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Tag: Durham/Northumberland Wing

Air Cadet Leaders Put Through Their Paces at RAF Cranwell

Two recently appointed Adult Volunteers from 2505 (Bishop Auckland) Squadron Air Cadets have attended and successfully completed the SNCO Staff Initial Course (SSIC) at the Adult Training Facility at RAF Cranwell. Sergeant (ATC) Caroline Hodgson and Sergeant (ATC) Malcolm Edwards took part in the week-long course along with other newly appointed Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from around the country. They were taught how to instruct drill and other subjects, as well as developing their knowledge of safeguarding, and their own personal leadership skills. "'The course was very good with open and honest discussions facilitated by experienced staff. The challenges presented throughout the intensive week enabled us to develop as leaders within the Royal Air Force Air Cadets," said Sgt Edwards. The pair's CO,...

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County Durham Air Cadet Leader Retires After 52 Years

County Durham Air Cadet Leader Retires After 52 Years A Cadet Officer from Murton in County Durham is retiring after notching up more than 52 years continuous service with the Air Training Corps. Flt Lt David Button joined 1338 (Seaham) Squadron Air Cadets back in 1964 at the age of 14 years old, and progressed on to be a Civilian Instructor, Adult Warrant Officer, and finally a Commissioned Officer in 1987. He paraded at 1338 (Seaham) Squadron for the most part of his cadet career until he took over 1932 (Blackhall) squadron in May 1999. Upon taking over the squadron, Flt Lt Button was greeted with as few as six cadets on his first night, and spent many years nurturing...

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Morpeth Air Cadet Leader Retires After 20 Years

Morpeth Air Cadet Leader Retires After 20 Years A Northumberland Air Cadet Officer is retiring after notching up 20 years continuous service with Durham/Northumberland Wing ATC. Flight Lieutenant Bob Donothey joined 242 (Cramlington) Squadron in 1996 as a Civilian Instructor, and 4 years later was commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch). He took over as Officer Commanding 404 (Morpeth) Squadron in February 2002 – a position which he has held for 14 years. In that time, Bob has ably led the Squadron through significant development, ensuring that his Cadets and Staff have had access to exciting opportunities and challenging training. Those opportunities offered to the Cadets by Bob and his team included overseas trips to Crete, where...

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Nijmegen Training Begins!

Cadets from across Durham/Northumberland Wing gathered at Albemarle Barracks last weekend to undertake the first of the training and selection events for Nijmegen 2017! This year was the first time for over a decade that the Wing had entered Cadets for the 4-day Marches in Holland, and the event proved so successful that the aim is to enter a team in the 2017 event made up solely of DNW Cadets. Cadets and Staff undertook a lengthy march on the old airfield site, and started the important process of teambuilding which is an essential element of any successful effort! The candidates will need to attend monthly training weekends between now and next summer to prepare for this challenging task.

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Regional Training Day Success for DNW!

Cadets and Staff from across Durham/Northumberland Wing travelled to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to take part in the Regional Training Day, competing against the 4 other Wings in North Region Air Cadets in disciplines as varied as First Aid, Band, Aeromodelling, Drill, Media and Aircraft Recce. Huge congratulations go to our fantastic Wing band Durham/Northumberland Wing - Music, who not only won the Marching Band category, but also came 1st in the Ensemble category! Sqn Ldr Graham Blackie, representing OC Wing, said, "The hard work of the staff and cadets to pull together a true Wing band from throughout the Squadrons has been rewarded today with the award of Regional Champions. I had the honour of being the senior officer on the parade...

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Air Cadets Remember the ‘Few’ at Battle of Britain Parade

Two hundred air cadets and veterans from across the North East paraded against the magnificent backdrop of Durham Cathedral to remember the bravery, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of the men Winston Churchill dubbed ‘The Few.’ It is 76 years since the Battle of Britain raged in the skies above England as the RAF fought to gain air supremacy against Hitler’s Luftwaffe and bring to an end the Fuhrer’s invasion plans. And yesterday the veterans and Air Training Corps cadets from across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham, formed up on Palace Green before marching into the cathedral for a special service of commemoration. Spectators turned out in their droves to show their support and remember the 544 British and overseas air...

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Solo Flight for Chester-le-Street Air Cadet!

A Cadet from 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron was lucky enough to be selected for the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme, and spent two weeks over the summer at Tayside Aviation - culminating in a solo flight! Here he tells the story in his own words: "During August 2016 I was chosen as one of 186 cadets across the Corps to complete the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme. This scheme gave me 12 hours of free flying training, with the chance of a solo flight, at Tayside Aviation, Dundee. It was one of the best experiences of my life as flying is my passion and I was given the opportunity to meet other Cadets from across the UK. There was a total of 6 Cadets on my course, 4 were...

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DNW Cadets join ACF on Camp

Over the summer, Air Cadets and Sea Cadets from across the region have had the opportunity to attend annual camp with Durham and Northumbria ACFs. A group of Air Cadets from Durham/Northumberland Wing travelled to Otterburn training area to join Northumbria ACF on their annual camp. They were allocated a place in one of the four training groups based on their fieldcraft experience. Northumbria ACF Cadets are cap badged to a number of regiments, so the blue beret was just one among many different headdresses. The Air Cadets were made more than welcome by all personnel and were treated as an integral part of the team, led by County Commandant, Colonel David Middleton MBE TD. Every cadet spent at least two nights...

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Tall Ships Blyth 2016

Over the weekend, Cadets and Staff from across the Wing took part in the Tall Ships event at Blyth. The Wing Media trailer and marquees provided the backdrop for Cadets and Staff to tell visitors to the event about our organisation, and encourage some of them to join us! Cadets and Staff attended from Squadrons local to Blyth, including 1000 Blyth Squadron, 2522 Bedlington Squadron, 242 (Cramlington) Squadron and 1110 Ashington Squadron, as well as from further afield, including 131 (City of Newcastle upon Tyne) Squadron, 36 (Hetton-Le-Hole) Squadron, 346 (Tynemouth) Squadron, 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron, 1509 (Blaydon) Squadron, and 1151 (Wallsend) Squadron. Well done to everyone - you put on a great display and were great ambassadors for our Wing!

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DNW Cadets Aim for Gold!

Air Cadets from across the Durham/Northumberland Wing area have completed the expedition section of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this week. The 18 Cadets and Staff, aged between 16 and 23, spent four days in the Cheviot Hills, completing a journey that they had planned themselves, taking them from Wooler on the northern side of the hills, to Alwinton in the south. They were entirely self-sufficient throughout, carrying all their own equipment and food, camping out in tents, and even collecting and purifying their drinking water en route! Most of the Cadets, who were drawn from Squadrons as far apart geographically as Ashington and Newton Aycliffe, had already completed the Bronze and Silver levels of the Award, and so...

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