The Air Cadets are a completely voluntary organisation of young adults. You don't have to enjoy flying to be an Air Cadet either, as some cadets have never been flying by the time they leave! The Air Cadets isn't a direct feed for the RAF (so not every cadet has to go into service when they leave). Even so, 47% of RAF officers are ex-cadets, so it obviously makes an impression! As one of the country's top youth training organisations and the biggest youth air training organisation in the world, there has to be people that keep the squadrons running smoothly. These are the 10,000 volunteer staff and 5,000 civilian instructors within the Air Cadets. Currently, we have almost 49,000 members within over 1,000 squadrons accross the UK.

We parade every Monday and Thursday (except Bank Holidays) at 7:00pm until approximately 9:00pm. A useful list of links can be found here. These include links to the Essex Wing Website and the National Air Cadets Homepage.

A brief history of the Witham Air Cadets has been written by the Chairman of the Witham and Rivenhall Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA):

Before the Witham ATC Squadron was formed the Witham boys used to cycle to Chelmsford to attend lectures at the Chelmsford ATC Head Quarters.

I?m not sure of the exact date the Squadron was formed in Witham, but I joined the 61 years ago. The Head Quarters was then at the Senior School in Spinks Lane (now The John Bramston School).

The CO was Flight Lieutenant Bert Crosby (a maths teacher at the school); the Adjutant was Flying Officer Sharp (who was choir master at the Congregational Church).

Pilot Officer Jennings (Post Master) was in charge of 'A' Flight and Pilot Officer Richmond was in charge of 'B' Flight. There were numerous civilian instructors and we were taught: Maths and English, together with lectures on navigation, Morse code, engineering and aircraft recognition. There was PT once a week and squad drill on Sunday mornings.

The squadron soon became too large, so another Flight was form at Kelvedon.

There was, at one time 150 cadets in the Witham Squadron. The biggest ATC Parade I remember in Witham was one Sunday morning the MP for Maldon and Witham (Tom Driberg) inspected the squadron. His first public engagement on becoming our MP and us lads felt quite honoured and encouraged by his visit.

My first flight as a cadet was in a Stirling Bomber from RAF Rivenhall.

We attended many RAF camps, including Bradwell-on-Sea, Yeovilton Royal Naval Air Station (which is now a museum) and Rochford which I remember well, because staying there at the same time was an ATC Squadron from Canterbury. One night we had a wonderful 'Pillow Fight' which had to be broken-up by the RAF Police. We lads thought it was great fun, but they took a different view.

There was great comradeship amongst all the Cadets and I hope this continues with the present day ATC Squadrons.

Richard Joslin
2nd February 2003