Sailor uniforms in the RAF?

[althos]

The building in picture 2 is Scarborough College.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8399776?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com

[jess5athome]

The building in picture 2 is Scarborough College.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8399776?source=wapi&referrer=kh.google.com

Stunning find 

Frank.

[ShaunJ]

The collection of photos that were on ebay some months ago appear to have been of two separate events - one is the squadron photo of  No.39 Flight "G" Squadron, No.36 R & C Wing 1944;  and the other is No.25 Navigators Course.

See description http://www.ebay.ie/itm/RAF-Flight-034-G-034-Squadron-No-36-R-amp-C-Wing-1944-Navigators-Course-Photographs-/380888972894

and the photos http://tinyurl.com/lsgfeog

[althos]

The three Initial training wings 10,11,and17 at Scarborough provided basic training in aircraft mechanics, navigation, meteorology as well as square bashing and PT specifically for potential aircrew (pilots ,navigators and bomb aimers). (google to confirm this). The men in naval uniform must therefore be potential aircrew of  the Royal Naval Air Service, who would need the same sort of training before going on to Elementary flying training. Free French, Polish and Belgian Air Force Trainees also went to Scarborough
http://www.raf-lichfield.co.uk/GroundUnits.htm  This reference shows the three ITW's ceasing to exist in spring 44 but I believe this was just a name change because of the the impending closure (jul 44) of the Aircrew reception centre at Lords CC RAF St Johns Wood and the dispersal of the ACRC responsibilties to the ITW's I think that 17 ITW became 36 R&C Wing. (R = reception)

[emfranky]

Hi everyone, thank you all so much for your help. Phillip and ShaunJ - thanks for the links, they've been really interesting to look at Althos, thank you so much for that information, after I told my grandma, my great-grandfather's daugter, she said that she remembered something being said about her mother visiting him in Scarborough during the war. I didn't know about the Royal Naval Air Service but makes sense from what you've said Craigatkinson, was you grandfather an instructor or a trainee?

[DeeBoneham]

http://www.scarboroughcollegeww1.co.uk/no.-17-initial-training-wing.html Have you seen this

Strangely they are all AC2's (other than the instructors) which is an RAF rank not a navy one.

Dee