RAF Compton Bassett

RAF Compton Bassett

RAF Compton Basset was an RAF base situated near Calne in Wiltshire, England.

First opened as an RAF base in World War I, like RAF Yatesbury it continued operations in the interwar years before again taking on a major role in World War II. During the Second World War, RAF Yatesbury and RAF Compton Bassett were major Radio and Radar Training Schools, RAF Townsend a satellite landing ground and RAF Cherhill was 27 Group Headquarters Technical Training Command.

After WW2 it became a trade training camp for certain ground Signals trades. Many thousands of newly recruited RAF personnel, most having just completed their 8 weeks basic training, were taught their RAF trade skills at RAF Compton Bassett, so as to become competent Wireless Operators, Teleprinter Operators, Telegraphists or Telephonists before being posted to work at RAF operational bases elsewhere in the United Kingdom or abroad. As well as their trade training, personnel experienced tougher service discipline at Compton Bassett than on operational bases. There were frequent parades involving military drill, regular "stand by your beds" inspections of personal appearance, kit inspections and inspections of barrack hut accommodation. Being put on a charge for not being up to required standard, resulting in Jankers, was very commonly experienced by personnel while being trade trained there.

It also became home of the Number 3 Radio School, which in the 1950s trained later washing machine entrepreneur John Bloom, The local coach company Cards of Devizes provided contracted coaches to the RAF, which on a Saturday afternoon would take the airmen to London on their 36 hour passes. Bloom decided with a friend who ran a coach company in Stoke Newington that they could underprice the Card/RAF's coaches. When Cards took Bloom to court, the judge upheld Bloom with a declaration that became Bloom's motto: "It's no sin to make a profit." Bloom was later posted to Bletchley Park and then managed to get a posting to Bush House in the Aldwych.