1349 Woking Squadron

1349 (Woking) Squadron is part of the Air Training Corps. The motto of the Squadron is Pride and its Squadron badge is a black eagle, modelled on the logo of the RAF Queen's Colour Squadron. The squadron currently has roughly 45 cadets who parade on Monday and Thursday evenings, with further activities taking place most weekends.

The squadron is situated in Westfield Avenue, near to the football stadium and Woking Leisure Centre. Many Woking residents know of the squadron from when it previously had a Folland Gnat in the colours of the Red Arrows, situated as a gate guard in front of the squadron. This was removed in the late 90s due to unsurance costs and limits on space.

Since 1995 the squadron has been commanded by Flt Lt Alan Talbot RAF VR(T) CFM, who is aided by a Flying Officer, a Pilot Officer and a number of Civilian Instructors.

Noteably, the squadron is the home to the now Corps Warrant Officer Mansfield, who selected the squadron's famous black eagle due to his love of the QCS. The squadron has produced a number of other cadets and staff members who have since taken up significant posts or roles in the cadet and regular branches of Her Majesties Armed Forces.

The Squadron is special in that it has one of the few Link Flight Simulators left in the UK. The Link Trainer (named after it's inventor Edwin Link) was othe first effective flight simulator, designed to teach new pilots instrument flying in a safe environment follwoing many accidents where pilots had not been fully trained in flying at night or in bad weather.

The Link trainer is currently maintained by two members of squadron staff who also work on the Link at Brooklands Museum. Woking's Link is one of the most functional simulators remaining, and is a later model including radio naviagation equipment amongst other feathures not included in the original models. It forms a key part of the training programme, proving Woking's cadets with an almost unique experience of being able to learn quite accurately how to fly, whilst on the squadron. A member of staff and a cadet Sgt who both have flying experience in powered aircraft, powered gliders and the Link itself, run a 3 part syllabus on the Link, which runs roughly in parralel with Air Experience Flying/the Gliding Inducion Course, the Flying/Gliding Scholarship schemes, and further flying training.

Largely as a result of the Link Trainer, the squadron has recieved sponsorship from the major defence contractor firm THALES.

The squadron also has its own tube shooting range. The rarity of having such a range means that Cadet units of all types come from across the area to use it.

The squadron staff are aided by many ex-cadets who are now in the armed forces, who attend the squadron to teach the cadets, making Woking one of the foremost squadrons in fieldcraft.

For several years the Woking Detachment of the Army Cadet Force have been co-located since they had to move form their old premesis. The ACF unit share some faclities, and have recently been given a portakabin of their own at the rear of the squadron.

The squadron has recently adopted a policy of phased intakes, whereby recruitment drives occur at local schools twice or three times a year, and new recruits are brought in at certain times, allowing training to be run more smoothly and the new recruits to gel and learn more effectively. The second intake under this system has recently passed out on a formal passing out parade held at the squadron after a residential training weekend.

The squadron is scheduled to move from its current location in Westfield Avenue to the new facility being build in the gounds of Woking Park, next to Wokign Leisure Centre, which will host a number of local sports and youth organisations. The progress with this new building is slow and therefore it is not clear when the move will take place.

Woking Air Cadets Website

Internal Links
* Air Training Corps
* Link Trainer
* Royal Air Force

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu