CAMPS

 

 

SUMMER CAMP 2016 - RAF ODIHAM

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In July 2016 the Squadron joined other units from the Wing to attend RAF Odiham. During the week the cadets attended the Farnborough Air Show, visited the Historic Docks at Portsmouth, visited the various sections on the station and competed on the go-karting course. During the week the cadets helped out at the Station Family Day and was rewarded with a flight in one of the Chinooks based at RAF Odiham.

 

NORDIC SKI-ING - GERMANY 2009

In January, Squadron Warrant Officer Lynn Parsons and Cadet Corporal Cade joined other cadets and staff from across the Corps on the annual week long visit to Germany to teach novices in the skill of Nordic ski-ing. This cross country ski-ing is particularly energy intensive. Warrant Officer Parsons managed to attain the Nordic Ski-ing Bronze Award.

EASTER CAMP 2009 - RAF VALLEY

Easter Camp 2009 was held at Royal Air Force Valley. RAF Valley is located between on the Isle of Anglesey. It's primary aim is to train future fast jet pilots and for this reason it is home to 19 and 208 Squadrons both of which fly the Hawk T1 / T1A. In addition to the two Hawk training squadrons the Hawk Display and No. 4 Training Unit are also based at the RAF Valley. The station is also home to 22 Squadron C Flight Search and Rescue who operate the Sea King HAR 3 / 3A

 

 

SUMMER CAMP - RAF WADDINGTON

 

The main Summer Camp was held at Royal Air Force Waddington

RAF Waddington has had almost continuously active since first opening as a Royal Flying Corps training base in 1916 and have since become one of the RAF's busiest operational airfields and, today, it's squadrons and personnel are involved in supporting operations all around the world. The Station's motto 'For Faith and Freedom' is as appropriate for today's tasks as it was during the Second World War when the station was part of Bomber Command, and serves as a constant reminder of its on-going contribution to Defence

RAF Waddington is home to 3 three operational flying Squadrons, Nos 8, 23 and 51 Squadrons. These will soon be joined by 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron when the Sentinel R1 becomes a fully operational ready aircraft. The recently re-formed 54 (R) Squadron provides training for all 3 platforms.

No 2503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron RAuxAF Regiment, our highly trained ground defence reservists is located at RAF Waddington.

RAF Waddington operates the Nimrod R1, E-3D Sentry and Sentinel, and is therefore known as a Hub of Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance assets.

 

EASTER CAMP 2005 - RAF HALTON

Easter Camp 2005 was held at Royal Air Force Halton. RAF Halton is located between the Vale of Aylesbury and the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire. It was established during the First World War having been donated to the RAF by the Rothschild family. Today the airfield itself is used mainly for glider and micro-light training. The station is also the first point of call for new recruits entering as airmen and women into the Royal Air Force. It is the training station for basic trades for suppliers, catering, police and administrators. It  also provides initial specialist training for caterers, administrators and provost officers along with many specialist and further training courses.

During their stay at the camp the cadets undertook numerous activities including Section visits to the Catering school, the Fire Section and the Dog Section. Some sections were kind enough to give a days work experience to cadets specifically interested in their trade. The below photos show the visit to the Police Dog Section during which the cadets were shown the reason for tracking with the dog in a harness and a practical demonstration in hostile crowd control. Flt Lt Corfield was given some running practice with the dog in hot pursuit much to the delight of the cadets.

           

Cadets made use of the local woods to brush up on their map reading skills as part of an orienteering competition. The six sub flights had to navigate to a number of set points. A staff team brought up the rear to sweep up any lost teams.

       

Each eligible cadet was able to go air experience flying in Tutor aircraft from 6 AEF at RAF Benson, while the prospective pilots in waiting also check the layout of VC10s during a visit to Royal Air Force Brize Norton.

       

   

Each cadet was also able to shoot Mk8 .22 or L98 full bore rifles  following mandatory dry training to ensure the cadets are competent to handle the respective weapons. There were several range qualified staff to coach the cadets. During the full day all the cadets received a number of practices at the conclusion of which several cadets shot to Squadron and Regional Marksman standards.

       

Further section visits included tours around Aircraft Engineering and MOATS allowing cadets to gain an insight into maintenance of Puma helicopters, preparing a Land Rover and trailer for lifting by helicopter and Safety Equipment.

