#SP262 85th Anniversary RAF Cosford print
Description
Squadron Prints Lithograph No. SP262 - XX110 'EP', Jaguar GR3A, 6 Sqn, RAF Cosford.
As part of the pre-World War Two RAF Expansion Plan, the requirement for additional aircraft storage and repair facilities and a network of Aircraft Storage Units (ASUs) was recognised. A site near Shifnal, Shropshire, was selected for an ASU to be erected. Additionally, the upsurge of workforce requirements was soon to overwhelm the RAF’s existing training units at Halton, Cranwell and Uxbridge. Further analysis showed that a succession of Technical Training Schools would ease the workforce and knowledge gaps and it was suggested that the ASUs could house the new schools. Building started at Cosford in August 1937 and the station formally opened on 15 July 1938. By the outbreak of World War Two, Cosford had 3,580 trainees consisting of apprentices in the trades of (Fitter) Engines, Airframes, Armourers, plus a significant number of Flight Mechanics and Flight Riggers. In March 1939 No. 9 Maintenance Unit took up residence at Cosford, its initial role being to store, maintain, modify, repair and, ultimately, issue aircraft to operational units. Throughout the war years many and varied units came to Cosford, (an Officers’ School, No. 12 Ferry Pilots Pool, a Czechoslovak Depot and School of Musketry to name but a few); some remained for many years while others departed relatively quickly. A major RAF Hospital was added to the site in 1940 and towards the end of the war it was decided that repatriated RAF PoWs would be processed through RAF Cosford. Nos. 106 and 108 Personnel Reception Centres were established and over 13,000 ex-PoWs had passed through RAF Cosford by 23 August 1948 when the units were eventually closed. The hospital continued to serve the RAF and local community until it closed in 1977. Coinciding with His Majesty the King’s Coronation, Royal Air Force Cosford marks its 85th Anniversary in 2023. To celebrate the occasion an Anniversary parade as well as a dinner and families event were held on 20 July 2023. The Parade also marked the reformation of No. 2 School of Technical Training and the award of the 605 (County of Warwick) RAuxAF Sqn standard. Royal Air Force Cosford remains vital to the generation of aeronautical engineers, cyber technicians, pilots, photographers and physical training instructors for the Royal Air Force and wider Defence and will continue to do so in the future. Our enduring role is reflected in our vision: ‘An agile training organisation innovating for tomorrow’s operations’.