Page 9 - Demo

48possessed the intellectual abilities. The third was the increasing complexity of the RAF%u2019s aircraft. In just a decade the College had gone from the Bristol Bulldog to the Gloster Meteor as the aircraft used to deliver the advanced flying phase of the course. Thus the desire to retain pilot training to wings standard as an integral part of the Cranwell cadet course considerably increased the demands on the cadets and on the amount of time in the syllabus dedicated to flying training. So, in 1952, the Air Ministry set up an internal review into the whole Cranwell syllabus. As this was going on, in 1953, cadet NCO ranks were dispensed with. Instead there was one Senior Under Officer and one or two Under Officers in the Senior Entry of each of the squadrons. The %u2018Hartley Report%u2019 was approved by the Air Council in 1955 and made two statements about the desired outputs.8 The first, short-term, aim was %u2018to produce good junior officers and proficient pilots and navigators.%u2019 This was still, just about, compatible with the time available and aircraft in use. The second, long-term, aim was less so. This was: %u2018To produce the quality of education and officer training which will enable the Cranwell graduate to develop his powers and facilities to meet the demands of progressively higher rank. He must be led to cultivate the capacity for logical and objective thinking, firm judgement and clear expression looked for in a good staff officer and a competent senior commander. He should be sufficiently an educated man to comprehend the broad as well as the narrow professional view.%u20199 Whilst the expressions used are those of the time, the broad thrust of this aim is remarkably similar to that expressed in the 2005 Officer Cadet Training Review. 1956 saw three significant events. First, Air Chf Mshl Sir Dermot Boyle (September 1922 Entry) became the first former Flight Cadet to be appointed Chief of the Air Staff. Secondly, a new curriculum was introduced. The course was increased to three years in length but there were to be only two entries per year (although the annual intake would remain the same). And the requirement for cadets to serve as airmen, wearing a mix of airmens%u2019 uniform and badges, and white cap-bands, for the first two terms was dropped. Lastly, the first navigator Flight