Which ATC Squadron are/were you a member of?

[BP2324]

2324 (Chigwell) Sqn. West Essex Wing now London Wing

Joined 1986 made it to CWO. Was Commissioned in 1992 took command of the Sqn in 1994 until 2005.
Camps at RAF Benson x3, Swanton Morley, Wattisham, Gib and Cyprus. IACE to Canada in 1990.

Flights in Chipmunk, Bulldog, Tutor, Wessex, C130, Chinook, VC10, Andover, Canadian OH58 Kiowa and went solo in Viking glider.
Happy days

[chrisfg1]

I was a member of 1263 (Rochdale) Squadron from 1982 to 1987 reaching flight sergeant before joining the RAF in 88. I flew in Chipmunks,Sedbergh gliders, the 5 AEF Beagle Husky, Chinooks, Pumas, Hercs and in 82 I went up in the tethered barrage balloon at RAF Hullavington. Camps included Hullavington, Honington, Cosford, Lyneham and Odiham. Remember once flying in a Chippie from Woodvale over Warton when all the ex Saudi Lightnings were lined up. Happy days.

[Rugbyref]

I was another CCF member. Highgate School 1968-1973, finishing as Flt Sgt. Our Chipmunk flying was at 6AEF at White Waltham, and I went as often as there was a space. First camp was at Wittering, with a flight in a SAR Whirlwind and memorably hearing a Harrier GR1 suffer a bird strike and drop onto the runway - expensive sound! Other camps were Waddington, watching spectacular Vulcan departures, and volunteering to strap in all the penguins (wingless officers) who wanted flights in the Chippy based for the duration of camp, then getting extra flights myself. Then Gutersloh with 19 and 92 squadron Lightnings sharing airspace with 18 squadron Wessexes (yes, I got a Wessex flight too). Best camp was Malta, with a Hercules flight from Hal Far, and a Shackleton MR3 from Luqa for 6 1/2 hours over the Med, dropping sonarbuoys on a Russian sub. Other flights were in an Andover and a Hastings.

I did my A&B gliding at Debden, and also soloed in a Kirby Cadet Mk3. The cheeky highlight there involved the whole gliding camp (about 15 of us, all with about 3 years experience under our belts) deliberately marching from barracks to flightline, passing a group of rookie RAF Policemen in perfect time, and hearing their Sgt behind us yelling to them that even a bunch of kids could march better than them!

The advantage of CCF over ATC was that we could also go on Army camps, and I got to fire 9mm Browning, GPMG, Energa Grenade, Sterling SMG, and SLR as well as hundreds of rounds of .303 and .22.

Happy days!

[redhead]

hi I was a cadet at 195 squadron Grimsby 1988-1995 then became a C.i. 1995-2010. fantastic time lots of camps.

[Vulcanone]

...

[DanBeeden]

151 (Leominster) Squadron as a cadet from 1993-2002. Great memories of wonderful people and camps at Chivenor, Lyneham (4 Herc trips in one week!) and Waddington. Chipmunk aeros from Cosford, RAF flying scholarship at Carlisle, the annual minibus pilgrimage to Mildenhall Air Fetes and weekends flying Vigilants at Little Rissington.

We had a really good relationship with the Herefordshire Aero Club at Shobdon and spent many terrific weekends airside, marshalling in aircraft (I doubt we'd be allowed to do this nowadays!) during the air race and spring fly-in events. Cadets were often flown and in some really nice aircraft; Spencer Flack's Beech Baron, Cessna 337s, etc.

Now a Civilian Instructor with 115 (Peterborough) Squadron.

[atech]

1474 Wickford Squadron 1968 to 1974 reached the rank of F/Sgt. Enjoyed plenty of flying both gliders and powered along with a lot of rifle shooting.

