History of the ATC
That idea came from Air Commodore J A Chamier, now known as the father of the Air Cadet Organisation. He served in the army, the Royal Flying Corps and the RAF in 1919 (not long after it formed). With his love for aviation, he was determined to get British people aware of the RAF and its vital role in any future war. He wanted to establish an air cadet corps, encouraging young people to consider a career in aviation - pretty exciting at a time when very few people ever got the chance to fly. His experience in World War I, where training time was very limited, convinced him that the sooner training began the better prepared and experienced a person would be in combat.
So, in 1938 the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) was founded. Demand for places was high and squadrons were set up in as many towns around the UK as possible. Local people ran them and each squadron aimed to prepare cadets for joining the RAF or the Fleet Air Arm (the Royal Navy's aircraft division). They also helped form the diverse programme of activities that our cadets enjoy today.
By 1939 the activities of the ADCC were severely restricted. During World War II, with many instructors being drafted into the RAF and squadron buildings being used by the military, cadets were sent to work on RAF stations. They carried messages, handled aircraft and moved equipment. They filled thousands of sandbags and loaded miles of belts of ammunition. They were invaluable. Throughout the early stages of the war, the government received many good reports as to the quality of cadet entering the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm. It was so impressed that it asked the ADCC to begin training young men who were waiting to be called into service.
Towards the end of 1940 the government realised the true value of the work done by the ADCC and agreed to take over its control. This meant a large number of changes to the corps and in fact brought about the birth of a completely new organisation, called the Air Training Corps. So on the 5 February 1941 the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with King George VI very kindly agreeing to be Air Commodore-in-Chief, and issuing a Royal Warrant setting out the Corps’ aims.
By the end of the war, in just 7 years since the formation of the ADCC, almost 100,000 cadets had joined the RAF.
So, in 1938 the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) was founded. Demand for places was high and squadrons were set up in as many towns around the UK as possible. Local people ran them and each squadron aimed to prepare cadets for joining the RAF or the Fleet Air Arm (the Royal Navy's aircraft division). They also helped form the diverse programme of activities that our cadets enjoy today.
By 1939 the activities of the ADCC were severely restricted. During World War II, with many instructors being drafted into the RAF and squadron buildings being used by the military, cadets were sent to work on RAF stations. They carried messages, handled aircraft and moved equipment. They filled thousands of sandbags and loaded miles of belts of ammunition. They were invaluable. Throughout the early stages of the war, the government received many good reports as to the quality of cadet entering the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm. It was so impressed that it asked the ADCC to begin training young men who were waiting to be called into service.
Towards the end of 1940 the government realised the true value of the work done by the ADCC and agreed to take over its control. This meant a large number of changes to the corps and in fact brought about the birth of a completely new organisation, called the Air Training Corps. So on the 5 February 1941 the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with King George VI very kindly agreeing to be Air Commodore-in-Chief, and issuing a Royal Warrant setting out the Corps’ aims.
By the end of the war, in just 7 years since the formation of the ADCC, almost 100,000 cadets had joined the RAF.
Information taken from Royal Air Force Air Cadets and ACP31 Section 1 - Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright 2017
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs