The Air Training Corps celebrates its 70th anniversay this weekend on the 5 February .
The Corps was born from the Air Councils decision for a new organisation to take over from the Air Defence Cadet Corps and was granted its Royal Warrant by His Majesty King George VI on 5 February 1941 .
There will be several Wing parades throughout the country on Sunday 6th including my own by Central & East Yorkshire Wing in York with a planned flypast by 642VGS from Linton . I’m sure there will be other flypasts , weather and aircraft permitting and there are also plans for plaque dedications too . There are probably many cadets and ex cadets on the forum who owe their interest , and possibly careers , in avaition to their time with the ATC .
Venture Adventure .
By: Blue_2 - 4th February 2011 at 10:39
I spent a very enjoyable 3 1/2 years in with 298 sqn. Until it came to my GCSE time and I had a fall out with the CO due to him not wanting to allow me, as an NCO, time off to revise. Still, happy memories of shooting, and more importantly flying at Finningley, Leeming and Linton. And i still have (and fit in!) my ‘crisp packet’ ex-cadets of the 90’s will remember. It comes in handy on wet Victor fettling days! 🙂
By: Al - 4th February 2011 at 09:24
My years in the ATC (423 Sqn) in the early 1970s certainly left in indelible impression on me, especially those mothballed WW2 RAF hairy battledress tunics they made us wear, and those nuclear-proof detached collar shirts – I still have the scars.
The Chipmunk flying, model-making, aircraft recognition, 0.303 shooting practice, and sabotaging the instructors at every opportunity were the high points.
Our CO (Bailey) had been a WW2 Sunderland pilot, who had supposedly sunk a U-boat..
By: AN2grahame - 4th February 2011 at 08:32
I joined 1474 (Wickford) Squadron in 1976 and have fond memories of winning the Wing aircraft rec competition,being selected for the Wing football team,Annual camps at Coningsby (Phantoms on the flightline)Manston (Wessex sar)and Chipmunk aerobatics also gliding at Debden (T21) and who can forget the smell of cordite and the kick of the 303 rifle when shooting for your marksman badge!Thanks ATC and happy anniversary.
By: WG-13 - 4th February 2011 at 07:28
There are probably many cadets and ex cadets on the forum who owe their interest , and possibly careers , in avaition to their time with the ATC.
Indeed. The years I spent with 152 (City of Hull) Sqn were memorable. S/Ldr Varey, Fl/Lts Thrower and Hood, F/Os Frost and Oakley, WO Webster and Stead, and CI’s various, I thank you. Happy Anniversary, the Air Training Corps.
By: bazv - 4th February 2011 at 07:06
Great little article Laurence!
As you know – I was also a cadet at 115 peterborough (1966-70).
By that time David Pittham was CO,’Buster’ Brown (pathfinder AG – quite a few medals) was the Adjutant.
I absolutely loved flying chippies at Cambridge and Newton,gliding at Spitalgate.
Summer camps at Church Fenton,Shawbury and Marham !
Great life for a young aviation fanatic 🙂
rgds baz
By: l.garey - 4th February 2011 at 06:11
Happy Anniversary, ATC. I was with 115 Peterborough Sqd from 1954 to 1959.
https://sites.google.com/site/lgarey/115sqdairtrainingcorps
Many thanks for all it brought me.
Laurence
By: EN830 - 3rd February 2011 at 23:55
Spent four years in the ATC 1977 till 1981, great fun times.
By: Scott Marlee - 3rd February 2011 at 22:42
im a member of the ATC currently, as a CI (civilian instructor) after being a cadet for 7 years
provided im free this sunday i will be going to the Wing Parade
incidentally i was down at 642/linton last weekend for an weekend aerospace camp, if anyone from 642 reads this then thank you for being so hospitable for the cadets with gliding slots
Sign In
February 3, 2011 at 10:05 pm