Dates: 1914 - 2007
The first recorded military aviation at Halton took place in 1913 when the then owner of the Halton estate, Alfred de Rothschild invited 3 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps to conduct manoeuvres on his land. Following a gentleman’s agreement between Alfred de 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 the school was permanently accommodated in workshops built by German PoWs. The whole 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 (see aircraft apprentice) which remained at the Station until it moved to RAF Cosford in the early 1990s. Also in 1919, Halton House - a French style mansion built by Lionel de Rothschild - was re-opened as the Station’s Officers’ Mess. Halton House continues to be used as the Station’s principal Officers’ Mess.
Princess Mary’s RAF Hospital Halton was opened in 1927 as a large military hospital. In 1995 the Hospital closed and although the buildings still stand, they are derelict and the surrounding married quarters have been sold off for private housing.
During World War II RAF Halton continued its training role. Additionally, 112 Squadron and 402 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force were based at Halton for part of the War.
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; the first to be awarded to an apprentice school, and the first ever to be presented to an ’other rank’ when Sergeant Apprentice Hines, of the 63rd Entry, received the colour from Her Majesty.
When Number 1 School of Technical Training relocated to RAF Cosford in 1990, 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 was the first and only station to be granted the dignity of two Queen’s colours.
Memories of RAF Halton
Raf Halton school of cookery in 1952Written by Brian Reeve
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"I arrived at Halton in early FEB.1952, after my sq bashing at Raf West Kirby
What an experience,i went from boy to man, in 8w/ks I was on course 84, and our instructor was a c/pl Edwards,THERE WAS A TOTAL 10 of us, I have tried with some sucess,to traceany of them, one thing i do recall is that,we went straight into week 3 of the course, as we had some knowledge, of the catering trade,ie butchers,bakers,etc Ihave found one mate Rowland Morley, from New Market,we have met up again after all those y/rs and lunch together, looking to trace as many as the others as possible
The other names are Ted Collins( he was with me till demob)K Dujon,R Griffiths,R Gilmour,D Budd,F Hillard,? Lucas, ? Clegg & C/PL Edwards, We also joined with course 83 at odd times i have photos of my 84 & 83( with all their names as well"
Raf Halton school of cookery in 1952Written by Brian Reeve
Contact this person >> "I arrived at Halton in early FEB.1952, after my sq bashing at Raf West Kirby
What an experience,i went from boy to man, in 8w/ks I was on course 84, and our instructor was a c/pl Edwards,THERE WAS A TOTAL 10 of us, I have tried with some sucess,to traceany of them, one thing i do recall is that,we went straight into week 3 of the course, as we had some knowledge, of the catering trade,ie butchers,bakers,etc Ihave found one mate Rowland Morley, from New Market,we have met up again after all those y/rs and lunch together, looking to trace as many as the others as possible
The other names are Ted Collins( he was with me till demob)K Dujon,R Griffiths,R Gilmour,D Budd,F Hillard,? Lucas, ? Clegg & C/PL Edwards, We also joined with course 83 at odd times i have photos of my 84 & 83( with all their names as well"
RAF HALTON in 1991Written by stacey rainsforth
Contact this person >> "THE YEAR I JOINED UP, THE PEOPLE AT THIS POSTING ARE THE ONES THAT STAYED IN MY MEMORY AND A LOT OF THE TIME MY HEART THE MOST,MAL, DAYLE, GRAHEM, FRANK, ALFIE YOU ALL SHAPED WHAT I THOUGHT THE AIR FORCE WAS, BOY WAS I WRONG..............YVONNE AND LINSEY, WHERE ARE YOU?"
RAF Halton ICOM in 1988Written by Robert Richardson
Contact this person >> "What a time we had learning to be Medics from Aug - Dec 88. The best Staff and course mates anyone could have. The guys being Baz, vinnie, girls - Jo, Marie, Sally & Viv I do apollogise those I have forgotton."
RAF Halton 218 Entry in 1970Written by Steve Hopper
Contact this person >> "April 1970 arrived at Halton on a sunny but chilly morning on the 27th.
