Royal Air Force Hereford
In 1953 saw the first of the Administrative Apprentice Training School’s moves to RAF Hereford and this 'tour of duty’ lasted
until 1959 (and again briefly between 1962 and 1963) when the School was next relocated to RAF Bircham Newton in the
wilds of Norfolk .
Royal Air Force Hereford was opened in June 1940 by the formation of No. 11 School of Technical Training, which remained
there until 1947 and was joined from 1942 to 1946 by the School of Torpedo Maintenance. Although never an operational
flying station, it was responsible for training the airmen who were to keep the aircraft in the air, providing airframe and
engine fitters for Bomber Command's Halifaxes and Lancasters and for Fighter Commands Hurricanes and Spitfires. It also
provided torpedo experts for the torpedo bombers of Coastal Command. R.A.F. Hereford therefore made a major
contribution to the war effort. At the same time, other units on the Station, notably No. I Aircrew Officers’ School (1944-47)
and the R.A.F. School of Administration and Accounting (1944-1948), also played an important role.
After World War II, the Station was mainly concerned with the training of officers, airmen and airwomen for administrative
duties. Some of the units that contributed to this end left. These were the Secretarial Branch Training School, No. I General
Service Training School, the Advanced Training School, No. 6 School of Recruit Training, the N.C.O. Training School, the
Administrative Apprentice Training School and No. 2 School of Administrative Trades, which came into existence at
Hereford in May, 1947, and over the years provided the Royal Air Force with very large numbers of highly trained clerks,
shorthand-writers and typists. They returned here in 1964 from Kirton in Lindsey in the form of an Adult Supply and
Secretarial Squadron.
Administrative Apprentice Entries 21-35 were trained (or started training) at Hereford. Entries 32-35 relocated to Bircham
Newton in January 1959 where they completed their training. Entries numbered 44 to 46 moved back to Hereford and
eventually graduated there - passed out in mixed flights of BEs and Apps together which was odd.
In 1956 the station had been hit by the first ever attack of Asian Flu' and many, if not most, Admin apprentices training there
at the time were affected. The Station Sick Quarters located opposite the main entrance was filled to overflowing and
empty huts behind the then guardroom were hastily made ready for the expected flow of infected hordes. I well remember
these huts that were linked together by a central corridor which seemed to stretch away for ever and was eerily spooky
when one left one's bed to venture alone to the toilet during the night! I well remember keeping everything crossed until
daybreak rather than take that trip!
Talking of spooks and such like, RAF Hereford reportedly had its own ghost within the sick quarters itself and rumour had it
that nurses at one time refused to work in one particular ward because it was said to be haunted. It is now 50 years since I
and other apprentices of my era were holded up in station sick quarters but something really strange happened one night.
Memories of what really happened in this particular case have blurred with the passing of time. However,my recollection
was that an apprentice reported for admission in the dead of night and was seen by at least one inmate who noticed the
urbiquitous bedpack over his shoulder. . The next morning there was no sign of him and it later turned out that he had died
at home many miles away. Eerily enough, the apprentice who said he saw the 'spook' was himself the victim of tragedy
some years later when he disappeared one night on a ferry crossing from Kowloon to Hong Kong. He has never been seen
again.
IIn September 1958, the R.A.F. School of Catering moved from Halton to its new and permanent home at Hereford where, in
its imposing building and with its very modern equipment, it undertook for the whole of the Royal Air Force, the training of
officers, airmen and airwomen in the catering trades.
On 23 April 1959, Royal Air Force Hereford was granted the Freedom of the City of Hereford marked by a parade in the city
centre. On 23 April 1994, the Station exercised its right of freedom of entry for the last time before the unit was handed
over to the Army. The ceremony took the form of a parade by personnel of RAF Hereford accompanied by representatives
of the Queens’s Colour Squadron and the Western Band of the Royal Air Force. The Station marched through the city with ’
swords drawn, bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating and bands playing. This must have been very reminiscent of
the day in 1957 that Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip visited the city when my own entry alongside the others
training at the time, proudly took part in a large parade in the city to mark the occasion. A plaque commemorating that day
can still be seen outside city hall.
