1300 Squadron ATC

On Monday evening, 25^th August 2008, Junior Cadets Thomas Bradford (13), Kyle Hunt (13) and Nicholas Mahy (16) attempted their First Class Cadet Exam.

This exam is given in 2 parts and requires a 60% pass mark on both exam papers.  Topics included Drill Theory, The History of the Air Training Corps and the Royal Air Force, Initial Expedition Training and Map Reading, First Aid and Airmanship.

Cadet Bradford passed with a 73/62%; Cadets Hunt and Mahy both passed with 70/64%.  Congratulations, they are now First Class Cadets.

On Monday evening, 18^th August 2008, Junior Cadet Michael Fraser (14) attempted his First Class Cadet Exam.  This exam is given in 2 parts and requires a 60% pass mark on both exam papers.  Topics included Drill Theory, The History of the Air Training Corps and the Royal Air Force, Initial Expedition Training and Map Reading, First Aid and Airmanship.  Junior Cadet Fraser passed both parts with a 67% PASS mark.  Congratulations, he is now a First Class Cadet.

Also on this evening, the Squadron congratulated Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner on turning 18.  He is now classed as a Cadet Instructor with the Squadron.  Happy Birthday!

On Saturday 26^th July 2008, 7 cadets from 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Squadron were taken to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying by staff; Adult Warrant Officer Amanda Coleman and Adult Sergeant Andy Young.

Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner (17) and Cadets Michael Fraser (14), Hiral Ghandi (16), Matthew Parry (14), Tony Sharpe (15), Martin Thomas (15) and Luke Wilson (14) were all given a 30 minute flight in a GROB 115 Tutor aircraft.  Even ASgt Young got a 45 minute flight.  Cadets Wilson, Fraser and Sharpe had never flown before and received a Certificate for their first flight.

You might be thinking ‘Oh look, another journal for another camp’, but pay close attention, because this is the last ever camp at RAF Uxbridge, due to it’s closing down, along with 3 other bases in the London area, so don’t go thinking you’ll just try it yourself instead because you can’t, which is a great shame because it was an amazing week. So...   

On Saturday 12^th July I got up early, but for all good reason, I was soon going to leave, ready packed, to begin my week long camp at RAF Uxbridge, which was to be my 1^st summer camp. As you might imagine I was really excited, and sleepy, but still raring to go! I left my house at 07:30 for the hour long trip to 47F Grantham Squadron, who I would be joining travel and camp, where the bus was departing at 09:00. All went as planned and I was on the bus towards Uxbridge, for 4 ½ hours with a ½ hour break mind you. Again as planned we arrived at 14:00.

Before I go on I’ll give you a run down of the camp, all of which will be shown on the map below (map is available on the orginal file located in Public Folders). From entering the main entrance the first thing you see is the large drill square, of which we were constantly reminded is out of bounds between 08:00 and 17:00 due to the QCS, or Queen’s Colour Squadron (Very Smart Looking), practising their immaculate drill. Just beyond that are the messes and Spar shop, and again behind that, QCS-HQ and our accommodation, Duxford block. There is a road either side of our block, the one to the right leads to the shooting range, the one on the left leads to Hillingdon house, the Battle Of Britain Bunker, and the Pub complex, further down that road is the gymnasium, then the roads eventually meets back up near our block. To the right of our block are the playing fields. So that should let you understand me if I talk about area’s of the base.

When we arrived on Saturday, we were given a quick introduction to the staff, quickly shown to our room then sent of up the hill to Hillingdon house for our safety and official brief, then taken down to the pub complex for the un-official activity brief. When all of that was over it was near enough 17:00, so we had dinner, the prepared our rooms for the sleep we all desperately wanted. At 22:30 we had lights out. And that was 1 day out of 8 all done.

