During 1944 the following changes took place:
Flt.Lt.S.Bannister left the Squadron.
Flg.Off. T. Wagg was promoted to Flt.Lt and took over as C.O.
having served the squadron in a number of posts including Training Officer and
Adjutant.
Plt.Off. S.Brotherton and Plt Off. J.Entwistle were promoted to Flg.Officers.
The Cadet strength declined due to a number of reasons.
Even though there were less Cadets those remaining continued to enjoy all
the training and social activities carried out in the earlier years.
Corporal J.Wood left to join the Army.
The annual camp was held at R.A.F Woodvale between
Southport and Liverpool. This was another notable camp as all Cadets were in
tented accomodation and for the incident when a Cadet, sat in the cockpit of
a Spitfire on the airfield and pressed the wrong "button", this resulted
in a bus travelling along the nearby road ending up with a few more holes in
it than normal. Fortunately no-one was hurt in the episode........RAF
Woodvale
During 1945 Flight Sergeant H. Partridge left
the Squadron and Sergeant P(eter) Riley was promoted to Flight
Sergeant.
With the cessation of the War, Cadet strength continued
to decline to an "all low"and activities were in the "doldrums"
Cadets attended a camp at RAF Halton on a Combat
Course..... RAF Halton Air Cadet
Liaison
During 1946:
Flt.Lt.T.Wagg left the Squadron late in the year
to take up duties as a Squadron Leader with East Lancashire Wing
Air Training Corps at Middleton Lancs. In this capacity he retained
a great interest in 1471 Squadron for a number of years until he resigned.
Flg.Off S. Brotherton was promoted to Flt.Lt.
and took over as C.O of the squadron.He had served under Flt.
Lt.Wagg in a number of positions including Training Officer and Adjutant.
Flight Sergeant P(eter) Riley was promoted to
Warrant Officer.
Flt.Lt. S. Brotherton took on the task of Commanding
Officer during a period when cadet numbers were rapidly declining after
the cessation of the war and the Squadron was having to look for new premises,due
to their compulsory removal from the "iron church" on Chorley
New Road.
In September an application was submitted to the local
Council for permission to build a hut on a plot of land behind the Victoria
Hotel in Arkwright Street.
Whilst awaiting approval and planning permission, temporary accommodation
was found in the cellar of Flg.Off J. Entwistle's home in Regent
Road, Lostock and then in a cloakroom at Rivington and
Blackrod Grammar School.
This upheaval did nothing to help recruitment and was a very critical period
in the Squadron's life, as less than 10 Cadets remained to keep it open.
The need to find accomadation if the Squadron was to survive was imperative.
Their was no annual camp in 1946 due to the decline
in the number of Cadets.