Sadly, the Station finally closed it's doors to RAF training in 1999 when it was taken over by the Army. It now houses 22nd
Regiment SAS. It will be remembered fondly nevertheless, by generations of apprentices and other RAF personnel both
those trained there and not forgetting the trainers themselves. It was once the proud boast of RAF Hereford that wherever
an RAF Unit was formed, there must be a man trained in the classrooms of Hereford.
until 1959 (and again briefly between 1962 and 1963) when the School was next relocated to RAF Bircham Newton in the
wilds of Norfolk .
Royal Air Force Hereford was opened in June 1940 by the formation of No. 11 School of Technical Training, which remained
there until 1947 and was joined from 1942 to 1946 by the School of Torpedo Maintenance. Although never an operational
flying station, it was responsible for training the airmen who were to keep the aircraft in the air, providing airframe and
engine fitters for Bomber Command's Halifaxes and Lancasters and for Fighter Commands Hurricanes and Spitfires. It also
provided torpedo experts for the torpedo bombers of Coastal Command. R.A.F. Hereford therefore made a major
contribution to the war effort. At the same time, other units on the Station, notably No. I Aircrew Officers’ School (1944-47)
and the R.A.F. School of Administration and Accounting (1944-1948), also played an important role.
After World War II, the Station was mainly concerned with the training of officers, airmen and airwomen for administrative
duties. Some of the units that contributed to this end left. These were the Secretarial Branch Training School, No. I General
Service Training School, the Advanced Training School, No. 6 School of Recruit Training, the N.C.O. Training School, the
Administrative Apprentice Training School and No. 2 School of Administrative Trades, which came into existence at
Hereford in May, 1947, and over the years provided the Royal Air Force with very large numbers of highly trained clerks,
shorthand-writers and typists. They returned here in 1964 from Kirton in Lindsey in the form of an Adult Supply and
Secretarial Squadron.
Administrative Apprentice Entries 21-35 were trained (or started training) at Hereford. Entries 32-35 relocated to Bircham
Newton in January 1959 where they completed their training. Entries numbered 44 to 46 moved back to Hereford and
eventually graduated there - passed out in mixed flights of BEs and Apps together which was odd.
In 1956 the station had been hit by the first ever attack of Asian Flu' and many, if not most, Admin apprentices training there
at the time were affected. The Station Sick Quarters located opposite the main entrance was filled to overflowing and
empty huts behind the then guardroom were hastily made ready for the expected flow of infected hordes. I well remember
these huts that were linked together by a central corridor which seemed to stretch away for ever and was eerily spooky
when one left one's bed to venture alone to the toilet during the night! I well remember keeping everything crossed until
daybreak rather than take that trip!
Talking of spooks and such like, RAF Hereford reportedly had its own ghost within the sick quarters itself and rumour had it
that nurses at one time refused to work in one particular ward because it was said to be haunted. It is now 50 years since I
and other apprentices of my era were holded up in station sick quarters but something really strange happened one night.
Memories of what really happened in this particular case have blurred with the passing of time. However,my recollection
was that an apprentice reported for admission in the dead of night and was seen by at least one inmate who noticed the
urbiquitous bedpack over his shoulder. . The next morning there was no sign of him and it later turned out that he had died
at home many miles away. Eerily enough, the apprentice who said he saw the 'spook' was himself the victim of tragedy
some years later when he disappeared one night on a ferry crossing from Kowloon to Hong Kong. He has never been seen
again.
IIn September 1958, the R.A.F. School of Catering moved from Halton to its new and permanent home at Hereford where, in
its imposing building and with its very modern equipment, it undertook for the whole of the Royal Air Force, the training of
officers, airmen and airwomen in the catering trades.
