Apprentice Journal The

35 Pages·2007·6.54 MB·English

The
Apprentice Journal
School of Technical Training
Royal Australian Air Force
PROLOGUE

Since 1948 the major site for technical training within the Air Force
has been located at RAAF Base Forrest Hill, Wagga Wagga, New
South Wales.
No.1 Technical Training School became the RAAF School of
Technical Training which undertook all 'aircraft' trade training. The
school trained technicians in Airframe, Electrical, Armament,
Instrument, Engines, Electronics and Motor Transport trades, as well
as non-technical trades for cooks, clerks and logistics professionals.
Technical training is currently undertaken by the New South Wales
Technical and Further Education organisation under contract.
An important innovation instigated by the RAAF to train technicians
was the Apprentice Training Scheme for boys between 15 and 17
years of age. The first intake was in 1948 and when the scheme
ceased in 1993 a total of 5478 engineer and radio apprentices had
graduated.
The ‘Apprentice Journal’ first appeared at the R.A.A.F. School of
Technical Training at the end of 1954. It followed on from the
introduction of the fortnightly unit newspaper, the ‘Groundel’, earlier
in the same year.
It was largely an annual audit of the activities that engaged the
apprentices, a collection of ‘schoolboy’ jokes and photographs of
sports teams and important identities engaged in our education.
However, it also had contributions from the high and low looking
back at the not long distant beginnings of the apprentice scheme, its
effect on the participants and musings about its goals and future.
THE APPRENTICE JOURNAL
R.A.A.F. SCHOOL OF TECHNICAL TRAINING
WAGGA WAGGA, N.S.W.
1955-56
INDEX TO CONTENTS
2
PROLOGUE,
FOREWORD, by Air Vice Marshal W. L. Hely 4
5
EDITORIAL, by Group Captain E. V. Millett
5
THE VALUE OF THE APPRENTICE SCHEME, by Wing Commander W. Lewis
THE GRADUATING APPRENTICE, WHAT OF THE FUTURE, by Wing Commander W. Lewis 6
THE R.A.A.F. APPRENTICE SCHEME IN RETROSPECT, by Squadron Leader J. H. Honor 6
7
AN APPRENTICE LOOKS BACK, by Flt. Sgt/App. Melvin, D.

AIRFRAME SECTION, by Flying Officer W.B. Hawkins and Anonymous 9
11
ARMAMENT SECTION, by Warrant Officer G. Mathers and L/App. Muldoon, I. G.
13
ELECTRICAL SECTION, by Warrant Officer W. Howie and L/App. Tye, J. G.
15
ENGINE SECTION, by Flying Officer Horner and Flt. Sgt/App. Jacka, B. G.
17
INSTRUMENT SECTION, by Warrant Officer R. Wall and L/App. Williams, V.
19
MOTOR TRANSPORT SECTION, by Warrant Officer C. Allen and L/App. Beck, R. J.
20
JUNIOR EQUIP. AND ADMIN. TRAINING, by J/T. Hill, P. and J/T. Liebke, D. C.
22
ALLIED TRADES SECTION, by Flight Lieutenant A. E. Moore and L/App. Ward
24
BASIC TRAINING SECTION, by Warrant Officer M. Ewing and A/App. Bigg, R. J.

26
EDUCATION SECTION, by Wing Commander J. G. Stanes and L/App. Coleman, J. R.
28
THE R.S.T.T. UNIT BAND, by Warrant Officer H. Gregg and L/App. Sinclair, P.J.
30
ALL THEIR OWN WORK, by Airmen of the RAAF Apprentice Scheme
35
GRADUATION 1956
Foreword
By
Air Vice Marshal W. L. Hely
The R.A.A.F. Apprentice Scheme was instituted so that the R.A.A.F. would be assured of capable men,
trained in their particular duties to carry on the technical side of the R.A.A.F.
The primary duty of the R.A.A.F. is the air defence of Australia, the Commonwealth and her allies. To
carry out this task the weapons, either manned aircraft or controlled projectiles, must be serviced, prepared
for use and operated. Thus an adequate technical force is a "must" within the R.A.A.F., for however skilled
the weapon controller, his skill counts for nought unless provided with efficient and reliable weapons. The
Apprentice is the keystone to weapons efficiency and to the operations of the Air Force.
None of us quite know the nature of our future defence tasks. Whilst looking to a peaceful future, we
must do our utmost to prepare against the contingency of war. One such method is to have personnel skilled
in their present day tasks and possessing the basic knowledge necessary to cope with future developments.
The Apprentice Scheme is required to produce these personnel.
Even as the aeroplane or guided weapon depends for efficiency upon skilled servicing, so does the
Service depend upon efficient systems of supply and administration. The proper materials, tools, etc., must
be available at the right places and times. Quality and efficiency in supply and administration are more
important than quantity. It is the task of the J.E.A.T. scheme to produce this quality.
In our "Air Team” we need every player trained to the minute, ready to do his part. I believe that time
will prove that the Apprentice and J.E.A.T. training will provide us with these essential men of tomorrow.
“Man is the artificer of his own success.”

