Which ATC Squadron are/were you a member of?

[scammell]

399 (Beverley) Squadron. Camps at Hullavington, Kinloss (twice), Wattisham, Macrihanish and Oakington. First ever flight was in a Varsity at Hullavington. Regular flights in Chipmunks from Dishforth and Church Fenton. Highlight was four and a half hours low level over Scotland in an Andover from Macrihanish, included helping loadmaster throw out supplies to Army types on exercise in the lowlands. Learnt to fly gliders at 642 Gliding School Linton on Ouse. Spent some time there as a staff cadet which gave me a taste for gliding. So much so that I eventually became an Instructor at the Wolds Gliding Club at Pocklington. Rose to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer before becoming a Civilian Instructor for a while. The ATC was a great way spend time back then. I hope that the kids today get the same enjoyment.

[100arw]

155 (Maidenhead) Many, many, many, years ago.
Flights in chippie's,and Whirlwind, Argosy out of thorney island, and as for the Parade on Queens route into 25 Aniversary of transport command (Thorney Island), well its the only time I've heard the order "Triple time march"
Saw coal being Whitewashed, turned me off of joining up.

Then you remember the CO F/Lt Savage and Exec Off FO Goule?
But do you tremember when the Royal Marines attacking our billet at Thorney, due to a girlfriend incident :-)
I lost my stripes (again) there.
P.

[gulfstream650]

2271 SQN Best years of my youngster days! Nimrod Wessex flying annual camps Brandy!,Hullavington,Chievenor,Boscome down loads of Visits to RIAT St Mawgan Culdrose Airdays,303 shooting Venture Gliding at Chivenor.
Miss it like mad may long it continue brilliant experience for Youngsters.

[phantommadman]

450 squadron Kenley May 85 to June 89, best days of my life .Flew in Chipmunks from Abingdon and gliding from our base at Kenley,also had a flight in BAC 111 XX105 from RAE Bedford Visited RAF Bruggen,Wildenrath and Gibralter each for a week and had base camps at Henlow and trips to RAF Odiham,Coltishall,West Raynham to name but a few,but the the pinnacle of my ATC days was a week long trip to Binbrook in April 87.Out of the many highlights was been driven in a Land Rover to collect parachutes dropped off by the Lightnings after they landed,having to sit about 30 feet away from the side of the runway while the lightning shot past and then chasing it to collect said parachute .Then one night some other cadets and I clambered discretely up a mound nearby the hangars and watched a couple of lightnings being readied for a night sortie,seeing them taxi to the runway,then watching two glorious plumes of blue flame shooting into the night sky .Then on our last day just as we were ready to go home ,the air raid siren goes and two pairs of Lightnings are scrambled,what an end to the best week of my life How i miss those days and how much do I wish I had a digital camera back then

[GeorgeA]

Late on picking up this thresd as well!

396 (Paisley)Squadron in the early to mid '70s.

Camps at Leeming and Wildenrath, Chipmunks at Turnhouse and gliding at Kirknewton and Spitalgate.

[gkeeley]

Hi. I was with 1350sqn based at Tichfield in Hampshire. I was lucky enough to fly in a Herc from Thorney Island around 1971. I also flew in several Chipmunks from Hamble and Topcliffe and Summer camp at Leeming when they had JP’s

[Vulture 01]

Being a very old....person, here's my ATC history.
1965 to 1972;
Cadet with 221 (Great Yarmouth) Squadron. Arrived as cadet 2nd class, left as cadet warrant officer.

1976 to 1982:
Civilian instructor with 221 (Great Yarmouth) squadron, Caister detached flight. This then became 2356 Caister on Sea Squadron in 1984/5.

1982 to 1985:
Warrant Officer with 2356 Caister on Sea Squadron.

1985 to 1992:
Appointed to commission in 1985. Became squadron commander in 1986. REmainedas OC 2356 until Sep 1992.

1992 to date:
Transfer to 759 Beccles Squadron ATC.
Retired as Flt Lt Jan 2003. Back to civilian instructor with 759 Sqn, where I still reside.

[Crusty]

ntxxxxx

[radar]

184 South Manchester, from 1972ish

[grisr7]

1871(Rugeley) Late 80's early 90's Staff cadet and CWO for about 12 months then I discovered Beer and Girls!

Great times, RAF Marksman earned at St Athan the day before we went to the Gulf the first time, Silver DofE, BGT & AGT with 633VGS at RAF Cosford. Many AEF flights from Shawbury. Also many camps in the Lake DIstrict fell walking which was great fun

Steve

[shackleton0]

446 (Forres) squadron from 1966 to 1968.

2311 (Glenrothes) squadron from 1968 to 1971.

Many flights in Shackleton Mk 3s at Kinloss, as my father was in the RAF, and we lived on the camp.

Low level bombing over the Moray Firth was especially interesting, with near aerobatic manoeuvres in a heavy aircraft.

ATC annual camps included Watton, Stradishall, and LInton-on-Ouse (The first two of these closed not long after the time that we were there).

Won a flying scholarship, which I completed at Scone Aerodrome (Perth), and won the Scottish individual aircraft recognition competition in 1970.

Got a lot out of the ATC, and have many good memories, thanks to this organisation............ Hugh Valentine.

[3051Howe]

Joined 308 Colchester Sqn (Essex Wing) in 2004, aged out as a Cadet Warrant Officer 8 years later.

