No. 3 Flying Training School

No. 3 Flying Training School was a Royal Air Force training unit established in the interwar period to prepare pilots for operational service. Initially based at RAF Grantham, it relocated to RAF South Cerney at the outbreak of the Second World War and became a crucial component of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The school was responsible for advanced flying instruction, transitioning pilots from basic trainers to more complex operational aircraft types before its disbandment in the post-war period.

History

The school was formed on 1 April 1935 at RAF Grantham in Lincolnshire, operating under the command of RAF Flying Training Command. Its establishment was part of the pre-war expansion of the Royal Air Force, aimed at increasing the throughput of qualified pilots. With the onset of the Second World War, the school was moved to RAF South Cerney in Gloucestershire in September 1939 to avoid potential enemy air attacks on its original base. Throughout the conflict, it played a vital role within the extensive British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, training pilots from across the British Empire, including personnel from the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. The unit was eventually disbanded on 15 June 1947 as part of the post-war drawdown of the RAF.

Aircraft operated

Throughout its existence, the school operated a variety of training aircraft. In its early years at RAF Grantham, the primary advanced trainer was the Hawker Hart biplane, alongside the Avro Tutor for elementary instruction. During the Second World War at RAF South Cerney, the curriculum transitioned to more modern types. The Airspeed Oxford became the workhorse for multi-engine pilot training, while the North American Harvard was used extensively for advanced single-engine instruction. Other aircraft known to have been used include the Miles Magister for initial training and the de Havilland Tiger Moth for elementary flying, forming a progressive syllabus from basic to advanced handling.

Locations

The school was primarily associated with two main stations during its operational life. Its first home was RAF Grantham, a permanent peacetime station opened in the 1920s, which also housed units like No. 5 Group RAF. In September 1939, the school was transferred to RAF South Cerney, a Technical Training Command airfield in the Cotswolds that was expanded for wartime training. This location placed it within a cluster of other training schools in the region, such as those at RAF Little Rissington and RAF Bibury. The airfield at South Cerney featured the standard three-runway layout and numerous hangars, including Bellman and Blister hangars, to support its training mission.

Role and training

The school's core mission was to provide the final phase of service flying training, turning pilots who had completed elementary instruction into combat-ready aviators. Training focused on advanced navigation, instrument flying, formation flying, and night flying. Pilots were also drilled in airmanship, aerobatics, and procedures for handling engine failures. The syllabus was designed to bridge the gap between basic flight schools and Operational Training Units, where crews would be assigned to specific aircraft like the Supermarine Spitfire or Vickers Wellington. Instruction was conducted by experienced pilots, many of whom were veterans of operations like the Battle of Britain or the Air offensive against Germany.

Notable personnel

Several individuals who served with or were trained by the school achieved significant distinction. Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, the legendary Battle of Britain fighter pilot, undertook refresher training here in 1939 after being reinstated to flying duties. Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson, the Royal Air Force's top-ranking fighter ace of the war, also passed through the school. Renowned test pilot and naval aviator Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown received advanced training at the unit. Additionally, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, who commanded No. 11 Group RAF during the Battle of Britain, had earlier associations with the training command overseeing the school.