The Royal
Air Force Apprenticeship
scheme began in October 1919. Selection exams were held around the
country and in January 1920, the first Apprentice Entry numbering 235
recruits started their three year apprenticeship at RAF
Cranwell. In the meantime,
proper accommodation was being built at RAF Halton.
The Boys were signed on for 12 years' service from the age of 18 and
assigned to the trade of Carpenter, Sheet Metal Worker, Fitter or
Electrical. The Training Schools at Halton and
Cranwell were
eventually renamed No 1 and No 2 Schools of Technical Training,
respectively in March 1920. Halton’s first Entry, No 5, began at the
station in January 1922, at which time the rank of Aircraft Apprentice
replaced the earlier term Boy Mechanic.
The
RAF Apprenticeship scheme came to an end with the graduation of the 155th Entry in 1993. The 151st Entry attended Halton between May 1988 and June of 1991 after completing the 6 weeks of basic recruit training at RAF Swinderby. During the 71 years of Apprentice Training at RAF Halton over 40,000 Aircraft Apprentices successfully graduated. Among them is a holder of the Victoria Cross, four recipients of the George Cross, 220 have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 249 have won the Distinguished Flying Medal. Approximately, twenty per cent of Apprentices were commissioned during their service careers.