The team arrived at RAF Northolt in July after spending every weekend walking fifteen-twenty miles as training for the week long marches. Accompanying the cadets went Flt Lt Kisley of Banbury and Fg Off Wicks of Didcot, both of whom having spent nearly every weekend training the team ready for Nijmegen.

From Northolt the team travelled by coach across the channel to Calais and then through Europe to Nijmegen. Continue reading →

A party of 30 Air Cadets and Staff from Thames Valley Wing were amongst the hundreds who gathered in Reading town centre for a county-wide service to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.  The multi-faith service held at Reading Minster Church heard words of peace and remembrance from religious leaders across several faiths. Continue reading →

Each January staff and staff cadets from across the wing gather at RAF Halton to attend the annual Wing Training Day. This provides the opportunity to find out the latest changes on subjects such as the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’ and syllabus training. Staff also reflect back on the previous year and look ahead to ensure that the cadet experience is been delivered to the best of the ability of squadrons and wing staff within Thames Valley. This year’s training day saw a visit by Gp Capt Cole from RAF Brize Norton who provided an insight into the RAF as it currently stands and updates on RAF Brize Norton with the introduction of the Voyager fleet and upcoming arrival of the Atlas fleet. Continue reading →

Flight Lieutenant David Middleton, 65, from 459 (Windsor) Squadron has just reached a unique milestone after receiving his fifth bar to his Cadet Forces Medal marking 52 years of cadet and adult service to the Air Training Corps.

When, in 1962,  he started his time in light blue uniform as a cadet the venerable Mosquito was about to be retired from RAF service and The Beatles were about to recruit Ringo to their ranks. In the intervening years his life has been one of service not only to the Air Cadets but also in his career with the Royal Household. Continue reading →

2402 Burghfield Squadron organised a session climbing with local Squadrons at Craggy Island in Guilford. 12 Cadets and 7 Staff members from Burghfield, Woodley, Newbury, Wokingham, Wallingford and Windsor Squadrons attended the session.

The morning started at 1116 Woodley Sqn with a kit issue, brief on how to put on a climbing harness, helmet how to tie into the rope and belaying techniques. Continue reading →

ach year Thames Valley Wing holds its Inter Squadron bowling competition at RAF Brize Norton where the squadrons get together before the Christmas break with each squadron been allowed to enter 2 teams. With the event always being a good day out for the cadets and staff this year’s event was no exception with everyone enjoying themselves and some good scores been achieved at the end of the day.

459 (Windsor) Squadron provide their story on how the competition went for the squadron on the day. Continue reading →

During the October half term 28 cadets and 8 staff from Thames Valley Wing headed to RAF Linton-on-Ouse for their autumn camp on an operational, RAF station. It was a busy week for the cadets as they got to experience activities both on and off base, experience what life is like on an RAF station and meet new people with 17 of the wings squadrons been represented at the camp. For many of the cadets this was their first week long camp and were kept very busy with lots of activities and chance to discover what happens on an RAF base. Continue reading →

Each year cadets and staff from across Thames Valley wing gather at Wing HQ to take part in the various competitions that make up the wing activities day. With an early start for many squadrons cadets arrive ready to compete in a range of events show casing the skills they have learnt whilst being in the Air Training Corps. The event shows a high level of standards across all disciplines and this year was no exception across all the entries and levels of participation by the cadets.

With over 200 cadets at WAD 2013 squadrons took part in a range of events including the following: Aircraft Recognition, Aviation Art, Drill, Media Skills, Aero modelling, Photography, Public speaking and website entries. Continue reading →

Each year many squadrons gather together to parade in remembrance of the ‘Battle of Britain’ which happened during the summer and autumn of 1940. It was the first major air campaign in which the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) sought to gain air superiority against the RAF (Royal Air Force). At the end of the campaign after the largest air attack on the 15^th September, former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill summed up the efforts of Fighter Command with the now famous quote “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few“.

On the 3^rd Sunday of September Air Cadets take part in parades across the United Kingdom and WO Rawlings, OC 2477 (Britwell) Squadron provides feedback on this year’s parade by 2477 and 459 (Windsor) squadrons. Continue reading →