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Graduation Reviewing Officer

Commandant

76 Entry 9 January 1957 - 15 December 1959

No 76 Entry mustered on 9 January 1957 69 strong. It was augmented with 5 that were transferred from the 75th at which point the roster stood at:

This occasion was marking the Entry's 6oth Anniversary of Formation was its tenth reunion. The first in 1994 was for both its 35th of Graduation and the appointment of one of its members as CAS (the first one that is!). The eight in between have been for every other fifth anniversary of Formation and of Graduation.

16 that were 76 Entry graduates, 

2 joined with 76 but graduated with the 77th, 

1 graduated from Air Navigation School, 

1 did not graduate, 

plus Simon Johnson IOT 83 son of Martin Johnson

The Entry is accordingly looking forward to its Diamond Anniversary of Graduation at the Annual Reunion in 2019.

Entry Coordinator:Peter Symes PJSymes@aol.com

A Squadron: 25

Barringer Mike

Billinge Paul

Coriat Hugh

Evans Mal

Geach Robin

Graydon Michael

Horsley Chris

Howells Steve

Hulland Johnny

Jennings Paul

Kennedy Mike

Kingston Tony

Lawrence David

Littlefair David

Pelling Johnny

Porteous Tom

Porter Mike

Potter Brian

Read Larry

Sinclair Ian

Smith Mike

Styles Frank

Taylor Nigel

Tavender Ian

Wood Chris

C Squadron: 23

Colwell Pat

Davis Jim

Dorrett Ian

Harrington Paul

Herbertson John

Herd Duncan

Hooper Tony

Horsfall John

Hunter Ewan

Johnston Ben

Keeling Peter

Laver John

Maden Bruce

Maitland Peter

Maxwell Tony

Nowell Jerry

O’Herlihy Mike

Phillips Alan

Phillipson Don

Pope Roger

Preston Roger

Trowern Bob

Waddington Dick

B Squadron: 26

Baird Peter

Ballands David

Coulson Tony

Cunliffe David

Gardner Bob

Glennie Gordon

Green Chris

Holmes Roy

Hutchinson Ian

Johns Dick

Johnson Martin

Jones Andy

Lucking Rick

Martin Ian

Maule Malcolm

Packman David

Parkin Colin

Pearson Tony

Perreaux Euan

Price Jeremy

Simmonds Peter

Stoner Richard

Symes Peter

Walters Jon

Weddle Ian

Wigmore “Walter”/Ian

Then, over time, 6, mainly retreading specialisations, filtered into the 77th. Peter Baird was tragically killed solo in a Piston Provost on 21 Jul 58 and Peter Keeling dual in a Vampire T11 (mid-air in the Cranwell circuit) on 31 Jan 59. 7 were commissioned elsewhere eg at Air Navigation Schools, 20 were, or self, 'chopped', leaving 39 to graduate on 15 Dec 59.

Of this 39, 23 were Pilots and 6 Navigators in the General Duties Branch, 6 were in the Equipment Branch and 4 in the Secretarial. In their service they reached the following ranks: 2 of Flying Officer, 8 Flight Lieutenant, 13 Squadron Leader, 8 Wing Commander, 5 Group Captain, 1 Air Commodore, 2 Air Chief Marshal (Sir Michael Graydon Chief of the Air Staff from November 1992 to April 1997 being succeeded by Sir Richard Johns who was in post until April 2000). 

For their services to the Royal Air Force they were each awarded a KGCB and a CBE, the latter honour being accorded to 3 others. One OBE was bestowed and 3 AFCs. 

The Entry’s total commissioned service was in the order of 1020 years. 

Since graduation the Entry has lost the following 12 : 

In operational flying accidents (both also mid-airs):  

Johnny Hulland (Canberra in Germany) on 15 Jan 62 and Ewan Perreaux (Red Arrows Gnat at Kemble) on 20 Jan 71  

And through natural causes:  

Ewan Hunter: 03 Jan 87 Bob Gardner: 15 Jun 91 Mike O’Herlihy: 06 Oct 99 Steve Howells: 05 Sep 06 Paul Billinge: 03 Feb 11  

Mike Porter: 13 Aug 11 Peter Maitland: 21 Mar 13 Brian Potter: 18 Oct 13 John Horsfall: 09 Jul 15 Frank Styles 20 Aug 16

Tony Pearson 17 Nov 2020

Which leaves 27 survivors. With the addition of those that commissioned elsewhere together with “Associate” Members ie mostly those that did not graduate nor commission at all (including an Emeritus Professor of a renowned University) the total on the cards for Entry Reunions totals 37 – 1 living in Australia, 2 in the United States, 1 in Italy. 

So representative of that continuing contact: