Which ATC Squadron are/were you a member of?

[Nighthawke]

Never came across a Canadian WO. Ray Edwards was definitely English - London possibly. Still as someone once said - WOs are the backbone of the service!

[Blackjack56]

Sorry about that but as i said the names are a bit hazy now,i sort of remember another(english!)WO who once took some of us over to Downham Market for an aircraft recognition competition,he had a cortina as i remember if that helps!,oh and we lost the competition!.

[modman]

135 Redhill and Reigate 1969-71 Flying at 6AEF White Waltham, Gliding at Kenley, Two camps at Fairford when there were Hercs based. Six Herc flights, Brit from Brize, VC10 from Brize, Varsity from Oakington at 71 camp. Also BOAC VC10 training flight from Heathrow.
We were lucky to get so many opportunities to fly. The CO even had his own Chippy at Biggin which he took cadets up in.

[Ravendriver2008]

CCF RAF Section at boarding school then joined 104 Sqn ATC when at sixth form. Was one of the first air cadets to fly the Grob Viking motoglider at RAF Henlow ....in november 1991.

Cheers

[Spad]

Sorry about that but as i said the names are a bit hazy now,i sort of remember another(english!)WO who once took some of us over to Downham Market for an aircraft recognition competition,he had a cortina as i remember if that helps!,oh and we lost the competition!.

Hi Blackjack - I was with 1018 Downham sqn. I was mates with a CWO with your crowd known as "Squeak". Came from Gaywood and, as I recall, had a bit of face fungus - maybe a bit of a handlebar? Do you recall him?
Oh, and that recce comp - was that for the Geoff Watling Cup? Just wondering as I won that in 1976; could that have been when you came over to us!!??!

[CWOTLITTLE]

Just came across David's post re 195 Grimsby Squadron. I was a member of 195 Sqn and enrolled by Flt Lt Whinncop in 1976. I was promoted through the ranks reaching CWO in 1980. Flt Lt Laver was by CO for nearly all my time in 195 Sqn ( after I left he was promoted to Sqn Ldr ). I remember Wing Comm. Joe Hutton who was on my interview panel for CWO.
I also remember WO George Bass who was my Gliding Instructor, F/O Price, WO Hartley.
I recall my Glider training at RAF Lindholme where I met CWO John Rands who became leader of the Red Arrows.
I attained the Gold Duke of Edin. Award and was awarded it at Buckingham Palace just after I left 195 Sqn in 1982. I attended several annual camps including Laarbruck in Germany. CWO course RAF Newton.
Great to hear from any old chums.
Good times.
Tim Little
Email tim.little@btopenworld.com

[Vulture 01]

Browsing back through this thread, I see I made my contribution back in 2010! Well, after retiring as a Flt Lt I did another 8 years as a Ci, finally retiring in March 2018. In all,I did 40+ years as an instructor, of which I am very proud. Seeing young people come in the door as rather shy, retiring people, then go out the door a few years later, having gained experiences and life changing skills thanks to what was the best cadet organisation in the country, was a rare privilege. The people and leaderships skills I learned over my time helped with my chosen career which was 40+ years working with offshore supply vessels in the North Sea. Without that advantage, maybe I wouldn't have achieved so much - who knows?

Anyway, for those of you still in, cadets and staff, good luck, and may your number of landings always equal your number of take offs.

By the way, I met my oldest friend when we were both cadets back in the 1960's, so that says something of the shared experience.

[Ravendriver2008]

CCF RAF section at boarding school then when i left and went to local sixth form, joined 104 Squadron ATC (Beds & Cambs Wing) for a year.

cheers

[napalm42]

1169 Exeter , round about 1968 , when there were Vampire T11`s and Meteor TT20`s at Exeter Airport.
Highlight for me was a 30 minute flight in a Shackleton from Chivenor, sat in the nose , tail and everywhere in between.
Great fun except for `Drill Tuesday` by the River Exe.

[Nighthawke]

Nothing wrong with a bit of drill.

[napalm42]

Totally agree Nighthawke, could do with some of it in todays broken society..

[TS010]

2279 Sqn/Chirk DF, 79-83 ish. Chirk DF later became 856 Sqn.

[Cyberfox]

1984 to 1987, number 2448 (Poynton) squadron.

I remember flying in Chipmunks at Woodvale, Sedberghs at Sealand along with being the fourth cadet in the country to fly in the then new Grob. Also an army style camp at Swynnerton (wrecked Whirlwind on the base for training) and best of all, a week’s summer camp at RAF Odiham, including almost six hours flying in Pumas.

[vapes]

I was a cadet at 319 Salford sqn between 86 & 90, then went back to same sqn 1995 as a C.I and after 2 years back in uniform as a A.W.O before leaving in 1999,

[EASEDALE1999]

I was a member of 2429 squadron at school. First flight was in a chipmunk at Binbrook. Time was 1973 to 1975.

[radar]

184 (South Manchester) Squadron, 1972-'75, great times! Based at Hough End playing fields where the Police horse/dogs training place is now, not sure if 184 are still there as I left the area in '75?

[Imac]

1908 Bootle, Merseyside (circa 71-73). Only in for a few years but experienced so much. Great times.

Two annual camps RAF Newton & Lindholme. Shooting every Wednesday & Sunday. Midweek shooting (.22) at the 25yrd range at Park Street Army Barracks. Weekend shooting (.303) at Altcar Army Barracks. As I understand it, 1908 Sqd were pretty successful at the annual shooting comps at Bisley!

Played football for the West Lancs Wing and a 'Regional Blue' (Lancashire & Cheshire). Played at RAF Woodvale, Swinderby with the highlight at RAF Cranwell.

Regular AEFs RAF Woodvale, West Lancs in the Chipmunks. We were quite fortunate on AEFs because one of our officers was an AEF pilot, Flying Officer Edwards, Gliders at RAF Sealand, Cheshire.

Other regular visits to RAF Sealand for inter-squadron competitions. First Aid Comp comes to mind. I knew nothing about First Aid, needless to say came last.

Loved drill, especially one session at RAF Newton under the control of the camp Warrant Officer. As we were marching around he explained marching to music was so much more beneficial so he had us whistling 'Colonel Bogey'. Great session

I think the pick of the numerous great times was an AEF out of RAF Lindholme. This was on a Hastings Transport. They had a batch of Navigators to drop off, we flew out of Lindholme with the first stop at RAF Marham and then out over the North Sea up to RAF Leuchars. That put some serious hours on my flight log!!

Great times, shame I had to leave because I wouldn't get a haircut. Just got impossible to tuck it up in my beret.

[B58Hustler]

Not ATC but 2nd Coltishall Air Scouts (Sir Douglas Bader's Own) 1982-1985.
Fond memories of many a summer camp, tactical landing in a Herc at Lyneham, gliding at Lasham, and quite a few hours in Chippies with 5AEF at Teversham plus a memorable trip in the venerable Husky when we were bounced by a pair of A-10s.
Good times......

[Crusty]

1344 Maindy barracks late 70s

[Petepilot]

414 Epping squadron back in the 70s - Chippie flying at Cambridge, gliding at Debden, .303 shooting on Purfleet ranges!
Now a CI on 110 City of York squadron - Tutors (and the occasional CH-47) flying at Leeming, Vikings at Topcliffe,.