RAF Cosford in Shropshire is a major part of the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT). It is at the centre of the RAF’s mission to deliver flexible, affordable, modern and effective technical training that meets the needs of the UK’s Armed Forces now and into the future.
RAF Apprenticeships delivered at RAF Cosford were recently recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
RAF Cosford is also home to the popular RAF Museum and the world-renowned Cosford Airshow.
Wing Commander Penny Brady joined the RAF as a People Operations Officer in 2004 and has experience across the personnel area. Her early career as a junior officer included tours at RAF Kinloss, RAF Benson, the Officers’ and Aircrew Selection at RAF Cranwell and RAF High Wycombe.
In March 2014, Wing Commander Brady was assigned on promotion to into the newly-created RAF Service Complaints Team (SCT) at Air Command. A deployment on Op KIPION to Joint Force Support (Middle East) as SO2 J1 followed, before taking up post as OC PMS at RAF Shawbury. She then undertook a role as SO2 Pay Policy Development within Armed Forces Remuneration in MOD Main Building before promotion to Wing Commander in January 2020 and an assignment to the Falkland Islands as OC BSW. She then returned to Air Command as SO1 Career Management Support before taking up command as OC BSW at RAF Cosford in September 2023 and as Station Commander in January 2024.
Building started at Cosford in August 1937. The RAF's No 2 School of Technical Training was stood up and the station formally opened on 15 July 1938. By the outbreak of World War Two, Cosford had 3,580 trainees consisting of apprentices in the trades of (Fitter) Engines, Airframes, Armourers, plus a significant number of Flight Mechanics and Flight Riggers (however, the apprentice element was ordered back to RAF Halton in March 1940).
In March 1939 No 9 Maintenance Unit took up residence at Cosford, its initial role being to store, maintain, modify, repair and, ultimately, issue aircraft to operational units. Cosford became synonymous with the Spitfire when 2,700 were prepared on the station for front line service.
Throughout the war years many and varied units came to Cosford, (an Officers' School, No 12 Ferry Pilots Pool, a Czechoslovak Depot, School of Musketry to name but a few); some remained for many years while others departed relatively quickly.
A major RAF Hospital was added to the site in 1940 and towards the end of the war it was decided that repatriated RAF PoWs would be processed through RAF Cosford.
1938 RAF Cosford formally opened.
1939 No 9 Maintenance Unit opened.
1940 Hospital opened with 42,000 patients admitted throughout the war (closed in 1977).
1963 RAF School of Photography moves to Cosford.
1977 RAF School of Physical Training returned to Cosford.
1978 University of Birmingham Air Squadron moved to RAF Cosford.
