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Stan was born on the 15th June 1922 in Edmonton, Middlesex, a son for Edwin Alfred and Olive (nee Stevens) Vaisey.
The Administration Centre, RAF Cardington
Growing up from the age of ten in Alton, Hampshire Stan Vaisey went to RAF recruitment centre No.2 Recruit Centre, at Cardington on 6th July 1940 then sent back to civilian life with lapel badge until space on training opened up.
Stan with family all looking incredibly proud of him
He returned to No.2 Recruitment Centre on 17th August 1940 where he would have signed the attestation, his service number was assigned, he received his kit, underwent medicals, confirmation of suitability for trade selection, and received basic training (commonly referred to as “square bashing”).
The picture above shows the WAAF Barrage Balloon crews at RAF Cardington which Stan spoke about in his interview with Matthew Smaldon from the Soldiers of Oxfordshire museum
https://www.sofo.org.uk/
He chose to head into the Telecommunication trade and would have been an Airchargehand or Radar Operator on entry (this was in Trade Group V – which would have been the least pay, and least skilled but intended to be trained in Radar Operator Skills). This was the only trade with a trade badge. The original reason for this is that in the early day of the RAF only NCO's were allowed to address an officer. A member of the telecommunication trade might have an important message and the badge enable him to address an officer directly.
Radar Operator Skills, Trade Badge
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