Air Vice Marshal W. L. Hely, C.B.E., A.F.C.
Editorial By
By Group Captain E. V. Millett
Group Captain E. V. Millett Like any other trade school, the School of
Technical Training cannot make tradesmen but it
can, and generally does, provide trainees with a
sound basic instruction in their Air Force trades
with, at the same time, the academic instruction
necessary if its graduates are to understand and
master the new equipments and techniques which
will be introduced during their service.
The Apprentices and junior Trainees who are
leaving this School still have ahead of them the task
of learning their trades. The opportunity to learn will
come when they do "on the job" training under the
supervision of experienced tradesmen.
Only if they use this opportunity to the utmost
Group Captain E. V. Millett will the training received here achieve its intended
purpose-that of creating a firm foundation on which
“When you are aspiring to the highest place, it is to build the high standard of trade skill needed of all
honourable to reach the second or even the third its members by our Air Force.
rank.”
It is important, then, that they remember that:
Cicero – “De Oratore.”
"An Apprentice is not trained to do the job
The end of the year brings us to our annual task
but, rather, to know how to do it---and how,
of self-accounting and to those of you who are under
training-and being subjected to all sorts of tests and later on, to expect other men to do it."
examinations-this accounting all too often takes the

form of counting marks and comparing them with
those gained by your friends. Cicero knew better. The Value of the Apprentice Scheme
The true accounting should not be of your position
By
in a group but, rather, of whether you have given of
Wing Commander W. Lewis
your best or not.
We do not all begin with the same natural
abilities and we soon learn that we can do nothing
about these. What we can do is be sure that we make
the very best use of the abilities that nature has
given us. This requires hard work and a willingness
to learn and learn and keep on learning.
What you have been given here at the Royal
Australian Air Force School of Technical Training
is not a technical education but only the means to an
education. It is up to you to carry on now and learn
your chosen trade. Your future advancement will
depend on your performance on the job and not on
results of your early training. Accept, if you must, a
position in "the second or even the third rank" but
accept it with the resolution to keep on aspiring to
the highest place.

