RAF College Cranwell
College Hall
Active	1919-Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Training
Role	Initial officer training
Part of	No. 22 Group
Based at	RAF Cranwell
Motto	Superna Petimus (Latin: We seek higher things)
Commanders
Current commander	Air Commodore R B Cunningham

The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with officer and aircrew selection. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixels, file size: 1. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... “RAF” redirects here. ... Number 22 Group is one of only three groups currently active in the Royal Air Force and the only group subordinate to Personnel and Training Command. ... RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. ... “RAF” redirects here. ... An officer is a member of a military, naval, or if applicable, other uniformed services who holds a position of responsibility. ...

The RAF College is based at RAF Cranwell near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, and is sometimes titled as the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. ...

History

The Lord Trenchard inspecting cadets

Following the foundation of the RAF in April 1918 and the cessation of hostilities in November 1918, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Hugh Trenchard felt determined to maintain the Air Force as an independent service rather than let the Army and Royal Navy control air operations again. The establishment of an air academy, which would provide basic flying training, provide intellectual education and give a sense of purpose to the future leaders of the Service was therefore a priority. Trenchard chose Cranwell as the College's location because, as he told his biographer: Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 496 pixelsFull resolution (1239 × 768 pixels, file size: 517 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photograph of Lord Trenchard inspecting cadets at the RAF College Cranwell. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 496 pixelsFull resolution (1239 × 768 pixels, file size: 517 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photograph of Lord Trenchard inspecting cadets at the RAF College Cranwell. ... Chief of the Air Staff can also refer to the head of the Canadian Forces Air Command or the head of the Indian Air Force. ... Bust depicting Marshal of the Royal Air Force the Viscount Trenchard Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard (February 3, 1873 - February 10, 1956) was the British Chief of the Air Staff during World War I, and was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...

"Marooned in the wilderness, cut off from pastimes they could not organise for themselves, the cadets would find life cheaper, healthier and more wholesome."

The Royal Air Force College was formed on 1 November 1919 as the RAF (Cadet) College. On 5 February 1920 the College was raised to command status. It is the oldest military air academy in the world. is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... A command in military organization is a collection of units or a group of personnel under the control of a single officer. ...

On 20 June 1929, an aeroplane piloted by Flight Cadet C J Giles crashed on landing at the College and burst into flames. A fellow flight cadet, William McKechnie pulled Giles, who was incapable of moving himself, from the burning wreckage. McKechnie was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal for his actions. is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Group Captain William Neil McKechnie (1907-1944) was a pilot in the Royal Air Force who was awarded The George Cross in 1929 and was killed in action over Germany in 1944. ... The Empire Gallantry Medal, officially the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry was a British award for acts of the highest civilian gallantry, introduced by King George V on 29 December 1922. ...

College Hall

Prior to the construction of the neo-classical College Hall, training took place in old naval huts. In the 1920s Sir Samuel Hoare (later to become Lord Templewood) battled to get permission for a substantial College building and in 1929 archietects plans were drawn up for the construction of the present-day College. After some disagreement between Hoare and the architects, the building plans were altered and incorporated many of the aspects of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea's design. In September 1933 the building was completed; it was built of rustic and moulded brick and had an 800-foot frontage. Samuel John Gurney Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood GCSI , GBE , CMG , PC (24 February 1880 – 7 May 1959), more commonly known as Sir Samuel Hoare, was a British Conservative politician who served in various capacities in the Conservative and National governments of the 1920s and 1930s. ... Samuel John Gurney Hoare, 1st Viscount Templewood GCSI , GBE , CMG , PC (24 February 1880 – 7 May 1959), more commonly known as Sir Samuel Hoare, was a British Conservative politician who served in various capacities in the Conservative and National governments of the 1920s and 1930s. ... Figure Court of Royal Hospital Chelsea The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for British soldiers who are unfit for further duty due to injury or old age, located in the Chelsea region of central London. ...

