215 (City of 215 (City of Swansea) Squadron Swansea) Squadron

Air Training CorpsAir Training Corps

By Luke MogfordBy Luke Mogford

Staff Cadet SergeantStaff Cadet Sergeant

History of ATC and 215 History of ATC and 215 City of Swansea City of Swansea

SquadronSquadronThe Air Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps

The ATC (Formerly Air The ATC (Formerly Air Defence Cadet Corps) was Defence Cadet Corps) was formed in 1938 formed in 1938

J. A. Chamier The Father of J. A. Chamier The Father of the ATC the ATC

After 7 years of the ADCC After 7 years of the ADCC 100,000 cadets joined the 100,000 cadets joined the RAF RAF

1941 ADCC was 1941 ADCC was restructured and renamed restructured and renamed the Air Training Corps and the Air Training Corps and thrives todaythrives today

This is the year we This is the year we officially refer to the officially refer to the start of the ATCstart of the ATC

215 Squadron215 Squadron Started in 1941 Started in 1941 11stst Commanding Officer: Commanding Officer:

Sir Arthur Whitten Brown Sir Arthur Whitten Brown Founded Squadron Motto Founded Squadron Motto

“The Way Ahead” - “Y “The Way Ahead” - “Y Ffordd Ymlaen”Ffordd Ymlaen”

1980: females were 1980: females were allowed in, the squadron allowed in, the squadron has never looked backhas never looked back

Lengths of service for Lengths of service for Commanding Officers Commanding Officers

of 215of 215

0 5 10 15 20

Length of Service

Sqn Ldr Flower (TOTAL)

Sqn Ldr Flower

Flt Lt Flower

Sqn Ldr Williams

Sqn Ldr Rixon

Sqn Ldr Edmunds

Sqn Ldr Davies

Flt Lt Hedley

Flt Lt Howell

Flt Lt Cummins

Sqn Ldr Parker

Flt Lt Griffi ths

Sqn Ldr J ones

Flt Lt Whitten-Brown

Activities Activities Duke Of Edinburgh AwardsDuke Of Edinburgh Awards ShootingShooting Annual CampsAnnual Camps Air ShowsAir Shows Flying and GlidingFlying and Gliding And many more… And many more…

Flying & GlidingFlying & Gliding Flying and Gliding are two of the best activities that you can do in the cadets. Gliding is more suited to those who like the idea of a nice relaxing flight. Whereas flying gives you the option of a more exhilarating flight, thanks to aerobatics (going upside down, performing loops, barrel rolls and stall turns…). At the age of 16 you can choose to do either a flying scholarship or a gliding scholarship, or if you’re feeling adventurous… Both! A member of 215 has taken time out of cadets to achieve his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL), another member is taking lessons to get his PPL.

Image “photo of grop mar 07” used with permission from 215 City of Swansea Squadron Air Training Corps ©

Air Cadet CampsAir Cadet Camps EasterEaster

RAF HaltonRAF Halton RAF LynehamRAF Lyneham

Summer Summer RAF Linton On OuseRAF Linton On Ouse RAF St MawganRAF St Mawgan RAF AldergroveRAF Aldergrove RAF WitteringRAF Wittering

Autumn Autumn RAF ValleyRAF Valley

OverseasOverseas Rhiendhalen (Germany)Rhiendhalen (Germany)

Akrotiri (Cyprus) Akrotiri (Cyprus)

Red Arrows flypast9 British Aerospace Hawk aircraft of RAF Red Arrows

aerobatic team provide a fitting end to the occasion on the Trooping of the Colour 2009

by Oxyman (©CCL)

My time with 215 My time with 215 Swansea SqnSwansea Sqn

I’ve been with 215 for 5, nearly 6, years of my life now, and quite frankly it has been time well spent. If I didn’t join cadets, I never would have had the chance to visit RAF Stations, learn new skills and make amazing friends. A friend of mine asked me to join, because he thought I’d enjoy it. He was right. When I joined 215, it had such a friendly atmosphere, I knew it was a place I was going to stay. Nowadays, you can’t join a military organisation without wanting to progress through the ranks (well do you want to be a cadet for all of your time?). I wanted to go up through the ranks. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Cadet OpinionsCadet OpinionsPros Cons

Everyone gets treated equally With a large number of cadets comes a large number of arguments and disagreements

Get the opportunity to do things not many others have the chance to like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Flying and Gliding,

Certain cadets put a huge amount of effort into attending activities and bag packing, but get the same amount of opportunities to go flying as the cadets who don’t put any effort in at all

Learn new skills A lot of childish behaviour

Meet new people Lack of discipline due to people not taking newly turned Corporals seriously

Limited amount of job vacancies there are nowadays, the qualifications I got from cadets will help me get a job in the future.

Cadets does have its boring side with some of the activities we do, but that’s all part of being in the Air Cadets.

How did Cadets join… How did Cadets join… The ResultsThe Results

Liked The Activities

100%

0%

0%

Yes

No

Other

I nfluenced By Friends

53%42%

5%

Yes

No

Other

Ambition to join RAF

74%

21%

5%

Yes

No

Other

Influenced by Family

40%

45%

15%

Total Yes

Total No

Total Other

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements www.215squadron.org.ukwww.215squadron.org.uk

Special Thanks to Squadron Leader P. C. Flower Special Thanks to Squadron Leader P. C. Flower MBE DL RAFVR(T) Commanding Officer of 215 MBE DL RAFVR(T) Commanding Officer of 215 SquadronSquadron

Images by Oxyman from Images by Oxyman from http://www.geograph.org.ukhttp://www.geograph.org.uk (available under CCL)(available under CCL)

My thanks to the following cadets My thanks to the following cadets Jack DeschoolmeesterJack Deschoolmeester Soren HaywardSoren Hayward Mike HinderMike Hinder Roisin OldroydRoisin Oldroyd Steven TylerSteven Tyler Jackson WebbJackson Webb