Page 5 - Alan John Leslie Ridge

Course No. 9, Basic was deleted, cadets going from 12 weeks Primary to 16 weeks Advanced.
After the initial build up, when the first Courses of 50 cadets arrived in quicker succession, new
Courses arrived at 7 weeks intervals. From No. 11, Courses comprised about 80 RAF and 20
U.S.A.A.F Cadets and arrived at 9-week intervals.

The American and Canadian Governments were assisting the RAF to train aircrew as part of the
Lend Lease scheme known as the RAF Delegation, Washington and some 131,533 aircrew
undertook full training in their respective aircrew trades then shipped home in preparation for
posting onto Operational Training Units were they would crew up.
President Roosevelt gave approval in May 1941 and seven British Flying Training Schools were
set up in short order. Other training would take place with the U.S.A.A.C in their schools, under the
Arnold Scheme, named after General Hap Arnold.

Unlike the Arnold Scheme, where the 3 levels of training took place at different U.S.A.A.C (later
U.S.A.A.F) Stations, the B.F.T.S training all took place at the one Station.

The six B.F.T.S’s were, with opening dates:
1 B.F.T.S Terrell, Texas 9 June 1941 *
2 B.F.T.S Lancaster, California 9 June 1941 *
3 B.F.T.S Miami. Oklahoma 16 June 1941 *
4 B.F.T.S Mesa, Arizona 16 June 1941 *
5 B.F.T.S Clewiston, Florida 17 July 1941 *
6 B.F.T.S Ponca City, Oklahoma 23 August 1941
7 B.F.T.S Sweetwater, Texas May 1942 but closed August 1942

(* All but No. 6 started their training at other bases until their permanent bases were opened in
July/August 1941).

At 6 B.F.T.S, 1113 RAF pilots and 125 U.S.A.A.F pilots are believed to have undergone training in
the 33 months of its existence. Records are incomplete, but the failure rate was about 30%.
Altogether, some 18,000 RAF cadets passed through the B.F.T.S and Arnold Schemes. Another
1,000 U.S.A.A.F cadets were also trained at the B.F.T.S’s.
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Jack was promoted Temporary Sergeant on the 31 December 1941 with a very good character
noted on his service record and an 'A' proficiency in pilot training.

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On the 26 May 1943 Jack having passed his flying examinations and certified as a competent
pilot proceeded to Canada where he was posted to No. 31 Personnel despatch Centre at
Moncton, New Brunswick. This establishment was known as an Aircrew Holding Unit were RAF
aircrew would be held until a fast liner could be allocated for their safe return to the UK either from
the Canadian port of Nova Scotia or New York.
Arriving back in the UK Jack was posted on to No. 7 Personnel Receiving Centre at
RAF Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
Jacks stay at Market Harborough was short as on the 3 August he was posted on to another
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RAF ground establishment. Here the record is not clear, he either going to Heaton Park,
Manchester (No. 1 Aircrew Dispatch Centre) or RAF Uxbridge (No. 1 Depot) to the
west of London.
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By the 1 September Jack found himself back at RAF Market Harborough yet again awaiting a
posting to continue his pilot training, this time on twin-engine types in preparation for his final role
as a four engine bomber pilot.
On the 7 September jack was posted out once again, but this time to Scotland were he would
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continue his flying training with No. 14 (Pilots) Advanced Flying Unit at RAF (Banff, Banffshire)
(part of 21 (Training) Group responsible for the RAF College and the Service Flying Training
Schools from the Midlands northwards). Here he would learn to master the twin engine Airspeed
Oxford (known by aircrew as the Ox Box), the standard twin type trainer used by the RAF.