Boy Entrant: The Recollections of a Royal Air Force 'Brat'

by Brian Carlin

“You're in the Air Force now!” Yelled the corporal drill instructor, and with those chilling words what had begun as a boyish adventure suddenly became a very serious, grownup type of situation. But, there was no turning back - certainly not after accepting the Queen's shilling - even if you were only 15 years old. The author takes us on the absorbing true story of his induction and passage through rigorous months of military training as a Royal Air Force Boy Entrant, which would mould and shape him and his fellow 15 and 16-year old “brats” into valuable service members, whose destiny was to become the “backbone” of Britain's 1960s Royal Air Force as its future NCOs and officers.
(Over 400 pages in the print edition)

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2006

Reviews

[Peter Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book first class for someone like myself that has also been through the training be it a few years later. I was also posted to RAF College Cranwell. My first task as a wireless mechanic was to take up a church floor which consisted of small blocks of wood 4x2 inches,4 nails in each. Oh happy days.

[geoff jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the 29th at RAF Cosford

I enjoyed the book it followed the life we lead at Cosford . The level of bulling was very high . The book indicate accurately the technical training we achieved and how it stood us in good stead for the rest of our working life .

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written memoir of the author's experiences in the post-war Royal Air Force. It would appeal to those who would like to know what it was like to be a boy entrant in the RAF, a program that ran for nearly 50 years, taking boys from across the UK, training and educating them, providing discipline and a sense of self worth, and preparing them for their eventual induction into the regular air force. The author does a very good job illustrating the life of a boy entrant, from the living conditions, the hazing, the top notch technical training, and the process of maturing that the boys underwent. As an exposition of military life from the perspective of a very young man, it can't be beaten. I recommend it to any with an interest in the RAF.