AIR TRAINING CORPS

AT R.A.F. UPWOOD

Tony Saint pictured on the back row, third from right

The photograph is of the High Wycombe Air Training Corps on summer camp at Royal Air Force Station Upwood in the late 1940s. The accommodation for the Air Training Corps was the prisoner of war camp on the base.

The corps was made of cadets in their last year at school or in their first employment (apprenticeship). Many of the schoolboys attended the Wycombe Technical Institute (Motto: "Quit Ye Like Men") which did not have a cadet corps, as did the Royal Grammar School.

The Commander of the group was Flt Lt Mallinson. Tony was based at R.A.F. Booker, at that time a flying Training School for both RAF and RNAS pilots. The cadets enjoyed flights in Tiger Moths, Ansons, Dragon Rapides, and gliding in Kirby Cadets. Whist at Upwood Lancasters were added to the list.

The members at that time were between senior school, or first job, and their national service. The time in the corps proved to be well spent when called to Padgate for service. Ex-cadets had some idea of what the RAF was like and received a distinctive service number which proved to be a mark of recognition for ex-cadets.

Many thanks to Tony Saint, for the information and picture on this page

Last updated 3/8/00