RAF Flight Engineer website

While looking for something else (isn't that the way the best stuff is found?), I found the following website:

R obert Jay

Its got a lot of great photos, certificates, training pamphlets (on being a Lanc flight engineer), etc.

Enjoy - I did!

Tom

Thanks Tom, It's a very nice record.

Interesting site, and great to see an airmans career remembered and presented in such a way.

this grabbed my attention though,

"26th February 1944
Having completed the first stage of his training Bob was then posted to No. 7 I.T.W. (Initial Training Wing) at RAF Newquay, in Cornwall, which specialised in the basic service training of Flight Engineers. The purpose of this training was to 'lay a foundation of discipline, physical fitness and mental alertness' and provide a 'sound basic knowledge of the RAF', all explained in the pamphlet "You are going to be a Flight Engineer".

I've never heard of 'RAF Newquay', so is that meant to be RAF St Mawgan, or was there another site nearby with that name?
If it is St Mawgan, I've certainly never heard of any form of initial training of Flt Eng's there.

Can anyone here shed any more light on this please?

I am not sure about this but I believe that many potential aircrew received some basic training in the town, there being plenty of accommodation in the seaside hotels and room for square bashing etc on the promenades .
I do know for certain that many aircrew cadets went to Blackpool and Torquay.
The nearby airfields had no relevance.

MAWGANMAD - Seems I was right . Google in 7 ITW RAF and read to your heart`s content.

Hi Ray, many thanks for that, though I've heard of ITWs I was completely unware that there was one in Newquay. It seems that the Beechcroft hotel was one of the buildings used, and that 8 ITW was also based in the towns' hotels.
Will have to see if there is a list of the ITWs and their locations.
Thanks again.

Hi Mawganmad - You can find them all listed under " RAF Ground Crew Units WW2 . Should keep you busy for the rest of the evening/night.

Further information on flight engineering training from that period can be found at rafww2butler.wordpress.com/ (which, with my consent, formed the basis for Robert Jay's site).

I do have original training notes / lecture notes etc on various subjects from the period, so if anyone would like more information, please contact me.

Regards

Pete