In front of the Hall there is a roughly circular grass area with orange gravel paths leading around it from the front gates towards the parade ground known to those at Cranwell as "The Orange".

The Building was officially opened by HRH the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII in October 1934 and has been used for RAF officer training since. This article is about the title Prince of Wales. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V (1910–36), on 20...

Current training and organisation

The College is the RAF equivalent of the British Army's Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Navy's Britannia Royal Naval College. At present, most RAF officer cadets complete a 32-week course within the College's Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit (OACTU)^[1], commanded since August 2006 by Group Captain Ian R. W. Stewart, before they are commissioned. OACTU also provides Special Entrant and Re-entrant (SERE) courses for medical and dental officers, chaplains, legal officers and nursing officers, and for officers rejoining the Service or transferring from the sister services.^[1] There are also a small number of short induction courses for Warrant Officers selected for commissioning, university cadets, bursars and Volunteer Reserve officers. In addition, OACTU delivers a 2 week Reserve Officer Initial Training course for Full Time Reservists, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), Mobile Meteorological Unit and Aviation Officers.^[1] Reflecting the growing importance of university-level education for its cadets, in 2007 the College appointed Dr. Joel Hayward, head of its air power studies academic department, as Dean of the Royal Air Force College.^[2] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... New College, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst New Colours are presented to RMAS, June 2005. ... Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, is the location of initial officer training in the Royal Navy, and is located on a hill overlooking the town of Dartmouth in the county of Devon, England. ... Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. ... For Warrant Officers in the United States military, see Warrant Officer (United States). ... A Bursar is a senior professional financial administrator in a school or university. ... The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) provides a pool of officers for management of the Air Cadet Organisation and University Air Squadrons. ... Joel S.A. Hayward (born 1964), is a New Zealand military historian and analyst who has worked in the United Kingdom since 2004. ...

Commandants

From 1920 to 1936 the College Commandant was double-hatted as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) RAF Cranwell. Air Officer Commanding (AOC) is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth (and some other) nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. ...

• 1 November 1919 Air Commodore C A H Longcroft (5 February 1920 appointed AOC RAF Cranwell)
• 15 August 1923 Air Commodore A E Borton
• 1 November 1926 Air Vice-Marshal F C Halahan
• 16 December 1929 Air Vice-Marshal A M Longmore
• 30 January 1933 Air Vice-Marshal W G S Mitchell
• 3 December 1934 Air Vice-Marshal H M Cave-Browne-Cave
• 21 December 1936 Air Vice-Marshal J E A Baldwin
• 15 August 1939 Air Commodore D Harries (the reference raises doubt about this appointment)
• Dates unknown Air Commodore R Halley (the reference raises significant doubt about this appointment)
• Month unknown 1945 Air Commodore W E G Bryant
• 12 October 1946 Air Commodore R L R Atcherley
• 1 January 1949 Air Commodore G R Beamish
• 31 July 1950 Air Commodore L F Sinclair
• 25 August 1952 Air Commodore H Eeles
• 16 April 1956 Air Commodore T A B Parselle
• 26 August 1958 Air Commodore D F Spotswood
• 16 April 1961 Air Commodore E D McK Nelson
• 21 August 1963 Air Commodore M D Lyne
• 28 December 1964 Air Commodore, later Air Vice-Marshal I D N Lawson
• 1 February 1967 Air Vice-Marshal T N Stack
• 9 March 1970 Air Vice-Marshal F D Hughes
• 23 September 1972 Air Vice-Marshal R D Austen-Smith
• 9 July 1975 Air Vice-Marshal W E Colahan
• 28 January 1978 Air Vice-Marshal D Harcourt-Smith
• 9 January 1980 Air Vice-Marshal B Brownlow
• 31 January 1982 Air Vice-Marshal R C F Peirse
• 18 January 1985 Air Vice-Marshal E H Macey
• 17 July 1987 Air Vice-Marshal R H Wood
• 8 December 1989 Air Vice-Marshal R M Austin
• 21 February 1992 Air Vice-Marshal D Cousins
• 7 October 1994 Air Vice-Marshal A J Stables
• 22 January 1997 Air Vice-Marshal J H Thompson
• 30 July 1998 Air Vice-Marshal T W Rimmer
• 21 July 2000 Air Vice-Marshal H G MacKay
• 27 June 2002 Air Vice-Marshal A J Smith
• Month unknown 2003 Air Commodore M C Barter
• 24 November 2005 Air Commodore R B Cunningham

