MS 303 Southampton Fifth RAF Short Course papers

 

Southampton Fifth RAF Short Course

From the beginning of the Second World War, in an attempt to attract well educated men who were potential university material, the Air Ministry launched a scheme in partnership with a number of universities under which candidates assessed as suitable for Air Crew training could spend six months at a university or university college undergoing basic service training while also following an academic syllabus. The first course was held in 1940 and courses continued until 1946.

About the collection

These papers relate to the men who undertook the Fifth RAF Short Course held at University College, Southampton. 

The papers include a brief history of the Southampton Fifth, 2002; correspondence, 1942-7 and 1980-2001; newsletters and correspondence concerning them, 1943-2000 (incomplete series); photographs and magazine cuttings, 1940s and 1980s; papers of Southampton Fifth member Dominic McDonnell relating to his training and service in the RAF, 1940s, plus the speech given at his funeral in 2007; aeronautical maps used during training and service, 1940s and other maps.

Date range:

1942-2000, 2002

Former references:

A1058, A3020, A3054

Size:

3 boxes