Summer camps at Binbrook, Colerne, West Raynham Coltishall, Wildenrath, Luqa Malta

Enjoyed every minute of it, much better that the scouts

Left to join RAF

[StevenR]

I started at 2(F) Watford Squadron in 1966 and attended camps, as a cadet, at St. Mawgan (1968), Colerne (1969), St Athan (1970), Gutersloh (1971), and West Raynham (1972). Also got a C-130 trip to Cyprus in 1972 to build a Radar Station that is still there now! In 1974 moved house and became a Civilian Instructor at 43(F) Morden. Became an Adult Warrant Officer in 1976, Commissioned in 1977 and promoted to Officer Commanding 43(F) by 1979. Transferred to Officer Commanding 1034 (Surbiton) in 1985 and remained in post until 2003 when had to relinquish command due to work commitments. Reverted to being a CI and still there! Over last 48 years had some great flying in such types as Chipmunk, Shackleton, Canberra, Argosy, Varsity, Hunter T.7, Jet Provost T.4. Husky, Buccaneer, Bulldog, VC10, Sentry and more recently the Tutor.

[beefsteak]

I can't believe I didn't actually add my own memories, I could have sworn I'd done it!

I was in 138 1st Nottingham Sqdn from 1973 till about 1978 , we were firstly based on Trent Lane, we moved to Edale Road in about 1976. Our CO was a little armpit called Flt L Cook. He hated me basically because I wouldn't kiss his ar53 like so many of the others.
One lad (Simon Bowler) who was the son of a friend of his, went from nothing to cadet warrant officer in less than a year because (According to old Bobby Cook) "He was going in the army and his ATC rank will help him" ...........Go figure!?
Me , I passed all my exams making Staff cadet, I got the radio operators badge and both RAF and ATC Marksman, my pilots wings, (I only got them because I'd donated a missile I'd won (I kid you not!) to a museum at RAF Newton, and the man in charge of it (Flt L Phillips??) pulled some strings to get my name 'drawn out of the hat' (That really p1553d off old Bobby that time) yet I never even got as much as one promotion !
I only went on one annual camp (My parents always seemed to be off for the same period,) that was to RAF Hereford in around 77

[ultraburner]

2121 (Abingdon) Squadron; 1988-1994. Great time was had, memories and experiences that will stay with me forever. Ex Spring Fever on Salisbury Plain was an annual highlight, when we played at being soldiers... Summer/Easter camps to Cosford, Lyneham (daily trips on Hercs!), Wittering, Gutersloh (daily and nightly trips on Chinooks and Pumas!), Akrotiri which included a trip in a US Army UH60 Blackhawk! Topped it all off with Gliding wings, Cadet Warrant Officer and a trip to the USA on the International Air Cadet Exchange... Air Cadets is the best youth organisation in the world bar none. Long may it continue to be so.

[Mike s]

I Was a CI WITH 2180 sqn Galashiels for about 3 years,i visited Linton in 2008 and got to sit in the front seat of the 2008 display Tucano,flew in a tutor at Leuchars,and a Viking at Kirknewton,one student on the sqn that i got on well with is Now in basic training to be a pilot in the Royal navy ,after he wanted to be a dog handler in the RAF !,it was a good 3 years on the sqn
mike

[Budgie516]

423 (Elgin) Squadron 1996-2001 had the chance to fly in the nimrod a couple of times.

[seafurysmith]

I joined 2427 (Biggin Hill) Squadron back in early 1969 when it was still an active RAF base. In those days we had to sign in at the Guard House and march up to the squadron huts in formation. Had to wait to my thirteenth birthday before I could join for real and get a uniform issued, itchy or what. The Squadron huts were then by the runway threshold and we had some great times helping out during the Air Fair and the BoB at Home days, memories include the access to the museum hangar on the pretext of sweeping it out, sitting in the ME110, Falco and seeing black six in storage, trying out the selection course and failing pretty well, great days, left in '75 as I had got a weekend job with the Biggin Hill School of Flying helping out at weekends getting flying training in return. Got into all sorts of adventures and thoroughly enjoyed it except perhaps for the odd fight and debagging on the coach going down to Manston for AEF. Did gliding at Kenly and West Malling the best of which was the Sedburgh at Malling. Happy days.