Some of the best years of my life. Had the pleasure of three flying scholarships - Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, John Cunningham and Air League. Went on various camps - by far the best had to be RAF Coningsby. Also had the pleasure of a stint as a staff cadet on 614 VGS at MDPGA Wethersfield.

Became a CI when I aged out but ended up leaving altogether, couldn't commit the time to it due to shift work!

After reading this post and seeing all the pictures, it reminded me of a picture that I dug out of me as a cadet! Awful picture, but I still love it!

391908_10150482019581357_754848696_n by Chris Howe, on Flickr

[Condor68]

Sorry Jazzie 2449( Carnoustie) 1965 - 1971 Just realised 10/3/18 is 50 years on from my first solo at Condor.Might need a whisky or two

[jetnoise2011]

398 Staines & Egham - here we are at RAF Marham in 1974 for annual camp.....

398Sqn_1974_1 by Ralph Lunt Photography, on Flickr

[Blackjack56]

42(F) SQUADRON in King's Lynn around 1976-77,i also remember endless drill with all the local yobs shouting naughty words at us as they went past(knuckles dragging along the ground)but on the plus side were the summer camps,we went to waddington and of course that was when the vulcan was there, a lucky girl cadet got a flight out over the north sea at the end of the week,another plus was we used to get air experience flights in chipmunks(from Cambridge airport)and slingsby gliders(at swanton morley)with a cable launch system which when done for the first time was frightening!,then there was firing lee enfield rifles,unfortunately it didn't lead to a career in the RAF(i did have a stint in the Royal Observer Corps where i did get to wear an RAF uniform(sort of) but it wasn't through lack of will on my part i didn't get in and i too have had a series of dead end jobs since then but still have an interest of anything that flies.Having said that it was a good experience overall and i'm glad i did it.

[Nighthawke]

Blackjack56 - was Ray Edwards the WO at that time? I was with 1894 Det Flt later 2534(West Raynham) Sqn. He always seemed quite scary on the odd occasion we came across him. When I got my AWO I transferred temporarily to 42(F) when Ray was a CI and a really nice chap with a heart of gold respected by everyone from probationer cadets to senior officers. Presumably the female cadet was some time after 76/77 as I don't recall girls in the ATC at that time. Can't believe that it was over 40 years since I joined!

[Sparkjeff]

Come on, there must be someone out there older than me!

2182 (Dorchester) 1954? - 1958

Hey...just found this thread...I too was in 2182...1985-1992 off the top of my head!

[Sparkjeff]

So...continuing proper, been a great read, and triggered many enjoyable, and unenjoyable memories...

1984? Initially Thomas Hardye`s School CCF...navy section with the intention of aircrew...opportunities somewhat limited, sailing, no interest in that at all, however turned out to be quite enjoyable...had two courses, FAA air experience course at HMS Heron (Yeovilton), Seaking HC4 and Wessex flights...the dunker...and possible Hunter T8/Harrier T4 flight but that was binned. Following year 1985? air officers course at HMS Seahawk (Culdrose) now this one was pretty special, only 7 or 8 of us...Wessex flight and winching, Seaking HAS5 low level sortie and three confines, Jetstream T3 flight, including missed approach at Exeter, Jetstream T2 training sortie, spent in the jump seat for general flying, or the right hand seat nav plotting during the observer training component of the flight...just awesome.
Seeing as the CCF AEF was very limited although should be spread to all service sections, I jumped ship (so to speak!).

So, 1985 joined 2182(Dorchester) Sqn ATC...at the time this was almagamating with the Girls Venture Corps (I think)...plenty of familiar faces. AEF flying was plentiful initially, I think I was up to nearly 40 hours, all at 4AEF Exeter...gliding either Upavon, or Locking but both my trips had us grounded by either weather or tech.

I only did two summer camps sadly for various reasons...RAF Stafford...hmm, at that time the biggest single building storage facility in europe (if not the world) impressive, I`ll not deny, but for a fair number of teens to twenties, a bit dull...my worst flying experience in a Chipmunk out of Shawbury, the instructor pilot was intolerant to say the least, I think he`d picked the short straw, which was sad as it was fantastic weather. The second camp 1988(?) RAF Gatow...Berlin...a year or so before the wall fell...737 flight Luton to RAF Wildenrath...nothing to see here sadly, bus tour to drop off at RAF Gutersloh...GAF F4s were in the circuit...awesome...then a long bus journey to pick up the British Military Train...another experience! Mil Mi8s often visible in and outward to Berlin. That was just awesome....I`d like to return to Berlin now, and compare.

I have two sons, I hoped they`d both join, so I could have an active role again, but neither did/have, although I`m well acquainted with several old members whom are still involved in some capacity, and have recently been asked back as staff...my eldest son though actually did partly pursue my intended career in the Royal Navy, as
Chef

Cheers

[Jonny2010]

430 (Droylsden) Sqn EL Wing

Camps to RAF Lossiemouth, Coltishal a few years before it closed, Brampton with flying at RAF Wyton

[Blackjack56]

Hello Nighthawke, The names are all a bit hazy now after all this time but i do remember a canadian WO who used to drive an austin 1100(remember those?) he did come across as a bit fierce,as i remember he had a really bad scar on his forehead and i wondered if he got it in the war or something (but nobody was brave enough to ask!)also i seem to remember him saying in his canadian drawl "god dammit,he got it right" when someone(probably me)was struggling with a certain part of a drill and suddenly did it correctly!.Iagree with you,he was a nice bloke and well respected,All in all i am glad i joined the ATC,the bad part-the drill was more than compensated for by the good stuff-flying!.