We woke the next morning at the very sharp 06:00 for Sunday’s activities. We got dressed into working blues, and were at breakfast for 07:00, which consisted of cereals, eggs, toast, beans, bacon the whole lot. At 09:00 we got on a coach heading to RAF Northolt, where the Queen’s air squadron are based, planning to take a look around the Queen’s private jet, but although I know the Queen on 1^st name basis, The, she was currently using her jet. So instead we got to do some exercises with the airport fire service there, and play around in the fire trucks, along with the water cannon. We ate our packed lunch’s there (normal packed lunch, no explaining needed here), then returned to Uxbridge. We started a continuity drill program, before heading of to the Battle of Britain Operations Bunker (BoB Ops Bunker), where we were told about the history of the place, how it used to be RAF Hillingdon and RAF Uxbridge before it merged etc. And how the bunker controlled all planes sent out through WWII. I had a Jacket potato and vegetable dinner before we did our familiarising exercise (or FamEx), with a quiz on the base after, then it was off to bed and the end of Day2.

 For Monday morning it was very much the same routine: in blues, breakfast, meet at 09:00.    But today the meeting took us on a bus to the Air Force memorial site. A site which shows every air force personnel, from all allied countries and Britain, who never had a known grave, it is a monument to respect those who were lost on the battlefield, and it really hit home when I saw 4 Air Training Corps names on that wall, from the WWII period. Anyway after that slightly sombre visit we got back on the bus and headed for coral-reef, a water-world near to the monument. Once we were there we had our lunch (packed), and then went in for 3 hours or so, which was very fun. When we got back we had our dinner, I had a curry so I was happy, and then went down into Uxbridge town for a wander, but were then surprised by a joint birthday present (one for Melissa Cook) at Pizza Hut. Then it was back and bed for a nights sleep.

Tuesday following the same trait in the morning, but we were in civvies instead. We then had some free time before 10:00, where we were to meet at the gymnasium for some RAF Physical Training (or PT), with one of their instructors. As you could imagine that was pretty hard work, but we then had to double time back to our block for a quick change to best blues (no shower time!) for our camp photo. After we took a brill photo, well that’s what we were told, we went and got lunch, another curry, got a shower then changed into our greens for an early shooting brief to save time later, and although another brief was exhilarating, we got some free time before dinner, a chicken meal of some sort. After dinner we got all cam-creamed up and played the best ever game of hide+seek, 100m limit,  but other than that they just said go hide, personally I dug a little trench in, got in and covered myself over, although they were 3m away from me when they found me, and that was because someone stood on me! Anyway we then did a confidence course which was just as fun. And then of courses it was time for another shower as I had half the forest stuck to my face and clothes, then bed.

Wednesday was a morning with a difference, we had to get up at 05:00, cheers all round, but in blues and breakfast for 05:45, then meeting at the bus for 07:00. The bus was headed for RAF Benson for some Air Experience Flying. While we weren’t flying we were meant to be having a look around the air ambulance but surprise-surprise, they’d left to! So instead we went and had a look around the puma’s belonging to No.33 Squadron (shared with another squadron in Scotland somewhere), which was interesting, the amount of switches in the cockpit was amazing compared to a modern day helicopter, then again the puma is a 40 year old design. Slightly later on the air ambulance was back so we squeezed in a visit before they could get away, and they were considerably smaller than a puma. After that we left for the camp again, got back and had dinner, I had an Indian dish, guess which? We had a bit of free time before we went up to the Pub complex for a barbeque and a disco, then back again for bed.

Thursday brought us back to Earth with a seemingly lovely time of 06:00 wake up. We were in green bottoms and boots, with a civvies top; we had breakfast at 07:00 again, and were at the bus for 09:00. The bus this time was taking just our flight, the other flight were shooting, to for orienteering, which was a 1 ½ hour time trial type thing, which we just completed. We had our packed lunches then went back to Uxbridge, a little free time, changed to civvies, before as a camp getting on a bus to the Imperial War Museum, where we spent 3 hours. The museum was incredibly interesting; my favourite part was the 3d section where great vehicle such as Spitfire, and Panther tanks were on display. There was also a Holocaust section which supposedly reduced some to tears but I didn’t have time to go all the way through there. We came back, had dinner, where I didn’t have a curry! I had an oriental soup. We then had 1 hour of uniform preparation (best blues), and 1 hour of drill practice before having the continuity drill competition (we had practising drill other times in free time, so we weren’t just rushing in), which was very interesting. By then it was time for bed so we went to bed.