is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... An Air Commodoress sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Commodore is the fourth most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the deactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... Air Vice-Marshal Sir Charles Alexander Holcombe Longcroft KCB CMG DSO AFC (13 May 1883 – 20 February 1958) was a pilot and squadron commander in the Royal Flying Corps who went on to become a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. ... is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air Vice-Marshal Amyas Eden Borton CB CMG DSO AFC (20 September 1886 – 15 August 1969) was a commander in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the 1920s. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Murray Longmore, GCB, DSO (8 October 1885 – 10 December 1970) was an early naval aviator, before reaching high rank in the Royal Air Force. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air Chief Marshal Sir William Gore Sutherland Mitchell (8 March 1888 - 15 August 1944) was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force and the first RAF officer to hold the post of Black Rod. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Air Marshal Sir John Eustice Arthur Baldwin KBE CB DSO DL RAF (April 13, 1892 – July 28, 1975). ... is the 227th day of the year (228th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 285th day of the year (286th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 106th day of the year (107th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jan. ... Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Denis Frank Spotswood (born 26 September 1916, died 11 November 2001) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. ... is the 106th day of the year (107th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 ([[Rf 1970 == January 1 - The Unix epoch begins at 00:00:00 UTC January 2 - The last studio performance of The Beatles oman numerals|MCMLXX]]) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Air Chief Marshal Sir David Cousins KCB AFC BA RAF is a retired senior Royal Air Force commander. ... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 328th day of the year (329th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Graduates

For more information, see the category: RAF College Cranwell graduates.

Cranwell has had many famous graduates. As there have been many notable RAF officers who were commissioned from Cranwell, a fair and representative list would be impractical. Therefore, only those who are notable in other ways are listed below:

Royalty

• Prince Bandar bin Sultan
• Prince Muqran bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
• Prince Charles (underwent training as a jet pilot at Cranwell but did not complete the full course)

Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Arabic: ‎, born March 2, 1949) is a highly influential Saudi politician and was Saudi ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005. ... Prince Muqran bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (born September 15, 1945, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a member of the House of Saud and the second-youngest son of the founder of Saudi Arabia, `Abd al-`Azīz Āl Sa`ūd. ... “Prince Charles” redirects here. ...

Politicians

• Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton
• Sir Rolf Dudley-Williams, 1st Baronet

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sir Rolf Dudley Dudley-Williams, 1st Baronet (originally (Rolf) Dudley Williams, 17 June 1908 – 8 October 1987) was a British aeronautical engineer and politician. ...

Other

• Frank Whittle, father of jet propulsion
• Rory Underwood, rugby union footballer

Frank Whittle speaking to employees of the Flight Propulsion Research Laboratory (Now known as the NASA Glenn Research Center), USA, in 1946 Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, OM, KBE, FRS, Hon FRAeS (1 June 1907–9 August 1996) was an English Royal Air Force officer and is seen as the... Rory Underwood (born June 19, 1963) is a former rugby union footballer who played wing for Leicester Tigers and Bedford, who represented England and the British Lions internationally, and a former Royal Air Force pilot. ...

Notes

References

• Bruce Barrymore Halpenny Action Stations: Wartime Military Airfields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands v. 2 (ISBN 978-0850594843)
• RAF Cranwell - College History
• Air of Authority - Schools and Staff Colleges

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Britannia Royal Naval College | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | RAF College Cranwell