Air Training Corps – Then and Now
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2342 Sqn ATC - Innsworth 91-93
Annual camp to St Mawgan, won a trip in the Nimrod - 8 hours of clouds, blue sea, and that oily smell that still makes me smile today.
What surprised me most recently was someone telling me the gliding caravan the VGS at Abingdon use is the same one I used to sleep in at Little Rissington early 90s!
I think more from my squadron joined the Army than Air Force because of the Cold War draw down at the time - and the Chipmunks at Hullavington were a bit long in the tooth by then.
Annual camp to St Mawgan, won a trip in the Nimrod - 8 hours of clouds, blue sea, and that oily smell that still makes me smile today.
What surprised me most recently was someone telling me the gliding caravan the VGS at Abingdon use is the same one I used to sleep in at Little Rissington early 90s!
I think more from my squadron joined the Army than Air Force because of the Cold War draw down at the time - and the Chipmunks at Hullavington were a bit long in the tooth by then.
Gib camp in 1982. A WO called Skard was with us; he'd been a rock ape for 22 years and retired as an SAC. When the rock squadron at Gib heard he was there, they sent signals round the world saying 'we've found him, he's here!'
Cyprus Camp 1986. The incoming camp following us were to be tented so we struggled to put up the campsite for them. After we departed (late because the Red Arrows were practicing and refused to allow our 737 to land) the 'new' camp spent one night, then were loaded onto a Hercules and sent home. The next night, the USAF bombed Libya. Every morning we had watched a TR1/U2 (which officially wasn't there) take off either in the direction of Libya or the direction of Lebanon.
Cyprus Camp 1986. The incoming camp following us were to be tented so we struggled to put up the campsite for them. After we departed (late because the Red Arrows were practicing and refused to allow our 737 to land) the 'new' camp spent one night, then were loaded onto a Hercules and sent home. The next night, the USAF bombed Libya. Every morning we had watched a TR1/U2 (which officially wasn't there) take off either in the direction of Libya or the direction of Lebanon.
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Returned from holiday, and reunited with my archives ...
Form B/CADETS 2, Record of Service CCF.
That seems to cover a busy life as a cadet (later Cpl) in the RAF Section, late 50s until Sep 62.
RAF F. 3822
After [leaving/being invited to leave] school, joined 144 (Richmond) Squadron ATC in Sep 62 and given the rank of sgt on the understanding I would take charge of the sqn 'band'.
My goodness, there are some memories tucked away in those two battered little books. AEF flights in Chipmunk, Anson, Whirlwind, Beverley, Twin Pioneer. One or two events and names remembered. The Cadet Organisations gave us lads so much good experience, and fun, and early responsibility.
Form B/CADETS 2, Record of Service CCF.
That seems to cover a busy life as a cadet (later Cpl) in the RAF Section, late 50s until Sep 62.
Camps at Binbrook, Tangmere and Jurby
Naval Aviation Courses at RNAS Culdrose, 60 and 61
Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham, 61
Gliding Course at RAF Hawkinge, 61
Flying Scholarship, Kidlington, 62
How very Tri-Service!!Naval Aviation Courses at RNAS Culdrose, 60 and 61
Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham, 61
Gliding Course at RAF Hawkinge, 61
Flying Scholarship, Kidlington, 62
RAF F. 3822
After [leaving/being invited to leave] school, joined 144 (Richmond) Squadron ATC in Sep 62 and given the rank of sgt on the understanding I would take charge of the sqn 'band'.
International Air Cadet Exchange, 63 [accompanied by CCCC and others 
]
Promoted FS, 63
Commandant Air Cadets Certificate of Good Service, 63
Left to join RN, Sep 63
I seem to have done quite well for just 12 months on the sqn!! Rejoined as a CI for a year before heading off to a more successful RAF career in 65. ]Promoted FS, 63
Commandant Air Cadets Certificate of Good Service, 63
Left to join RN, Sep 63
My goodness, there are some memories tucked away in those two battered little books. AEF flights in Chipmunk, Anson, Whirlwind, Beverley, Twin Pioneer. One or two events and names remembered. The Cadet Organisations gave us lads so much good experience, and fun, and early responsibility.
Last edited by MPN11; 5th Jun 2014 at 12:56. Reason: Minor text
What surprised me most recently was someone telling me the gliding caravan the VGS at Abingdon use is the same one I used to sleep in at Little Rissington early 90s!
)
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Wander00 ... I was light blue too 
Culdrose Basic Course 14 - 20 Aug 60
Culdrose Advanced Course 2 - 8 Sep 61
Dust off your archive ... GO!
Culdrose Basic Course 14 - 20 Aug 60
Culdrose Advanced Course 2 - 8 Sep 61
Dust off your archive ... GO!
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2235 (Deal) Sqdn
Joined in about 1959 and left in 1962 to join the Royal Air Force as an apprentice at RAF Locking.
Great time as a cadet:
- enjoyed the drill (!)
- enjoyed the day and night exercises 'playing' at soldiers in the local countryside, especially the challenges associated with map and compass navigation
- enjoyed firing the 303
- enjoyed local flying: including flying in a Chipmunk around the Kent coast and doing aerobatics above my home (to the envy of my sea cadet friends)
- enjoyed glider flying and gaining solo licence (although well under age)
- enjoyed learning about wireless comms and morse code (still reasonably proficient)
- enjoyed learning about radar.
I mention wireless and radar at the end because these were my over-riding areas of interest and why I joined the RAF. This was due in no small measure to the encouragement of one of the civilian instructors who gave so much of his time to share his own enthusiasm, including sharing his own amateur radio set with us, as well as the 1154/1155 service sets belonging to the squadron.
Sorry for the ramble but they were good days and it is about time I acknowledged them.