ATC_0001 by seafurysmith, on Flickr

ATC_0003 by seafurysmith, on Flickr

[Bushpilot]

I was in 1039 Gillingham Sqn around 1976/7. We spent most of the time painting the SQN huts and practicing for a Silver Jubilee Drill squad at a local Tattoo on the garrison sprtsground, our rivals were 1408 Chatham Sqn. Our one chance of a AEF was rained off and I missed the annual camp so I left. Probably why I didn't pass office selection and ended up in the oil business.

[james.25]

Come on 1331 Stowmarket ATC boys/gals, where are you!??? Surely someone on here must be a past "stow" cadet?

I was in 1331 from around 1997-2001, and I can honestly say it was the best 4 years of my life! I loved every second of it! (almost)

I will try and dig out some summer camp photos, namely Odiham 1998 & Lyneham 1999, also easter camp Auxbridge 2000.

If anyone was on the above camps, or even in 1331 I would LOVE to hear from you, and if you have photos to share even better!!

James

[macbear26]

I was in 2309 Sqd (Plymouth) 1970-1973, Had many flights in Chipmunks that where based at Exeter Airport. Also went to RAF Odiham for summer camp and had a jolly in a Puma. I loved all the outdoor activities especially live firing the 303 rifle at Tregantle Fort ranges. Wish we could turn back the clock.

[acw367]

Cadet and CI on 649 Sqn in Dursley and was also a Viking Gliding QGI Instructor. We had a very proactive Sqn for flying. Alongside the inevitable Chipmunk and Bulldog flights. Flew seven times on low level Hercules flights stood on flightdeck holding onto pilots seat back. Puma low level three times, A&AEE Navajo, VC10 AAR (refuelling sand camouflaged Buccaneers with Gulf War nose art), TriStar AAR, Sea King & Squirrel.

Also sat in the cockpits/pilots seats of over 130 different aircraft types on the ground. WIth the highlights being invited to sit in the pilots seats of both Tu-142 Bear and Il-38 May with a small group of cadets on camp at IAT. And in 1988 on cadet camp at St Athan did my section experience with the Historic Aircraft collection. Sat in the cockpit of every aircraft they had including Spitfire, Heinkel He162 and Japanese Ki-46.

Then the techies pulled the two seat German WWII FW-190 out of the hangar and strapped me in the back seat while they ran up the engine for 10 mins.

I was one very lucky spacey

[owensy]

I was with 90 Speke squadron from 1983 until 1995 left as a CI after going though to CWO.
Camps I went to: 1984 RAF Coltishall , 1985 RAF Brawdy, 1986 RAF Bruggen and RAF Lyneham, 1987 RAF Gatow and RAF Newton, 1988 RAF Valley (got best Cadet and still have the trophy and still awaiting for my Hawk flight!.
I still have my 3822! In 1989 I was lucky to be selected to go on the IACE to Canada. I can only seem to find my Gatow and a pic from Canada plus a portrait shot of my mug from about 1987
RAF Gatow Camp by paulowen248, on Flickr
CAF Trenton
CFB Trenton 1989 by paulowen248, on Flickr
Ive not aged well!
scan0036 by paulowen248, on Flickr

[sgtangel]

Cirencester CCF from 1983-1988. Our CO was friends with the Filton AEF CO so we got more than our fair share of flights. Think I got about 30hrs on the Chippie in total. One of the pilots who took me up was Steve Johnson, ex -Arrows pilot (the one who had to punch put when he hit the yacht mast). He remembered my father, who used to be on the team with him. Camps included Scampton, Benson, Laarbruch, and Abingdon
My best experience was my first Annual Camp, which was at RAF Binbrook. Managed to spend nearly all my time on the flightline or in the hangar crawling over numerous Lightnings, be it fixing a brake leak, assisting in removing a jet pipe or replacing brake chutes. Preferred 11 sqn to 5 (sorry about that).
A AEF detachment was on the base at the time, using the grass parallel to the main runway. I clearly remember taking off in a Chipmunk at the same time as two Lightnings launched. To look out and see those two on my starboard wing was something else.

[Vulcanone]

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