__NOTOC__ The No 1 School of Military Aeronautics was a World War I training school for the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

(RFC), based in Reading, England. It was formed in 1915 as an instructors college - but expanded in 1916 into a full RFC training school. In 1917 technical skills were separated and moved to a nearby airfield, Coley Park, as the School of Technical Training. All training at the school was on the ground; ranging from theoretical subjects through to practical training (e.g. taxiing and artillery observation).

History

In December 1915 the RFC commandeered buildings belonging to the University of Reading, at first for the purpose of training flight instructors. On 27 October 1916 the school was expanded to include cadet pilot and observer training, and designated No 1 School of Military Aeronautics (at the same time, No 2 school was opened in Oxford). The school's headquarters were in Yeomanry House, while most of the lessons were taught at Wantage Hall (a recently built hall of residence belonging to the University). Practical classes were held in Upper Redlands Road and nearby playing fields. The school provided preliminary training for cadets and taught theoretical aspects of flight; including map reading, gunnery and mechanics. A small airfield was established at nearby Coley Park in around 1917. Technical trades were split off from the flight school, as the School of Technical Training, which operated from a jam factory adjoining the airfield. In September 1917 technical training was consolidated at

Halton Camp Royal Air Force Halton, or more simply RAF Halton, is one of the largest Royal Air Force Royal Air Force station, stations in the United Kingdom. It is located near the village of Halton, Buckinghamshire, Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire. ...

, although Coley Park appears to have remained open for the rest of the war. Many of the instructors were veterans of the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

. Still young men, they often struggled to teach the cadets who were of a similar age. For the observers the school had a room mocked up for artillery observation: a light-studded map was painted onto the floor and a mock fuselage hung from the ceiling.

Notable graduates

* Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor *

Dudley Clarke Brigadier Dudley Wrangel Clarke, ( – ) was an officer in the British Army, known as a pioneer of military deception operations during the Second World War. His ideas for combining fictional orders of battle, visual deception and double ...

(future World War II deception officer) *

Francis Howard Bickerton Francis Howard Bickerton (15 January 1889 – 21 August 1954) was an English treasure hunter, Antarctic explorer, soldier, aeronaut, entrepreneur, big-game hunter and movie-maker. He not only made a major contribution to the Australasian Anta ...

(Antarctic explorer) * Ian Bonham-Carter (a senior World War II RAF officer) * William Earl Johns (author of the Biggles books)

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{coord missing, Berkshire Aviation schools in the United Kingdom Royal Flying Corps airfields Military history of Berkshire Military units and formations established in 1915 Military history of Reading, Berkshire Military units and formations in Reading, Berkshire Military units and formations in Berkshire Royal Air Force stations in Berkshire