Page 21 - Cranwell Photographs

Top left: Sopwith Snipes were added to the flying school strength in 1921 when the original three flights were doubled to six. The Snipe had entered service with the RAF in September 1918 and due to the financial restrictions of the early post war years remained in squadron service until 1926 by which time it was the last rotary engined fighter 'to be operated. Snipes remained in service at flying schools a little longer and Cranwell's examples were phased out in 1927.
Top right: Sopwith Snipe E6501 arrived at Cranwell on 10th February 1922. Shortly afterwards, on a cross country flight, the pilot became lost in fog and in the ensuing forced landing at Hartington in Middlessex, the aircraft was stalled trying to miss a tree and wrecked as a result.
The 1920s
Above: Instructor and pupil prepare for flight in a C Flight Avro 504K. Note the Gosport tube intercom system.
Lower left: The East Camp in 1922. By this time it was the home of the Boys Wing, Cadet College. The Boys Wing had been established at the end of the Great War and with the completion of the East Camp buildings the Air Council decided to use Cranwell as the base for No.1 School of Technical Training (Boys). Initially called the Boy Mechanics School and then the Boys Training Wing the name was changed to No.2 School of Technical Training (Boys) but in 1921 reverted to the title Boys Wing, Cadet College and later moved to Halton. In October 1925 it became No.4 (Apprentices) Wing and as such returned from RAF Halton in 1926.
21