Bracknell Cadets proved they were the champions at the Thames Valley Wing swimming championships held at Cowley Temple Pool.
Over 100 cadets and staff travelled to the pool on the outskirts of the City of Oxford for a day of heats, finals and relays. Following an early challenge from Brize Norton and Woodley Squadrons, Bracknell forged ahead with an invincible points trophy by the end of the competition. Continue reading
RAF High Wycombe, Command Headquarters of the Royal Air Force was the destination for 34 cadets from across Thames Valley Wing for their annual summer camp.
Despite being a centre of administration the Station provided a great base from which the cadets could explore the various functions that the RAF performs within the local area and a hands on experience of RAF history. Activities ranged from a visit to the RAF museum at Hendon to a leadership exercise at the airman’s command school at nearby RAF Halton. Continue reading
The former Queens Colour Squadron parade square at RAF Uxbridge once again echoed to the sound of drill commands and marching feet as cadets from Thames Valley Wing enjoyed a once in a lifetime chance to do drill on what was once the most hallowed piece of tarmac in the whole Royal Air Force. Continue reading
We are saddened to announce the death of a key supporter of Berkshire Air Cadets, Air Commodore Jack Frost CBE DFC FL RAF (Ret’d).
Air Commodore has a distinguished record in Royal Air Force having learnt to fly in America in 1941 before converting to the Typhoon which he flew in anger during the lead up to D-Day “The war was in force by then and we started flying from there before D-Day, attacking targets of various sorts in France, mainly in Normandy sealing off the approaches to Normandy so the Germans could not attack us,” he said “Once we crossed the Channel we stayed in Normandy. Continue reading
Pilots from 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at Abingdon, along with Air Cadets from across Thames Valley, have notched up an amazing number of glider launches in a single day as part of their dawn to dusk flying challenge.
Known as “The Longest Day”, the aim was to fly as many Air Cadets as possible throughout the day and to have great fun in the process. The 2009 figure of 86 cadets flown was easily broken with 156 individuals taking to the skies. Amongst those flown as part of this event was the Mayor of Abingdon, Councillor Duncan Brown (pictured above before his flight). Continue reading
HRH The Prince of Wales took the salute at a Royal Review in the Mall to celebrate 150 years of the Cadet Forces in the UK on Tuesday 6 July. Amongst the 1500 cadets on parade were the Thames Valley Wing party consisting of cadets from 155 (Maidenhead) Squadron, 1861 (Wantage) squadron and 1460 (Banbury) Squadron.
The parade marched from Horse Guards Parade down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, past Clarence House, where The Prince took the Salute in honour of the anniversary. Above the parade was a special flypast by the Red Arrows over Central London down The Mall and over Buckingham Palace with a handful of lucky cadets from across the Cadet Forces enjoyed a trip in the Royal Air Force Hawk aircraft as part of the celebrations. Continue reading
New Prime Minister, David Cameron MP, has made an informal visit to 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron – his first visit to an Air Cadet unit as PM – to meet cadets and staff. Mr Cameron lives close to the Squadron, as the MP for Witney, and was invited to the unit by a parent of a cadet.
After inspecting the cadets, he spoke informally about the importance of the armed forces adding “the cadets are the future of the armed forces” and how, as an ex-cadet himself with Eton CCF, he understands the importance of the Cadets Forces. Continue reading
A team of cadets from 2402 (Burghfield) Squadron have won the inaugural Berkshire Skills Weekend in style. The event, which in this Cadet 150 year, featured teams from both the Army Cadets and Air Cadets, was held at Bramley Training Area in Hampshire and tested the cadets in skills such as teamwork, navigation, field craft, map reading and problem solving. Continue reading
Although evergreen Warrant Officer Mo Merchant of 2120 (Witney) Squadron celebrated her last day in uniform as part of a Cadet 150 parade through the streets of Oxford after over 2 decades of service she will still be sharing her skills and experience as a Civilian Instructor. Continue reading
In temperatures of up 28oC Oxfordshire Air Cadets have marched through the streets of Oxfordshire with Sea Cadets and Army Cadets to celebrate Cadet 150.
The cadets started the celebrations with a service at Christ Church Cathedral where following a welcome by the Bishop of Oxford, Right Reverend John Pritchard, the Lord Lieutenants Cadets read the lessons. The Lord Lieutenant, Nr Tim Stevenson OBE, also gave an address where he praised the work of all of the Cadet forces and thanked them for their valuable work they perform in their local communities throughout Oxfordshire. Continue reading