Great time as a cadet:
- enjoyed the drill (!)
- enjoyed the day and night exercises 'playing' at soldiers in the local countryside, especially the challenges associated with map and compass navigation
- enjoyed firing the 303
- enjoyed local flying: including flying in a Chipmunk around the Kent coast and doing aerobatics above my home (to the envy of my sea cadet friends)
- enjoyed glider flying and gaining solo licence (although well under age)
- enjoyed learning about wireless comms and morse code (still reasonably proficient)
- enjoyed learning about radar.
I mention wireless and radar at the end because these were my over-riding areas of interest and why I joined the RAF. This was due in no small measure to the encouragement of one of the civilian instructors who gave so much of his time to share his own enthusiasm, including sharing his own amateur radio set with us, as well as the 1154/1155 service sets belonging to the squadron.
Sorry for the ramble but they were good days and it is about time I acknowledged them.
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MPN11- where did you do your International Cadet Exchange to in '63??
We flew in an RAF Britannia from Heathrow to RCAF Merville, FR, and onward to USAF Rhein-Main, GE, picking up extra bodies en route. Then USAF C-118 (DC-6) to Prestwick, Harman and finally NY for a few days.
Onward in a Saturn Airways DC-6 across America, dropping off small groups people as we went ... Indianapolis, Chicago, Des Moines, Sioux Falls, Helena, Lewiston and finally Boise, ID, where we spent the next 10 days.
Return journey was via Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and Baltimore for 4 days in Washington, DC. Then the tedious routing home: DC-6 from Andrews AFB to Harman, Prestwick and Rhein-Main, where we got back on an RAF Britannia and retraced our steps via Merville to London Heathrow.
A wonderful experience.
Last edited by MPN11; 16th Jun 2014 at 12:00. Reason: spilling
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Gerontocrat. Glad you enjoyed the Hal; Far/Luqa camp. I was the Staish, and because I had (many years before) been Tg 1 at HQ Air, I knew the ropes and thus had the bright idea of using the spare accomodation at Hal Far for a camp at Easter and another in the Summer. I signaled the offer to HQAC, and they fixed the first charter flight witrhin a couple of days! Happy Days!
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402 Gravesend Sqn. Great times. AEF from Manston with a short trip in a Wessex. Summer camps at Lyneham doing circuits in a Herc. We went to Hullavington the next year. Not the ideal place for a summer camp and I managed to miss the tour of the parachute packing hangar by going flying. I spent the entirety of my career as a squipper avoiding it too.
I always got beaten in the a/c recce competitions by another cadet who went on to fly F3s, Tomcats and Typhoons so I guess his recce skills needed to be better than mine!
Every now and then I catch the whiff of a cigar and it takes me back to that hut with models strung from the ceiling and its little tuck shop in the corner.
I always got beaten in the a/c recce competitions by another cadet who went on to fly F3s, Tomcats and Typhoons so I guess his recce skills needed to be better than mine!
Every now and then I catch the whiff of a cigar and it takes me back to that hut with models strung from the ceiling and its little tuck shop in the corner.
Five years (1983-1988) at No.1900 (Hayle) Detached Flight.
Plenty of drill, interspersed with AEF from St. Mawgan or Exeter, gliding at Predannack (Slingsby Cadets then Vikings -wow! just like an F-16), camps, shooting, the occasional Nimrod trip.
Eventually became a corporal, left as I moved away and joined the ROC, but eventually came back as a CI for a number of years.
No longer involved as running my own business doesn't leave me with much time sadly, but I was invited to be a judge at Plymouth and Cornwall Wing's annual Caiels Trophy activity weekend last year. It was superb to see so much enthusiasm from the cadets present, and the event allowed me to see much of what they get up these days. If anything I think cadets nowadays have a lot more opportunities than when I was involved. It is still a wonderful organisation, and I hear one of the local squadrons recently had a recruiting drive and doubled their numbers from 30 to 60.
Long may it continue.
Plenty of drill, interspersed with AEF from St. Mawgan or Exeter, gliding at Predannack (Slingsby Cadets then Vikings -wow! just like an F-16), camps, shooting, the occasional Nimrod trip.
Eventually became a corporal, left as I moved away and joined the ROC, but eventually came back as a CI for a number of years.
No longer involved as running my own business doesn't leave me with much time sadly, but I was invited to be a judge at Plymouth and Cornwall Wing's annual Caiels Trophy activity weekend last year. It was superb to see so much enthusiasm from the cadets present, and the event allowed me to see much of what they get up these days. If anything I think cadets nowadays have a lot more opportunities than when I was involved. It is still a wonderful organisation, and I hear one of the local squadrons recently had a recruiting drive and doubled their numbers from 30 to 60.
Long may it continue.
ScewballScramble: I was Admin Officer at a summer course at Rissy in 1991 and some of the staff slept in bunks in the old control tower which was the VGS HQ then. They had a caravan but this didn't have bunks.
The cadets on the course were trucked to and from South Cerney.
What I found inefficient was closing down every evening, trucking back to Cerney for evening meal, then returning to Rissy to fly until dark, a round trip of over 30 miles taking a good 2 hours out of every day, so I arranged with the catering officer at Brize (which was 637's parent station anyway) that I would collect pre-packed airline style meals from Brize every evening so the cadets could get a couple of hours extra flying per day.
The cadets on the course were trucked to and from South Cerney.
What I found inefficient was closing down every evening, trucking back to Cerney for evening meal, then returning to Rissy to fly until dark, a round trip of over 30 miles taking a good 2 hours out of every day, so I arranged with the catering officer at Brize (which was 637's parent station anyway) that I would collect pre-packed airline style meals from Brize every evening so the cadets could get a couple of hours extra flying per day.
