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The Aviators:
Hugh Trenchard
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 At
the age of 39, and 6'3" tall, Major Hugh Trenchard was not
considered ideal pilot material. But the obstacles placed in his way
only made him more determined to succeed. He enrolled at T.O.M.
Sopwith's Flying School. His instructor, E. W. Copeland-Perry
described him as a model pupil, tackling the task of learning to fly
with "wonderful spirit". Sopwith admitted that Trenchard
would never make a good pilot, but what he lacked in natural
ability, he made up for with drive and determination.
Trenchard was determined to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps.
By August of 1912 he had been co-opted on to the staff of the
Central Flying School as adjutant. On the outbreak of war he
expected to go to France with the four operational squadrons,
possibly as commander of the RFC in the field. Instead he found
himself in command of the RFC at home, based at Farnborough, charged
with the building of new squadrons. As the war progressed
Trenchard's career advanced with the development of the RFC. Nothing
would stand in his way. If he could not achieve his aims through
conventional channels, he would apply his own rules. By the end of
the conflict he had become a passionate advocate of an independent
air force. His determination to succeed in this aim led to him being
called the father of the RAF, though he would never agree to this
himself.
His understanding of the potential of air power, and the
certainty that this could only be achieved by outstanding men with
the highest level of technical skills would lead him to adopt
unusual, but effective recruiting methods. Later in his career he
would be responsible for setting up the RAF apprentice schemes for
boy entrants into the RAF. Many technical apprentices volunteered
for aircrew duties in the Second World War and went on to reach the
highest ranks in the service. Many would claim that to be one of
Trenchard's "brats", an ex Halton apprentice, carried more
status than to be a graduate of the RAF College at Cranwell.
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