Wing Commander W. Lewis
Prior to the last World War, the Royal Australian The Graduating Apprentice
Air Force depended largely on the products of
What of the Future
civilian training schemes for its source of technical
By
manpower. The last war necessitated a rapid
expansion of the Air Force and showed the need for Wing Commander W. Lewis
Service Technical Training in peace time. In
January, 1948, the R.A.A.F. Engineering Graduation Day I956 brings to a close three years
Apprenticeship scheme was inaugurated. of intensive technical training for No. 8 Intake
Engineering Apprentices.
TRADESMEN OF THE SERVICE
Members of this intake now go out into the field
The Apprentice Scheme is designed to provide to uphold and put into practice the high standard of
the Service with a constant intake of highly trained training they have received at R.A.A.F. School of
and skilled tradesmen. Technical Training.
Although your next two years' service will still be
More than professional skill is required of the
under instruction, the opportunity will present itself
Service tradesman, however, it is equally important
for you to show the less fortunate members of the
that his character, moral standing, educational
technical force, those who have not been able to
standard, Service knowledge and power of
avail themselves of the thorough training you have
leadership should be of the same high order.
undergone, the standard of proficiency you have
The achievement of these qualities is the basic
reached. Like all budding journeymen you face your
objective in the Apprentice Scheme, for it is from
future careers with a certain amount of trepidation, a
graduates of this Scheme that the main body of
feeling of ‘now I am on my own.’
Senior N.C.O.'s, and Warrant and Commissioned
Whilst it is a good and natural thing to feel
Technical Officers are selected.
confident of your ability, do not make that ever
It is of interest to note that the first ex-apprentice present mistake of being over-confident, and be ever
from R.S.T.T. Wagga to be commissioned, Pilot mindful that you still have a lot to learn-in fact you
Officer Grantham and also two ex-apprentices from will be learning the "Tricks of the trade" for a long
the Radio School at Frognal (Victoria) and now time to come and if you are wise you will adopt a
Commissioned Pilot Officers Pearover and Riggall, policy of eagerness to learn and so add to the basic
were recently here at R.S.T.T. undergoing a Tech- knowledge imparted to you by experienced
nical Officer course. instructors.
As you are aware, the R.A.A.F. apprentice
A CAREER
scheme which started in I948, is already bearing
The R.A.A.F. Apprenticeship scheme undoubtedly fruit, a number of ex-apprentices now hold
offers a young man an ideal way to learn a trade and Non-Commissioned and Commissioned rank.
at the same time gives him that great pride in
Although the aim of R.A.A.F. School of
serving his Queen and Country.
Technical Training is to produce efficient airmen
The Apprentice receives the best possible trade and non-commissioned officers, it is fervently hoped
training and he enjoys the advantages of free that many will eventually reach commissioned rank
accommodation, meals and clothing. In the in the Technical Branch, Remember, therefore, that
companionship of other young men of his own age you are on the threshold of a technical career with
his life is varied and interesting and includes commissioned rank as your goal.
sporting activities, drill and weapons training, visits
The R.A.A.F. Apprentice Scheme
of general education value to industrial centres and
In Retrospect
an annual bivouac under field conditions.
By
After completing three years at R.S.T.T. Wagga,
Squadron Leader J.H. Honor
graduating Apprentices are posted to R.A.A.F. Units
for a further two years' supervised and directed Late January 1948 saw the beginning of
training at the end of which time they qualify for something new in the Royal Australian Air Force.
their Apprentice Certificates and become fully After months of preparation, buildings were ready to
productive members of the R.A.A.F. receive the first intake of young men to undergo
Apprentice training at Forest Hill, Wagga Wagga. FIRST GRADUATION
Just over fifty arrived and were immediately
Came December 1950 and an historic,
introduced to Service life.
occasion-the graduation of the first batch of
Carefully selected as guide, philosopher, friend qualified Apprentices. Many parents and friends
and master was the respected late Flt. Lt. J. A. Mc- from all parts of Australia gathered for the event.
Intosh, a man whose memory will remain However, the fates were not kind-pouring rain fell at
ever-green amongst his protégés. the very commencement of the ceremony. Nothing
daunted, these true Anzacs carried out the full
There were many difficulties, mostly in admin-
routine of drill, although drenched to the skin. Their
istration and discipline; for here were fifty lads
bearing and precision of drill brought great praise
between fifteen and sixteen years of age, set
and admiration from their own parents, as well as
amongst a large population of adult trainees. Those
arousing justifiable pride in the hearts of those who
entrusted with the care of the Apprentices had a
had trained them.
great responsibility, and they were truly led and

