southern Squadrons Showing Percentage of Men with Biographies

Table 18 Northern Squadrons Showing Percentage of Men with Biographies

Table 19 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Data by Category

Table 20 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Data for Men With No Squadron Number Given by Category

Table 21 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Initial Data

Table 22 Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Data by Category

Table 23 Pre-War Versus Post-War Recruiting of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force Year on Year