On 23 April 1959, Royal Air Force Hereford was granted the Freedom of the City of Hereford marked by a parade in the city
centre. On 23 April 1994, the Station exercised its right of freedom of entry for the last time before the unit was handed
over to the Army. The ceremony took the form of a parade by personnel of RAF Hereford accompanied by representatives
of the Queens’s Colour Squadron and the Western Band of the Royal Air Force. The Station marched through the city with ’
swords drawn, bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating and bands playing. This must have been very reminiscent of
the day in 1957 that Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip visited the city when my own entry alongside the others
training at the time, proudly took part in a large parade in the city to mark the occasion. A plaque commemorating that day
can still be seen outside city hall.
Sadly, the Station finally closed it's doors to RAF training in 1999 when it was taken over by the Army. It now houses 22nd
Regiment SAS. It will be remembered fondly nevertheless, by generations of apprentices and other RAF personnel both
those trained there and not forgetting the trainers themselves. It was once the proud boast of RAF Hereford that wherever
an RAF Unit was formed, there must be a man trained in the classrooms of Hereford.
| Click The Image Above To Read The RAF Hereford Handbook |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| This Group Of Photos Were Found On The Internet And My Thanks To Those Who Posted Them. They Will No Doubt Bring Back A Few Memories For Those Of Us Who Trained At RAF Hereford |
- My Name is Steve Wood and I reside in San Francisco. I’m hoping that the photo (below)
will prove of interest to someone visiting your site. I am submitting this on behalf of my
friend and neighbor Jack Rhodes, he is second from right middle row and served national
Service 1949/50. He arrived at Hereford following square bashing at West Kirby. Jack
(now 80) would like to hear from anyone who recognizes him or themselves in this picture.
Jack does not have a computer so my email address is the contact address.
Trust you will find this of sufficient interest to publish on your site.
Thank you very much,
Sincerely
Steve Wood
+1 (510) 414-2119 E-Mail: sjlwood@aol.com
Administrator Note: If anyone visiting this site knows Mr Rhodes please contact him via
the above address
| Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Association |
RAFAAA
| Multam A Parvo |
| The 21st Anniversary Of The Station Is Marked at the Camp Gates |
23rd Entry Accounts Course |
46th Entry Pass Out Parade Dec 1963 |
24th Entry Pass Out |
| Do You Have Any Photos Taken During Your Time At RAF Hereford? If So We Would Be Pleased To Hear From You administrator@rafadappassn.org |
RAF Hereford, Feb. 19, 1970-1984.
- Gate guard.
Doug Arnold/Warbirds Of GB Ltd,
Blackbushe, 1984-1985.
Warbirds of GB Ltd, Bitteswell/Biggin
Hill, 1985-1992.
- Stored dismantled, Blackbushe (later
Biggin Hill).
- Trucked to Thruxton, July 6, 1989 for
restoration.
- Stored partially restored, dismantled,
Biggin Hill, 1992.
Dick Melton Aviation, Winchester, 1993.
Mike Araldi & Henry Stenger/Jet Cap
Aviation Corp, Bartow, FL, 1993-1996.
Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston,
TX, USA, 1996-2002.
- Restoration to airworthy completed
with high back, Bartow, FL.
- First flight, Bartow, FL, Dec. 24, 1999.
- Flown as RAF TE392/ZX-X.
- Gate guard.
Doug Arnold/Warbirds Of GB Ltd,
Blackbushe, 1984-1985.
Warbirds of GB Ltd, Bitteswell/Biggin
Hill, 1985-1992.
- Stored dismantled, Blackbushe (later
Biggin Hill).
- Trucked to Thruxton, July 6, 1989 for
restoration.
- Stored partially restored, dismantled,
Biggin Hill, 1992.
Dick Melton Aviation, Winchester, 1993.
Mike Araldi & Henry Stenger/Jet Cap
Aviation Corp, Bartow, FL, 1993-1996.
Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston,
TX, USA, 1996-2002.
- Restoration to airworthy completed
with high back, Bartow, FL.
- First flight, Bartow, FL, Dec. 24, 1999.
- Flown as RAF TE392/ZX-X.
From being the gateguard at RAFHereford for 14 years this spitfire now fully restored is flying again. |