guided by the stalwart "Bushy” McIntosh. Aptly
was the name "Anzacs" given to this original intake. An Apprentice Looks Back
The trade training of the first intake was confined to By
the four main musterings-Engine Fitter; Airframe Flt. Sgt. App. Melvin D.
Fitter, Instrument Fitter and Electrical Fitter.
Now that the time draws near for me to graduate
THE SCHEME DEVELOPS from this College, I look back upon the years,
bringing back old memories.
In June of the same year, there was a Second
ENTRY INTO THE SERVICE
Intake of fifty-two lads and the Apprenticeship
scheme was really under way. Gradually, a mode of It was only three short years ago when I entered
life, based on Service needs, was being mapped out this College fresh from civilian life. Since then I
for these boys and their response was most have learned and seen many things, some important,
encouraging. By the end of 1948, the Apprentices many not so important, but all will leave an
had become an integral part of the Service file of indelible mark upon my memory. I have become
Forest Hill. This intake was trained in the additional used to seeing new faces every day, and I have met
mustering of Fitter Armourer. hundreds of other chaps like myself, and made many
lasting friendships. I have learned the meaning of
When these young men returned to their homes for
comradeship and discipline, something which very
Christmas leave, it was felt that they would make a
few civilians really grasp. I also very smartly found
fine impression on their parents and friends. How
that the word "panic" can mean much more than a
true this was! Letters of praise and congratulations
nervous state in which one sometimes finds oneself.
reached us and the powers-that-be were satisfied
that the labour pains endured in the birth of the CHANGES IN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
Apprenticeship Scheme were well worth while.
Since my entry into the Service in 1952, the
Meanwhile, expansion of accommodation for Apprenticeship Scheme has changed so much that it
sleeping and eating was going on apace; and it was is well nigh impossible to compare it now with as it
certainly necessary. January 1949 brought back the stood then. The apprentice of today has privileges
original hundred or so, together with the Third that were only dreamed of when my Intake came
Intake of one hundred and twenty. During this year into realisation.
Flt. Lt. Mclntosh retired from the R.A.A.F. and the
The most noticeably changed aspect of the
Apprentices came under the care of Sqn. Ldr. K. S.
scheme is the rate of pay. The newly enlisted
Brown, A.F.C. and so, the Third Intake set out on its
apprentice of today receives roughly twice as much
three year's training with the addition of the further
pay as I did when I first joined up.
trade of Fitter Driver Motor Transport. There were
then and still are now, the full six musterings in My leave was only one Saturday per month,
Apprentice training. By this time the Scheme was in instead of every pay Saturday as is the case now.
full gear-Apprentices had become part and parcel of Attendance at the Unit Cinema was limited to
the everyday life of Forest Hill. Many were selected Sunday nights, .but now one may go on Monday,
in the Unit teams in representative sport. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The "old days" when we were marched off every be the same. The Apprentices have travelled to
Wednesday and Thursday night for compulsory Laverton for the inauguration and presentation of
study for two hours seem to have gone for ever. the Queen's Colours to the Royal Australian Air
Nowadays you may study at your own leisure. Force. We travelled to Canberra on the occasion of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's visit there.
The work is still the same though, starting off
with a seemingly torturous year in Basic Hangar. THE FINAL PARADE
Trips to Newcastle steelworks for first year
Soon, providing that the necessary examinations
Apprentices started a year too late as far as my
are passed, I will be participating in probably the
Intake was concerned, but we seem to have survived
greatest parade in my Air Force career. The
the disappointment without any serious effects.
Graduation Day is an occasion which will never be
During my term I have seen a change of pushed completely out of any apprentice's memory.
Commanding Officers, from Gp. Capt. Black to Gp.
On looking back I would say that the blue
Capt. Smith. Apprentice Squadron has seen
triangle has meant a lot to me, and if I had the last
approximately six different O.C.'s, and as each one
three years to live over I would join this scheme
went, everyone said that his successor would never
again.

Headquarters – R.A.A.F. Forest Hill
Airframe Section 1955-56

By To all of them, we wish the best of luck and look
Flying officer W.B. Hawkins forward to meeting them again in the New Year.
With the approach of Christmas, another busy GRADUATING APPRENTICES
year for Airframe Section draws to a close,
Now completing their last phase of instruction at
NEW MEMBERS R.S.T.T. our 3rd Year Apprentices are looking
In April we welcomed the members of the 8th ahead with anticipation to the day when they will be
Apprentice Intake who elected to become Airframe posted to a Service Flying Unit or an Aircraft Depot.
Fitters. After commencing their second year at There they will be able to put into practice the
R.S.T.T. with a course of advanced basic fitting, knowledge they have accumulated over the past
they joined us in the Airframe Section to learn "wot three years.
makes 'em fly."
To prepare them for the task ahead, the
Throughout the remainder of the year these graduating Apprentices have, in the past year,
Apprentices have undergone a rigorous and undergone advanced training in reconditioning
concentrated training. Under the expert guidance of aircraft and servicing flight routine. These two
highly skilled instructors, they have explored the phases simulate the functions of an Aircraft Depot
mysteries of the theory of flight, aircraft and a Flying Unit respectively. Six weeks were
construction, hydraulics and the corrosion of metals. devoted to the erection and tracing of operational
They have learned how to splice ropes and cables, aircraft and a further eight weeks to aircraft
carry out metal and fabric repairs to aircraft skin and accessories including braking systems, cabin
to apply protective finishes. pressurisation systems, airscrews and automatic
pilots. Practical experience on the Lincoln, Mustang
Approximately half the time in each phase is
and Vampire and lectures on the Canberra and Sabre
spent in theoretical instruction and half in practical
have given our Airframe Fitters of the future a solid
application of that theory. So far, these Apprentices
foundation on which to build their Air Force careers.
have worked on what we term elementary and
intermediate aircraft, for example, the Tiger Moth
and Wirraway respectively.

