Air Training Corps at Ouston

The Air Training Corps

This was, and still is a voluntary youth organisation from age 13 to 18 years.  The ATC has always been an integral part of the RAF, funded and organised centrally with career RAF officers in charge.  A structure of Wing Commands covered the British Isles, and within the Wings there are many Squadrons, generally one Squadron for every significant area of population. Thus Tyneside would have half-a-dozen Squadrons, each within easy reach of Cadets. At Wing and Squadron level the officers in charge are retired ranks, voluntary reservists, and civilian instructors.  Cadets were (in the 1960s) expected to attend one or two evenings and a Sunday morning each week for  training lectures, drill practice, and organised events. Uniforms and equipment were all provided from RAF stores, and the only cost to Cadets was spending money for refreshments. The many and varied premises used by the ATC squadrons included town centre terraced houses; wooden huts and portable buildings; local government buildings; school annexes; and in some lucky cases accommodation on civil airfields. Often premises were shared with other cadet organisations, or Territorial Army reservists.

A significant incentive for Cadets was the guaranteed opportunity for Air Experience flights in RAF aircraft, plus a weekend residential gliding course with the possibility of higher level gliding or pilot training for suitable Cadets.  In addition, every year there would be a week long trip to Summer Camp at an RAF airfield somewhere in Britain, and at Summer Camp there would be an air experience flight, rifle shooting, outdoor exercises, sporting competitions, and even the opportunity to do supervised work on aircraft.  This author attended (from Newcastle) Summer Camps in 1962 and 1963 at RAF Chivenor in north Devon, and RAF Kinloss on the Moray Firth in Scotland.

Sadly such wonderful (and free) opportunities are now greatly reduced in scope, due to the contraction in size of the RAF, and the closure of many RAF airfields.  It is currently a curious fact that the the number of ATC Cadets is now greater than the number of serving RAF personnel.  To the extent that some RAF officers now view the ATC organisation as a good career opportunity within the RAF, due to its large size and greater promotion opportunities.  This author writes from personal experience, having been a voluntary Treasurer to 440 (Manx) ATC squadron for some 8 years from 2007 - 2015, serving on its civilian committee.

Annual Summer Camp

For ATC squadrons elsewhere in the British Isles it might have seemed to be 'the short straw' to be told they were going to Summer Camp at a minor training airfield  in a quiet and remote corner of England.  However, there are several comments to be found on modern internet forums, that describe how visiting cadets had a wonderful time at RAF Ouston.  They enjoyed all the elements including good permanent accommodation  (unlike the wartime wooden huts of other airfields); gliding; air experience flights in Chipmunk aircraft; rifle shooting; competitive games; etc; plus local visits and cross country exercises in the surrounding countryside.  Recreational visits included the Northumbrian coast, and the big city of Newcastle.

The following photograph was kindly supplied by Chris Dale, and it shows 38(F) Perth ATC Squadron at RAF Ouston, in 1967 or 68. Chris is second from left back row, and the only other name remembered is Flying Officer J. Allan, third from left middle row.  Chris describes how "there was one day when we had the morning off (so to speak). 4 of us went for a walk round the airfield to look at a Varsity being readied for a flight. One of the airmen asked us if we'd like to come along! Of course we said yes and had a great time. Permission and health and safety were not invented then!"

Their official Summer Camp photo was taken in front of the Guardroom, and the barred window of the cell-for-naughty-airmen can be seen to the left. The Spitfire LF.16e was the long term 'gate guardian' TE462, which now resides in the Scottish Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

The following two 'Summer Camp' photos were not taken at RAF Ouston, but do show 131 (F) Newcastle ATC  Squadron at RAF Chivenor, North Devon in 1962, and RAF Kinloss, Moray Firth, Scotland in 1963.  These photos are included here because nearly all of these Cadets will have undertaken their Air Experience flights, and Gliding Course at Ouston. Also attending the Annual Wing Parade at Ouston, and those cadets who progressed to become 'Staff Cadets' with 641 Gliding School will have been regular visitors to Ouston.

These two photos have been attached here with a reasonably large resolution, so that the photos can be copied and enlarged to see the detail of faces.  If larger versions of the photos are desired, the author of this website can be contacted and will happily supply an email copy.  Also, more names to add to the faces will be most welcome.

