1947

At the start of 1947, the 29 EFTS establishment was just 30 Tiger Moths, and the year began as 1946 had finished: with no trainees undergoing tuition and with dreadful flying weather. But when training began again in February, it was not for the tuition of RAF cadets, but those of the Army. On 12th February, 1 officer and 29 other ranks began on No.83 Pre-Glider Course and on the same day, 21 Army officers commenced No.58 Air Observation Post (AOP) Course.

 

The AOP Course was the first to be fully completed at Clyffe Pypard, and from 16th April the earlier No.57 AOP Course was transferred from No.22 EFTS. The start of AOP training resulted (officially from 1st April) in the 29 EFTS aircraft establishment being raised to 45 Tiger Moths and 9 Austers. The Austers – all Mk.V variants – were specifically established for AOP training, though the first did not arrive at Clyffe Pypard until 15th April and the Tiger Moths of 29 EFTS were used in the interim. All of the Austers came in from 22 EFTS, though it would seem that the full establishment of nine aircraft was not achieved at Clyffe Pypard until October. To support the administration of the Army detachment, on 10th February Major JA Dale (149290) had arrived at Clyffe Pypard.

 

(Left) - Auster V. It is likely that Clyffe Pypard's were painted silver overall.

 

On 21st April 1947, 29 EFTS transferred to No.21 (Training) Group, headquartered at Grantham. For most personnel the change meant that they now demobbed via Blandford Lodge in Reading, rather than at nearby Woodley.

 

By the end of June, there only output from the various Army courses was No.57 AOP Course, which had commenced at 22 EFTS and passed out at Clyffe Pypard in May. Further intakes had however been made in the interim, including 3 Army officers, 21 other ranks and 7 Canadian personnel on No.84 Pre-Glider Pilot Course

(commenced 14th May), and 7 Army officers, 4 Greek air force officers, 2 Greek army officers and 6 Indian army officers on No.59 AOP Course. The latter began training on 21st May.

 

It was not until early July that the first wholly 29 EFTS-trained Army courses (No.83 Pre-Glider Pilot and No.58 AOP) passed out. In the case of No.83 Pre-Glider Pilot Course, one Army officer and 7 other ranks were posted directly to No.3 GTS at Wellesbourne Mountford, while the remaining 14 other ranks from this course returned to 29 EFTS on 6th August (following a period of leave) for refresher flying prior to also being posted to No.3 GTS. One officer from No.59 AOP Course was also returned to Clyffe Pypard for refresher training before proceeding to further tuition at Andover.

 

Since the end of the war, Clyffe Pypard’s training commitment had ebbed and flowed, but generally the trend was towards fewer and fewer courses, and so when on 11th October 1947 the directive came from Flying Training Command that 29 EFTS would disband, it came as little surprise. The personnel had just less than a month to conclude operations and transfer training to RAF Booker. At the time of the disbanding notice, 29 EFTS was in the throes of training four courses, with No.87 Pre Glider Pilot Course (2 officers, 2 NCOs and 4 other ranks) having commenced on 8th October. Two of the courses – No.85 Pre Glider Pilot Course and No.60 AOP Course – were completed before the unit ceased operations, with the aforementioned No.87 PGC and No.61 AOP Course (6 Army officers, 1 Australian army officer and 5 Indian army officers) transferring to RAF Booker on 27th October.

 

With no training after this date, most 29 EFTS personnel transferred to Booker along with their trainees and 29 EFTS ceased operations on 5th November 1947. The small Station Sick Quarters was closed on 30th October and its equipment returned to 248 Maintenance Unit at Chessington.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Above) - Tiger Moth T6297 was transferred from 1 EFTS at Hatfield to 29 EFTS on 25th March 1947 and served til the end of flying activity: it passed on to to 5 Reserve Flying School at Castle Bromwich 20th November 1947.

 

From 1st October, the 29 EFTS establishment had been reduced, to 41 Tiger Moths, 7 Austers and one Anson (the latter briefly being on charge since the end of September). These remaining machines continued in use until November when they too were transferred out to other units. The final Tiger Moths left Clyffe Pypard on or around 27th November 1947. Their reassignment broke down as follows:

 

1 FTS Spitalgate  - 3

2 FTS Church Lawford - 2

3 FTS Feltwell  - 1

6 FTS Ternhill  - 1

5 RFS Castle Bromwich - 8

25 RFS Wolverhampton - 1

8 MU Little Rissington - 24

20 MU Aston Down - 1

 

The Austers went into storage or to 21 EFTS at Booker by 10th November and the Anson was transferred to Transport Command on 5th November.

 

Just prior to the disbanding of 29 EFTS, on 11th August, Wg Cdr Edmund Goldsmith, AFC, CO of the School and Station Commander since December 1941, was posted out to 202 AFS. In his place, Wg Cdr Elphinstone Turner, AFC arrived and took over as Station Commander, remaining in post at Clyffe Pypard after 29 EFTS had departed.

 

29 EFTS Flying hours for 1947:

 

January            204.05 hours day, 8.05 hours night

February           203.40 hours day, nil hours night

March               193.45 hours day, nil hours night

April                 640.05 hours day, 22.35 hours night

May                  not known

June                 1398.10 hours day, 156.40 night

July                  1220.40 hours day, 30.25 hours night

August             1670.55 hours day, 164.05 hours night

September        623.35 hours day, 122.30 hours night

October            722.05 hours day, nil hours night