No.1 Parachute Training School RAF

No.1 Parachute Training School RAF (No.1 PTS) is a Royal Air Force training unit that was initially based at RAF Ringway, now Manchester Airport. It was formed at Ringway on 21 June 1940 as the Central Landing School and from 1 October 1940 it was designated as the Parachute Training Squadron of the Central Landing Establishment. Following growth in the unit's task, it became an independent unit as the Parachute Training School on 15 February 1942. Following formation of a second school in India, the current name of No.1 Parachute Training School was adopted on 27 July 1944cite book|title=Manchester Airport|last=Scholefield|first=R.A.|date=1998|page=159|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=0-7509-1954-X] .

History and operations

Between June 1940 and early 1946, No.1 PTS provided initial training to all 60,000 allied paratroopers who volunteered or were recruited for that role in Europe. In addition to British troops, men from many nationalities trained to jump at RAF Ringway and nearby Tatton Park including Americans, Belgians, Canadians, Czechs, Dutch, French, Norwegian and Poles.

Agents of the Special Operations Executive, both men and women were also given parachute training by No.1 PTS to enable those who were to be dropped into occupied territory to do so safely. These men and women were accommodated in separate premises and were trained in select groups to maintain secrecy. cite book|title=Manchester Airport|last=Scholefield|first=R.A.|date=1998|page=19|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=0-7509-1954-X|]

No.1 PTS moved from Ringway to RAF Upper Heyford on 28 March 1946cite book|title=Manchester Airport|last=Scholefield|first=R.A.|date=1998|page=21|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=0-7509-1954-X|] and is currently (2008) based at RAF Brize Norton

Commanded by a Wing Commander, the School today comprises 4 Squadrons. The Static Line Training Squadron conducts basic parachute courses for regular and reserve forces personnel of all three services, as well as training RAF parachute jumping instructors (PJIs). In addition, the Squadron conducts courses in the use of steerable static-line parachutes for specialist personnel required to use them. The Free-Fall Training Squadron provides training in tactical free fall techniques for special forces personnel of the Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service, as well for the 16th Air Assault Brigade Pathfinder Platoon and RAF PJIs. The Support Squadron provides support in the form of training co-ordination, programming, logistical support, parachute packing and servicing of ground training equipment. Finally the PTS Ops Squadron is responsible for the co-ordination of aircraft required for parachute training, the balloons required for the basic courses, ambulances for stationing at the dropping zones and transport for movement of trainees. cite book|title=PARA! Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment|last=Harclerode|first=Peter|date=1992|page=378-9|publisher=Orion Books Ltd|isbn=0-75280-395-6|]

Memorials

A large granite memorial to the existence, personnel and wartime achievements of No.1 PTS is on permanent public display in a small memorial park opposite Olympic House and Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport. Another stone memorial exists at Tatton Park, located at the edge of the landing area used in wartime by traineee parachutists.

ee also

* RAF Ringway
* Manchester Airport
* Tatton Park

Bibliography

* Newnham, Maurice, 'Prelude to Glory', Sampson Low, London, 1947, no ISBN
* Scholefield, R.A., 'Manchester Airport', Sutton Publishing, Stroud, 1998, ISBN 0-7509-1954-X
* Sturtivant, Ray, 'Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units', Air-Britain, Tunbridge Wells, 1997, ISBN 0-85130-252-1
* Harclerode, Peter, 'PARA! Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment, Orion Books Ltd, London, 1992, ISBN 0-75280-395-6

References