26-485: 51°46′38″N 0°43′15″W / 51.7772°N 0.7207°W / 51.7772; -0.7207 The Trenchard Museum is based at RAF Halton , Halton , Buckinghamshire , England . The overall aim of the museum is to preserve and display items that relate to the early history of the Royal Air Force , particularly the training of apprentices that took place at RAF Halton. It is named after Lord Trenchard , who
52-580: A spur railway line ran from Wendover to Halton to supply coal and goods to the station. The history of the RAF station and specifically apprenticeship training over the years is preserved by the Trenchard Museum located at RAF Halton, and managed by the RAF Halton Apprentices Association. In 2010 a major project by members of the station re-excavated the training trenches used during
78-889: A grass airfield, used mainly by gliders , light aircraft , microlights and the RAF hot air balloon . The airfield is the home of the Royal Air Force Gliding & Soaring Association , Chilterns Gliding Centre, The Halton Aero Club and the RAF Halton Microlight Club. The airfield was also used as the filming location for the German airfield in Wonder Woman . Flying and notable non-flying units based at RAF Halton. No. 22 Group (Training) RAF No. 38 Group (Air Combat Service Support) RAF RAF Voluntary Bands Association RAF Pipe Bands Association Directorate of Joint Warfare On 7 November 2016, in
104-461: A number of aero engines, weapons and other equipment on display. There are a large number of photographs, a mock up of barrack rooms, and the uniforms worn by those stationed at Halton Camp over the years. Aside from artefacts relating to engineering, there is also memorabilia relating to a wide range of other training, including catering, nursing and dentistry. The Trenchard Museum was opened on 22 June 1999 by Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard ,
130-827: A speech to the House of Commons by the Defence Secretary, it was announced that the RAF Halton airfield would cease to be part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) estate and was scheduled to be disposed of by 2022. The following month, a letter from the Defence Secretary to MP David Lidington confirmed the planned phases prior to disposal of the site: On 28 February 2019, after a revision of the Defence Estates Optimisation Plan, MoD minister Tobias Ellwood MP announced that RAF Halton would not close until at least 2025. This
156-565: Is known as the father of the Royal Air Force, founded the aircraft apprentice scheme, and had a strong association with RAF Halton . The museum was opened in 1999. The collection celebrates the history of RAF Halton, the origins of which go back to 1913 when the Royal Flying Corps were given permission by the then owner Alfred de Rothschild to use his estate at Halton for practicing manoeuvres. There are important exhibits recounting
182-592: Is normally open on Wednesdays and for groups at other times by prior arrangement. RAF Halton Royal Air Force Halton , or more simply RAF Halton , is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom. It is located near the village of Halton near Wendover , Buckinghamshire. The site has been in use since the First World War but is due to close by December 2027. The first recorded military aviation at Halton took place in 1913 when
208-502: Is officially the last apprentice to graduate from the apprentice scheme at Cosford in 1993. In July 1952, No.1 S of TT received royal recognition when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II presented the School with a colour . The colour was received on behalf of the school by the 63rd Entry of aircraft apprentices; the colour party being Sergeant Aircraft Apprentice (S/A/A) F.M. Hines, and identical twins S/A/A's Clive and Richard Grant. The Colour
234-522: The Aircraft Apprentice scheme at RAF Halton are known as Old Haltonians . As well as the three-year apprentice scheme No.1 S of TT also carried out training of Craft Apprentices on a newly developed two-year long apprenticeship, from 1964, commencing with 201 entry. Sgt Craft Apprentice Glenn Morton of 203 entry was the first craft apprentice to receive a direct entry commission after graduating from Halton. The immediate past senior serving member of
260-805: The First World War and made them available as an educational exhibit. No. 613 Volunteer Gliding Squadron , which operated the Grob Vigilant T1 , was disbanded in November 2016 by the MoD as part of its Better Defence Estate strategy. In July 2018, the headquarters of the Logistics Specialist Training Wing (LSTW) relocated to the new Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration at Worthy Down Camp in Hampshire . The remaining element of
286-525: The LSTW, the Logistics Supply Training Squadron, moved to Worthy Down over the months following 24 October 2019. The following units were here at some point: Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton was opened in 1927 as a large purpose-built military hospital, replacing an earlier makeshift medical facility housed in wooden huts that had been opened in 1919. The hospital was the second unit in
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#1732898254819312-640: The RAF Halton Apprentices Association (Old Haltonians) is Air Vice-Marshal Paul Colley OBE, who joined the RAF as an apprentice of 127th entry. The oldest living member of the association is awarded the honorary title "King Brat" as a mark of respect. The Patron of the "Old Haltonians" Association is Air Chief Marshal Mike Armitage (56th entry, Aircraft Apprentices) and the Vice-Patrons are Air Marshal Cliff Spink (104th entry, Aircraft Apprentices) and Air Marshal Sir Graham Miller (RAF officer) (210th entry, Craft Apprentices). The RAF Aircraft Apprentice Scheme
338-423: The United Kingdom to have a renal facility, and besides developing a cure for Sandfly fever , the hospital was the first in the world to use penicillin on a large scale in 1940, just after its discovery. The hospital was closed in 1995 due to Government defence cuts. The buildings remained derelict until 2008 when they were demolished for new housing in a development called Princess Mary Gate . The site has