Sitting on the grass outside one of the billets on 3 wing, we were allocated our accomodation blocks.
Mine was Invader Flight on 2 Wing.
Tried most of the Wednesday sports activities, including horse riding at the stables near the train station in Wendover. Never really seemed to take to anything untill I was talked into joining the Pipe Band.
Chf Tech. Dave McCleod was the Pipe Major at Halton.
I eventually learned to be a base drummer and spend many journeys banging that drum up and down the hill as we marched to and from the college and workshops.
The pipe band led to many a good skive, such as the Royal Tournament, The Sunset Ceremony (RAF Massed bands), making our own record, various visiting dignatories and funerals.
I remember doing RAF Regiment Training with Sergeant Dewsbury (what a tough cookie he was).
Searching for the other half of our entry who had hidden in the Downs, Dewsbury threw a thunder flas over the brow of a hill because we heard voices.
It turnes out to be an elderly couple having a picknic.
Boy were they suprised.
Sitting in the cockpit of a Sea Hawk in the workshops servicing the canopy tracks.
Selected canopy close just before Naafi break. The right hand track closed fully, the left hand closed only half way. The canopy split from front to back just as the Naafi hooter went.
Everybody left me trapped in there.
The Suadron Leader was walking round during break and saw me trapped.
"Did you do that?" says he
"Yes sir" says I.
Off he walked and left me stuck in there.
1971, Halton recieved a batch of Sea Vixens, as apprentices we clambered all over them. Each one had about 20 apprentices switching this and that on and opening this panel and that panel.
One of the lads sitting between the booms at the rear of the main body suddenly screamed and hit the deck below.
Apparently, one of the apprentices had selected theemergency generator which flipped up and knocked the apprentice off.
The Shoulder Of Mutton near the railway station was one of our favourite haunts. I seem to remember a country and western singer there on friday nights called Jed.
His favourite song was called "The American Draft Dodger"
Chipmunk flights over the spot where the Great Train Robbery took place.
The pilots taking great delight in flying alongside the passing trains and practising their straffing runs on them.
Getting near passing out, we decided to pull a helicopter up the hill from the workshops.
Half way up the hill the snowdrops came so we legged it into the woods, the snowdrops shouting after us "Dont leave this bloody thing here, get it up onto the parade ground"
Summer camp in wales, the Plynlymon (think thats how you spell it) mountain race.
Carrying buckets of water up and down as punishment, but being sent back to Halton half way through as Mrs Ghandi was visiting and they neede the pipe bandsmen. Yahoo!
The most significant days of my life and glad I was there"
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving RAF Halton
"Can anyone help the Buckler Car Register trace the Buckler 90 reg. no. PBH 1 that was built by Apprentices at RAF Halton in the early/mid 1950s? "
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"You guys got nowt on us wimmin. RAF Halton in Bucks. Every day two Wrafs had the horrible job of transporting to an incinerator nearby all the sanitory debris of the female s-x’s unescapeable torment witnessed by sniggering airmen not long out of their nappies, don’t remember that at any other camp I was at? "
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" Hi Trev, I’m glad you mentioned Vaughn Monroe, I think he had the most beautiful romantic voice, remember "Time on my hands" and "Bamboo"? My last cd purchase was by him and I had to order it and pay £10. You can usually get the old timers music for about £3 or £4 in one music shop here. But ..."
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" Quoting: PERRY(nee)CHATFIELD Hi Trev, I’m glad you mentioned Vaughn Monroe, I think he had the most beautiful romantic voice, remember "Time on my hands" and "Bamboo"? My last cd purchase was by him and I had to order it and pay £10. You can usually get the old timers music for about £3 or £4 ..."
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" A man of culture you are Trev, I have only ever been to a London show once. It was while I was at RAF Halton in 1959, at the Globe theatre. Don’t remember what I saw but I remember the meal afterwards, first time I had ever been served mushrooms and I could not eat them. Now I love ..."
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