Tiger Moth
Mustang
The general response to instruction has been
good as phase exam results have shown. At this Prominent in this flight are Sgt.Apps. Waterfield
stage, when final results are not to hand, it is and Ploog and L/Apps. Peter, O'Keefe, Betts and
difficult to single out those Apprentices who will Grimmond, all of whom show great promise for the
lead the flight into the next year of training. future.
From a scrutiny of their progressive results, The staff of Airframe Section take this
however, it would appear that Sgt.App. Perry and opportunity to congratulate all graduating
L/Apps. O'Callaghan, Stott and Rielly, will be Apprentices, irrespective of mustering, on their
contenders for first place, with Cpl.App. Smith and achievement over the past three years, and we
L/Apps. Sapwell and Billett close behind. extend our very best wishes for their future success.
By posted in. After a fortnight's leave we arrived back
Anonymous to do six weeks Advanced Basic and Allied trades,
Each year approximately twenty apprentices much to our regret. Meanwhile the second year boys
graduate as Airframe Fitters from the R.A.A.F. were doing Fabric, Erection and Trueing of the
School of Technical Training. To accomplish this Tiger Moth, Aircraft Construction and Elementary
task of learning, Airframes is divided into a two Engines.
year course after the apprentices have completed
When we arrived back at the section we spent
twelve months doing Basic and Allied trades.
four weeks doing Aircraft Servicing and Flight
The senior apprentices arrived back to complete Routine. During the last week of this phase we
their final year of training at this station after worked hard polishing and getting the aircraft from
enjoying four weeks leave. We soon settled down to the section in A1 condition for Air Force Week. A
a hard year's work and our first phase was a six week later we were trying to fathom out the
weeks one doing Aircraft Accessories and Canberra hydraulic system, the Area Rule, the Heat
Hydraulics during which we spent a week at Engine Barrier and other modern developments.
Section studying Hydromatic Aircrews, a week at
Instrument Section studying the fundamentals of
elementary instruments and a week at Electrical
Section. One of our next phases was reconditioning
a time-expired operational aircraft, this we did at
Aircraft Servicing Hangar, where we made our
presence felt.
About this time the Second Year apprentices
arrived at the Section to begin their trade training,
after completing their second year Basic and Allied

trades. They soon settled down doing Aero
Canberra
Carpentry, Theory of Flight and Aircraft
familiarisation. Second Year were by now doing hydraulics in
which some boys were lucky to study the Vampire
In the meantime we were doing Aircraft Salvage
hydraulics with the aid of the Vampire Airframe
and Recovery and Erection and Trueing of the
training kit, Erection and Trueing of the Wirraway,
Lincoln aircraft. While we were doing this phase
Metal Repairs and Knots and Splicing.
there were a few interruptions from the trainee pilots
from Uranquinty. who brought their Winjeels and
Wirraways over here to use this airstrip because
theirs had been washed out by the incessant rain, but
we enjoyed the breaks watching their flying.

Wirraway
About the middle of September Sgt. Muffins
joined the staff of the section but we were very sorry
Winjeel to see F.Sgt. May leave. A fortnight later Sgt.
The second year apprentices, having completed MacMillan left us to go back to Civvy Street.
their preliminary phase, were divided up into two
We, the Apprentices of No. 8 Apprentice
flights to do the more involved ones.
Airframe Flight, have had a very interesting year
In June, just before we went on leave, two of our during which we accumulated quite a few hours of
corporals, Cpls. Davies and Dickie. were promoted hangar flying with a few minor accidents. There is
to Sergeant, while we lost Cpl. Roach, who was very close competition between Sgt.App. Perry and
posted to Williamtown, and Cpl. MacGauchlin was L/App. Stott for the top position in the flight.