Central & East Yorkshire Wing

Mr David Coverdale recently retired as chairman of 1323 (Ryedale) Squadron Air Training Corps after serving over 12 years in the post.  In recognition of his long service, he has accepted an invitation to stay on in an advisory role as Squadron president.

Over the years David has helped to raise funds to provide activities and equipment for the cadets, which have helped to provide a firm foundation for the cadets and contributed to a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere at the squadron.  He has also seen a move from a very basic wooden cadet hut to purpose built headquarters on Langton Road, which is also shared with the Army cadets.  

In recognition of his long service and to thank him for his time and effort, the cadets and committee presented Mr Coverdale with a garden bench, and the Wing Chairman also presented Mr Coverdale with a Wing tie and an embroidered Wing badge.

In the photograph above left to right, the Squadron Padre Barry Holliss, retired Chairman Dave Coverdale, Squadron Treasurer Susie Green and Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant Steve Bean.

Staff and cadets from across Central and East Wing recently attended a Uniformed Staff Course at RAF Linton on Ouse.  The purpose of the course is to provide staff with an insight into the Air Cadet Organisation and to advise them of their responsibilities in looking after children and young people as potential uniformed Staff.

Cadets from Central and East Yorkshire Wing were present at the unveiling of a memorial to world war two French airmen in York Minster recently. The event, which formed a major part of the ‘French in York’ week in the city, commemorated the wartime efforts of two Free-French Air Force heavy bomber squadrons at nearby RAF Elvington, and was marked with a flypast of no less then 16 aircraft including nine Tucanos from Linton-on-Ouse, a French Rafale Jet-Fighter and the iconic Lancaster Bomber.

You can see some pictures of the flypast below and also one of Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Gary George Dalton, KCB, BSc,FRAeS, RAF talking to cadets at the event.

In a poignant evening service amongst the trees in York Cemetery on Tuesday 26th July,  staff and cadets of 110 (City of York) Squadron remembered one of their own, Cadet Tony Lane, who died in an air crash on 26th July 1946. The service led by Reverend Graham Maskery took place exactly 65 years  after the event.

Civilian Instructor Flt Lt Ken Butterfield RAFVR(T) Rtd remembers only too well the day when his friend and another cadet Robbie Hall of 116 (Archbishop Holgates Grammar School) Squadron, also then in York died, as he was almost onboard the ill fated aircraft. Ken, now 80 years old, later became Officer Commanding 110 (City of York) Squadron. At the service he was able to tell those attending how, whilst at ATC Camp at RAF Leconfield, he and another cadet were allocated air experience flying in a Wellington bomber BJ884, but after boarding, a fault was found and they were re-allocated to another aircraft. After repairs the other two cadets were allocated to fly in the aircraft piloted by Warrant Officer Szwedowski, a very experienced m ilitary pilot with 23 years experience and over 8000 flying hours.

After take-off the aircraft engaged in a fighter affiliation exercise in which two Spitfires made mock attacks upon the bomber. This was generally to allow the training of air gunners, with their central gunnery school being based at RAF Leconfield, but on this occasion only the pilot and the two cadets were on board the aircraft. Unfortunately one of the Spitfires collided with the Wellington and both aircraft fell to the ground. All on board the Wellington died, as did the pilot of the Spitfire Flight Lieutenant Stanley McAndrew, when it crashed near Kirbymoorside. After his oration Ken laid a wreath and cadets
laid crosses on the grave. Pipe Major Jim Sharpe played a lament and bugler Colin Carr played the Last Post. The squadron had previously paid their respects five years ago.

Staff and cadets from across Central and East Wing recently attended a BASIC  Course at RAF Linton on Ouse.  The purpose of the course is to provide staff with an insight into the Air Cadet Organisation and to advise them of their responsibilities in looking after children and young people as potential uniformed Staff.