364-534: The early 1990s. Also in 1919, Halton House – a French-style mansion built for Lionel de Rothschild – was re-opened as the station's Officers' Mess , a role which the grade II listed building continues as today. During the Second World War , RAF Halton continued its training role. Additionally No 112 Squadron and No 402 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force were based at Halton for part of
390-410: The first to be awarded to an apprentice school, and the first to be presented to an ' other rank ' when Sergeant Apprentice Hines, of the 63rd Entry, received the colour from Her Majesty. In 1967, RAF Halton was the site of the unsolved case of the murder of aircraftswoman Rita Ellis . The case was reopened in 2010 to take advantage of modern forensic techniques, and in 2017 a new DNA profile enabled
416-621: The grandson of Hugh Trenchard. The museum is managed by a curator, assisted by a small number of volunteers who have previous experience based at the Halton Camp or have an interest in the activities of RAF Halton. Funding of the museum is from small grants and through the supply of exhibits and other materials from the RAF . Many apprentice training artifacts have been loaned or donated by past apprentices, Financial support also comes via contributions from visitors and through educational activities. The museum
442-497: The major contribution of Lord Trenchard to the founding and development of the RAF, some of which were originally housed in a small museum in his name at RAF Upavon . The museum also records the background to apprentice training at the Halton camp through examples of the tools, work and test pieces completed by apprentices, and the exploits of some of those who were trained there. The museum has two complete aircraft, many models of aircraft,
468-425: The mechanical trades for aircraft maintenance, the graduates of which were the best trained technicians in the RAF and would usually progress to Senior NCO ranks. However, ninety one ex-apprentices went on to achieve Air Rank. Many more became commissioned officers, including Sir Frank Whittle "father of the jet engine", who completed his apprenticeship at RAF Cranwell , before the move to RAF Halton. Graduates of
494-537: The planning and development decisions for RAF Halton near Wendover once it ceases to be a military base in 2027. No. 1 School of Technical Training RAF No. 1 School of Technical Training ( No. 1 S of TT ) is the Royal Air Force's aircraft engineering school. It was based at RAF Halton from 1919 to 1993, as the Home of the Aircraft Apprentice scheme. The Aircraft Apprentice scheme trained young men in
520-517: The police to eliminate 200 of the original suspects. In late 2020, the Thames Valley Police 's major crime review team issued a further appeal for anyone with information to come forward. When No. 1 School of Technical Training moved to RAF Cosford in 1993, they took over guardianship of the Queen's Colour and on 31 October 1997, Her Majesty presented RAF Halton with its second colour. RAF Halton
546-512: The school was permanently accommodated in workshops built by German PoWs . The estate was purchased by the British Government for the nascent Royal Air Force at the end of the First World War for £112,000. In 1919 Lord Trenchard established the No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton for RAF aircraft apprentices , which remained at the station until it moved to RAF Cosford in
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#1732898254819572-533: The then owner of the Halton estate, Alfred de Rothschild , invited No 3 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps to conduct manoeuvres on his land. Following a gentlemen's agreement between Rothschild and Lord Kitchener , the estate was used by the British Army throughout the First World War . In 1916 the Royal Flying Corps moved its air mechanics school from Farnborough , Hampshire to Halton, and in 1917,
598-529: The war. No. 1448 (Radar Calibration) Flight was converted into No. 529 Squadron at Halton in June 1943. Initially, the squadron flew the Cierva C.30 and the de Havilland Hornet Moth and by the end of the war, the squadron was competent with autogyro aircraft. In July 1952 the uncrowned Queen Elizabeth II performed one of her first duties as Sovereign by presenting a colour to Number 1 School of Technical Training;
624-542: Was confirmed in letters sent from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in May 2019 to local residents, stating that phased withdrawal would commence in 2022 with full disposal achieved in 2025. This was later extended with the airfield not closing until 2027. Following a public consultation, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet agreed a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for RAF Halton. The SPD will inform
650-499: Was initiated by Lord Trenchard at the No.1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton in 1922. Initially started in 1920 at Halton camp, the site was not ready to accept apprentices until 1922 so the first four entries were trained at 'RAF Cranwell'. Between 1922 and 1993, when the scheme ended with 155th Entry, over 40,000 young men known, more or less affectionately as Halton 'Brats' (or Trenchard's Brats) had graduated. Richie Waylens (155th)
676-718: Was the only station to be granted the dignity of two Queen's colours. The move of No. 1 School of Technical Training to RAF Cosford afforded space for the RAF School of Recruit Training to be moved from RAF Swinderby to RAF Halton in July 1993, where it has been ever since. In the year 2004–2005, RAF Halton trained 24,000 personnel, though not all were Phase 1 recruits; some were attending the Airman's Command School which trains Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) in Phase 2 and 3 disciplines. From 1917 to 1963,
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