Our Air Training Corps History

Did you know that the first cadet units were formed in 1859 with the purpose of protecting Britain in the event of an attack?

By the 1930s the beginnings of today’s CCF (RAF) appeared in the form of Officer Training Corps Air Sections, in Army uniform but with an RAF armband.

With WW2 approaching, Air Commodore J A. Chamier, who served in the Army, Royal Flying Corps and the RAF, founded the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) in 1938 with the aim of encouraging young people to consider a career in aviation and to expose the public to the importance of military aviation.  By the end of WW2, in just 7 years since the formation of the ADCC, almost 100,000 cadets had joined the RAF!

Realising the importance of the cadet force, the Government reorganised the ADCC and renamed it, and on 5 February 1941, the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established with King George VI as the Air Commodore-in-Chief.  In 1948 Combined Cadet Force (RAF) sections were formally established operating in parallel to the ATC.

 HM King George VI Inspecting ATC Cadets – July 1941

The modern and inclusive organisation has gone from strength to strength and welcomes everyone to enjoy all that Air Cadet life has to offer.  43,000 air cadets (bigger than the RAF at approx. 31,000!) and 10,000 volunteer staff take part in exciting events at over 1,000 squadrons across the UK.

Chocks Away!