           

   

Cadets also visited the RAF Museum at Hendon and RAF Uxbridge to learn about the role of the RAF during the Second World War and the history of flight.

       

       

There was no rest after the visit to the museum and RAF Uxbridge night exercise was waiting for the cadets. They were given field craft skills lessons by the RAF Regiment before participating in a night exercise in which teams had to avoid the Regiment while trying to complete tasks.

       

 

 

SUMMER CAMP 2004 - RAF HENLOW

Summer Camp 2004 was held at Royal Air Force Henlow. RAF Henlow is steeped in history datiung back to pre-first World War.

Originally, RAF Stations Henlow, Wyton and Bampton had separate identities.  However, in the mid-1990’s, with the closure of HQ Logistics Command then at Brampton, and the cessation of operational flying from Wyton, the 2 Stations amalgamated to become Brampton WytonHenlow joined the group in 2001, and brought with it RAF Stanbridge, to produce the largest station in terms of both geography and number of personnel in the RAF.The Station stretches from Brampton and Wyton, around 7 miles apart, in the north, southwards around 30 miles to Henlow, and then westwards some 20 miles (towards Leighton Buzzard) to Stanbridge.

The main role of the Station is to provide support and accommodation for its numerous Lodger Units (LUs), including Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) which occupies a substantial amount of accommodation at Wyton.  Brampton is home to the Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (JARIC) as well as the Defence Security Standards Organisation and regional offices for Defence Estates and the RAF Infrastructure Branch.  At Henlow, LUs include the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine; the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group and the Provost Marshal (RAF) with his Tactical Provost Wing (TPW) and No 1 Specialist Police Wing.  Since 1980, Stanbridge has housed the RAF’s main logistics computer and it is responsible for the monitoring of all RAF logistics records throughout the World.

Six cadets from 339 Squadron teamed up with cadets and staff from across the Wing to spend a week on camp at RAF Henlow. There was a packed program to keep the cadets occupied from dawn to dusk and included visits to Units on the station, shooting, gliding and visits to places of interest off the station. Cadet Gracey was named as the best female cadet at the camp and was rewarded with a flight in a Tiger Moth. Cadet McAndrew also received an award, for most improved cadet.

 

SUMMER CAMP 2003 - RAF INNSWORTH

There has been an RAF station at Innsworth since June 1940. In its latter role it was an administration unit. The station formally closed as an RAF station on 31 March 2008. The Innsworth site is now under the auspices of 43 ( Wessex ) Brigade pending the arrival of Head Quarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. A number of Ministry Of Defence organisations remain on site during this period. Five cadets from 339 Squadron teamed up with cadets and staff from across the Wing to spent a week on camp at RAF Innsworth in Gloucestershire. There was a packed program to keep the cadets occupied from sun up to sun down and included visits to Units on the station, shooting, flying in Tutors and visits to places of interest off the station

 

ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO - RAF FAIRFORD 2002

Cadets from squadrons from Plymouth & Cornwall Wing including from 339 (South Dartmoor) Squadron attended the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. While there they joined cadets from other Wings to assist the organisers in an number of duties to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Red Arrows   Battle of Britain Flight   Fly Pass   Stealth

 

SUMMER CAMP 2001 - RAF BRIZE NORTON

Summer Camp 2001 was held at Royal Air Force Brize Norton. RAF Brize Norton is the largest Station in the Royal Air Force, employing some 3900 Service personnel and over 600 civilians. We are an extremely busy station and are constantly in the public eye, as the main airport used for deploying UK troops worldwide.

The station is organised into 5 wings ; Administrative, Airport of Embarkation, Depth Support, Forward Support and Operations. The service and civilian personnel who work in these 5 wings carry out all the jobs that support the Station, its people, its flying squadrons and other units, and the units who lodge at RAF Brize Norton

  Seven cadets and two staff from the Squadron attended camp at RAF Brize Norton in July 2001 together with other cadets and staff from the Wing. During the week long camp cadets participated in Navigation Exercises, Shooting, Sport, Air Experience flying in the Tutor as well as visits to different sections based on the Station. Though the best part of the camp for many cadets was flights in the VC10 tanker aircrafts.