Wing Parades

It would not be the RAF without a big annual parade and inspection by the visiting 'top brass'.  This author attended one such annual Wing parade at RAF Ouston in 1963, where all of the Tyneside ATC Squadrons were bussed to Ouston and assembled on parade at the main hangar.   The visiting dignitary had arrived in an RAF Anson  C.19 aircraft, which remained parked as a backdrop to the parade.

ATC squadrons would also join other annual parades throughout the year, such as on Remembrance Day in Newcastle.  The author was also part of a 131 (F) Squadron 'silent drill' team that performed at a Remembrance Week concert in the City Hall.  The cadet drill team, armed with rifles, performed on stage a 'silent' routine without any orders being given.

The following photo of a Wing Parade was taken by Roland G. Adams at RAF Catterick, North Yorkshire, circa 1970.   The cadets and their squadrons were coached in for the occasion, and it is likely that many of the cadets shown will have undertaken their air experience flights and gliding courses at RAF Ouston.

A significant relic of the Ouston Wing Parade, and other parades, still exists to this day.  This is the banner of 131 (F) Newcastle upon Tyne Squadron, Air Training Corps, now laid up in St.Andrews Church, Newcastle, following the disbandment of 131 (F) Squadron. [The 'F' stood for 'founder' squadron, one of the original 50 ATC squadrons in the UK].  Each of the Wing's ATC squadrons would be led by their banner during a parade.

Personal Memories from Michael Gascoigne, 131 (F) Newcastle Squadron, 1963-1972

I was at RAF Kinloss in 1963. I can name all of the staff on the 1963 photo, except the CI sitting next to Malcolm Preece, along with all of the cadet NCOs. I worked my way through the ranks to become Cadet Warrant Officer in October 1967. I stayed in post until I was 22 in 1970 and was then promoted to Adult Warrant Officer, leaving the squadron in late 1972. 

I completed my A-B gliding course at Ouston in the summer of 1964.

You mentioned that RAF Ouston was used by Northumberland Wing for its annual parades. I remember in my days that the March Past was led by a CWO, Malcolm Preece doing it for 3 years and me for 2 years. 131 also provided the Rifle Guard of Honor for the Group Captain taking the parade, meeting him at the Guard House (at RAF Ouston).

You also mentioned taking part in a Remembrance Service at Newcastle City Hall, being in the rifle squad carrying out a silent routine. I was involved in that team. We were very pleased with ourselves as unlike the Royal Marines, dressed in Napoleonic Uniforms with muskets, we were completely silent. One of our NCOs was right next to the stage and he could hear one marine quietly saying pst before they carried out each manoeuvre.

You referred to 131 in your article as 131(F) meaning a founder squadron. I was told that the first 50 squadrons were allowed to use F after their number but that 131 was allowed to use that number as it requested to keep its old Air Defence Cadet Corps number. My father told me that he was in an ADCC squadron before joining the RAF at the outbreak of WW11 and that it met somewhere in Newcastle so was most likely 131. 

I attended the Initial NCO Leadership and Advanced NCO courses held at RAF Ouston, run by wing staff and ended up being a staff cadet assisting wing staff run the courses. 

Camps that I attended- Kinloss 1963, Watton 1964, Linton-on-Ouse 1965, Gaydon 1966, Syerston 1967, Waddington 1968. I missed Wattisham in 1969 and Machrihanish in 1970 due to family holiday commitments. 

You identified John Orwin as a CI and that he had been a Cadet Warrant Officer. He was the second CWO appointed to 131, a Chris Robinson being the first. John was appointed Adult Warrant Officer in 131 and then transferred to a squadron in Leicester on moving with his job. You identified  Malcolm Preece on the Chivenor and Kinloss camps. He was a cadet warrant officer until the age of 22 then was commissioned into the RAFVRT with 131 sqdn. He reached the rank of flying officer and in 1974 he resigned his commission and went to work in the USA and is still there, having taken American citizenship. I’m in regular touch with him via email. 

Other cadets named by you - Ian McDonald,  commissioned into the RAF and was involved in radar control. He was the officer responsible for installing radar on the Falklands during the Argentinian war. Tom Fernyhough joined Newcastle City Police and then joined the RAF. Mike Jackson joined the RAF and on leaving ended up with IBM as a computer engineer. 

I made long term friends with two cadets whilst in 131. Jim Watson, an ex Rutherford Grammar School pupil who became my rock climbing partner and sadly died in 2003. Gordon McDonald, brother of Ian McDonald. Gordon was best man at my wedding. I’m still in touch and meet up now and again.