Mr Churchill’s call acted as a spur to the current tentative plans and an experimental and training centre known as the Central Landing School RAF (later the Central Landing Establishment RAF and subsequently Airborne Forces Establishment) was set up at Ringway Airport Manchester on June 21st 1940.
Men of No 2 Commando received parachute training, the first parachute descents being made on July 21st 1940. On 21st November 1940,the unit name was changed to No 11 Special Air Service Battalion and by the end of 1940 all 500 officers and men had qualified as parachutists. Subsequently on September 15th 1941 the unit title was again changed to the 1st Parachute Battalion.
