The Air Training Corps came into being with the RAF on 5 Feb 1941 having been originally set up as the Air Defence Cadet Corps under the Air League.
a) No 483 Squadron. Squadrons were assigned their numbers originally as they were formed. No 483 Sqdn appears to have been formed amongst a 'cluster' of other squadrons numbered in the same sequence and some of these were from the county of Warwickshire, however, squadrons have often been disbanded and/or re-formed more than once in which case the squadron may be re-formed in a totally different part of the country depending on when they were re-formed and the number becomes available again ie there COULD be a squadron in Warwickshire with this number but it could be anywhere else in the country or the squadron number could presently be in abeyance.
b) In 1941, male cadets could join at the age of 16 years and leave at the end of 18 years when they were expected to be called up for war service.(There were no female ATC cadets until 1980)
c) Training could consist mostly of RAF based subjects with an emphasis on preparing the cadets for potential adult service, subjects such as navigation, meteorology, shooting, flying (cadets sometimes 'volunteered' to assist in local Air Transport Auxiliary units and often flew when the aircraft being moved needed an extra 'hand' on board) and gliding (the ATC established gliding schools at many airfields in order to provide cadets with basic flying training).
Last edited by chevvron; 21st May 2023 at 07:22.