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Flt Lt Alan Church was a former commanding officer of 1349 and his association with the squadrron went back a long way. This is a reprint of the history of the squadron that he wrote in seven parts for publication in the 1349 news digest, 'Airborne' in 1999. Alan has since passed away on 10th April 2008. |
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 PART 1: THE BIRTH OF THE ATC AND 1349 SQUADRON
The Air Training Corps was formed by royal warrant on the 5th February 1941 by King George V1, being the air commodore in chief. Taking command at ATC HQ at RAF Stanmore was Air Commodore J.A. Chamier. Air/Cdre Chamier had left the RAF in 1929 and had become secretary general of the ‘Air League of the British Empire’, a body of private citizens formed to further the cause of aviation in Britain . In 1938 this body formed a committee, under the chairmanship of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Salmon, with Air Cdre Chamier as executive secretary to establish the Air Defence Corps. The Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) had 41 squadrons which had grown to 172 squadrons at the outbreak of war in 1939. Each squadron had to be self supporting with a civilian committee of local dignitaries who were interested in air matters and it had to provide a sum of £200 per annum, guaranteed for three years, to ensure continued support for the venture. Suitable buildings had to be found locally and officers recruited in the area and selected by the committee. Both officers and cadets had to buy their uniforms. The officers’ uniform was similar to the RAF but cadets wore a tunic, in RAF blue, done up to a tight neck band rather like an army uniform. When the ATC was formed in 1941 the ADCC was incorporated into it. Squadron numbers were retained with the letter ‘F’ place after it to indicate that it was a founder squadron. For instance, Brooklands No. 11 ADCC Sqn became No. 11F ATC Sqn and still remains this number today. The ATC was at its peak in 1942 with 210,000 cadets. During the period 1941-1945 some 400,000 cadets entered the armed services. Today there are about 45,000 cadets. When 1349 Woking Squadron was formed in 1941 the civilian committee, which appointed its first officers, included notable, Mr Fritzroy Wood as chairman, Lord Abadare, Colonel Baker who became the first sqn CO as well as other local dignitaries. |
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PART 2: EARLY DAYS OF THE SQUADRON In 1941 during the formation of the Woking squadron a site for its operation had to be found as close as possible to the town centre because of the lack of transport facilities of the day. A local businessman had a vacant cite next to the Goldsworth School, now the Surrey History Centre, which he leased to us for a peppercorn rent. On the site a single storey HQ hut of a temporary type was built. After this, a little later, two classrooms were added for Engineering and Radio (Morse code) constructed from two  wooden crates which were used originally for transporting Hurricane fighter aircraft and proved very satisfactory. Later a closed covered way was added between the main hut and the classrooms because of the wartime blackout restrictions in force and the mud being walked into the buildings. It also served as a cloakroom – see diagram and note guardian aircraft. The officers and instructors were mainly school masters or ex service people who were registered as evening class teachers which enabled us to use the adjacent school classrooms for the remainder of the syllabus, i.e. Navigation, Maths and English and in bad weather the school hall for Drill, Band practise as well as inspections etc. Otherwise the playground was employed for the latter including team sports. Wing Commander Arthur AFC, CO of the RAF Elementary Flying Training School or ‘EFTS’ at Fairoaks Airfield, built in 1937, became a member of the Squadron Committee and arranged for his officers, in particular a Flight Lieutenant Hill, to give instruction in Navigation and basic flying subjects, also aircraft engineering and engines. The squadron strength varied between 120 and 150 cadets making up 3 HQ flights, A, B, and C apart from the recruits. Also there was a detached D flight at Knaphill School under the command of Flying Officer W.G. Osland, who later became CO of 1349. All members of the trumpet and drums band, about 30 cadets, were in A flight for ease of administration. C flight was basically aircrew cadets awaiting call up to the RAF and when selected at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC), wore a white flash in their caps as indication of this. In addition to the main squadron there was an air scout unit which met on two afternoons following school. This was run by an officer and myself and had a strength of about 20 between the ages of 11 and 14. Their instruction included elementary aviation subjects and aero modelling as well as scouting activities. Owing to fuel rationing there was no squadron transport so it was necessary to use buses and trams or a bicycle, the latter being the main means of travel. The canteen was run by officer’s wives and helpers on a small ration allocation. No confectionary was available. Because cadets cane to the squadron straight from work etc sandwiches with tea or coffee and sometimes cake were provided. It was fortunate that one of the officers was manager of a local grocers shop during this difficult period. Squadron subscriptions were three old pence per week, just over 1p, and the ATC magazine was one shilling or 5p a month. |
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