Page 13 - Cadet Review Summer 2021

AIR CADETS
SWY Wing ATC
80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AIR TRAINING CORPS
The Air Training Corps was formed on 5th February 1941.
So, on that date this year cadets, staff and committee members from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron met in a special Virtual Session devoted to marking the 80th Anniversary.
Civilian Instructor Sue Doubell started the evening by setting the scene for life as a teenager in 1941, leading into a cinema film advertising the newly formed Air Training Corps; at that time only for ‘young men’ aged 16 and above.
Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell gave a short presentation on how the organ- isation was formed and had developed over the past 80 years, including:
• Air Experience Flights and the Chipmunk, Bulldog and Tutor aircraft
• Flying Scholarship was introduced in 1949
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme piloted by the
ATC in 1956
• International Air Cadet Exchange scheme
launched 1958
• Girls joined the ATC in the 1980s
• Joining age reduced to 12 years, in School Year 8
• The scope of the current progressive training
syllabus
Locally, in 1941, Mirfield had rapidly become host
to the war-time 1427 Squadron ATC, which was disbanded in the post war years, as the national organisation diminished in size (from a peak of 210,000 cadets) when the need for pre-service training for the RAF decreased.
1427 (Mirfield) Squadron in 1941
Rev’d Christine Shedd talked about the Cadet’s Promise as a commitment not only to life as an Air Cadet, but also as an approach to life in general
Collar studs
He also reflected on changes in uniform, including his own experience of joining when the issue included one collar-detached shirt with two collars, to be held in place by collar-studs.
The Squadron Chaplain, Rev’d Christine Shedd talked about the Cadet’s Promise as a commitment not only to life as an Air Cadet, but also as an approach to life in general. She got everyone who was currently or had been a cadet to say the promise to re-affirm their commitment and gave a Blessing on the organisation and its future.
For this special anniversary everyone who could had put on their uniform (remembering that it is
10 months since uniforms were routinely worn and many no longer fit) and had a drink ready to toast the Air Cadets at the end of the session: cadets with water, lemonade or other soft drinks and adults with something more substantial.
Toasts were proposed by:
• Sgt Sam Cookland - The future and ongoing
success of the Air Training Corps
• WO Simon Kelly - 868 Squadron
• FS Rebecca Jagger - the memory of the inspira-
tional Captain Sir Tom Moore, who had died that week
Flight Lieutenant
and Mrs Doubell
Screen view of
hosting the session
the virtual session
CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021 13
Flt Lt Doubell