Friday was very much the same as Thursday, but in full greens, but for 08:30 we had to be at the shooting range, the other flight was going orienteering, for a load of shooting at little paper targets, fun fun fun!. After shooting we got changed into civvies and met as a camp to get on a bus to the RAF museum, which was even better than the Imperial War Museum. We ate our lunches there, and then eagerly went inside. The museum showed pretty much every plane that had seen the RAF since the RAF’s creation: it had bombers, fighters, jets, and the whole lot. We spent our time there then got our bus back to camp for dinner, where I had a steak. After dinner we had some free time before heading to the cinema in town to watch ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (majority vote) which was a lot better than I expected. We then went back to camp had some free time then went to bed.

Saturday morning was the same but in civvies, we had breakfast then cleared up our room, then cleared out of camp, and we were back on the bus towards Grantham, week over.

After the travel I got home, and decided to tell my family all about my experience, but instead I fell asleep on the sofa, oh well, I’ll tell them all tomorrow.

By Matthew Parry

Cadets Matthew Parry (14) and Melissa Cook, who turned 14 whilst on camp, spent a week at RAF Uxbridge for their Annual Camp experience.  This was also Melissa’s first ever camp within the Air Training Corps, as she only joined the Squadron a few months ago.  The camp started on Saturday 12^th July and finished on Saturday 19^th July.

The cadets had to take drill during the week but they also had time to for some Air Experience Flying, a trip to the Imperial War Museum and a RAF Museum, orienteering, posing for a Camp photo, a game of hide+seek cadet style, a trip to see ‘Kung Fu Panda’ at the cinema and even a surprise birthday party at Pizza Hut!

Why don’t you read the full story “Annual Summer Camp: RAF Uxbridge” by Matthew Parry.

On Monday 30^th June 2008, a surprise promotion was in the air.  Corporal Kirsty Newton was previously promoted to Corporal at the end of March 2008 and now at the end of June she gained another promotion to Sergeant.

There is now room for more promotions, maybe another Sergeant but definitely Corporals.  So, Cadets of 1300 Squadron, if you think you have the ability to be a Corporal then show yourself, don’t be shy!  Show the Staff you have the ability and another promotion will be in the air!

On Wednesday 18^th June 2008, Adult Warrant Officer Amanda Coleman was presented with her Cadet Forces Medal by the Central & East Region Group Captain,  Group Captain Brett Morrell RAFR.  Wing Commander Dave Speed RAF VR(T) was also on Squadron to congratulate her on her service to the Corps.

The Cadet Forces Medal is awarded for 12 years uniformed adult service to the Corps. 

Amanda also holds the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal given to all Service personnel, with 5 years or more service, in 2002.

Amanda’s career in the Air Training Corps started 22 years ago when she joined the ATC as a cadet at 331 (Chesterfield) Sqn.  She progressed through the ranks to Sergeant before leaving at the age of 18.  She rejoined the Corps in 1991 as an Adult member of staff becoming a Civilian Instructor, at 1082 (Brimington) Sqn going onto 1890 (Eckington) DF and 303 (Worksop) Sqn before transferring to 1401 (Alfreton & Ripley) Sqn where she passed her promotion board to Adult Warrant Officer in August 1995.  She transferred to 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Sqn in the summer of 1998 where she has been the Squadron Warrant Officer for the last 9 years.

Her other achievements in the Corps have been a Range Conducting Officer and most recently she was asked to take the Parade Marshal’s role in last year’s Remembrance Parade in Sutton-in-Ashfield.