1181 Syston Squadron ATC
Encyclopedia
1181 Syston Squadron ATC is the local Air Training Corps
Squadron based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College
, Syston
. The Squadron has been at this location since 1990 moving from the village hall in East Goscote
, changing its name from East Goscote
Squadron in the process.
The Squadron currently have around 30 cadets. The current Officer in Charge is Pilot Officer Andrew Kenyon RAFVR(T) who took command of the Squadron on the 4th October 2010. He replaced Plt Off Andy Houghton RAFVR(T) who had been in command since May 2010. The Squadron can be seen regularly around the Syston area at all manner of community events. The cadets regularly fly, glide, target rifle shoot and take part in other activities. Cdt Sgt Wilkinson-Burnett met Prince Harry of Wales
on an expedition to Lesotho
on one of the training exercises.
The Squadron is unique in that it has its own flight simulator
hand-built by CI Paul Reeves over a period of 3 years. It is an exact replica of a Boeing 737
cockpit
. It is powered by Microsoft Flight Simulator
2004 edition and is run by 3 separate PCs all running Windows XP
. It was officially open by Air Commodore Ian Stewart RAF on the 7th February 2010.
Squadron and was based at the Narborough Road School to cater for cadets living in the west side of the city. The 1st Commanding Officer was Flt. Lt. C.W. Thompson, an ex-Guards officer and the Squadron had 4 flights consisting of 30 cadets each plus 'E' flight which was for the new recruits undergoing basic training. The Squadron staff then consisted of 4 Flight Commanders, an Adjutant, a Warrant Officer
and two secretarial staff.
Late in 1944 the Commanding Officer resigned due to ill health and Fg. Off. T.P. Morris was promoted to take command of the unit. In July 1945, No. 2070 Squadron, which paraded at the Mantle Road School, was closed and the staff and cadets transferred to 1181 Squadron. It was in early 1946 that the Squadron moved from Narborough Road School to 51 Oxford Street, Leicester. In 1947 due to cut-backs the Squadron was disbanded and the cadets transferred to 1F Squadron.
A period of 28 years transpired before 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron started a detached flight in 1974. The detached flight originally met at the Horse and Groom public house in Rearsby and after a short period, the room used for parades became insufficient to meet the demands, the flight remained there until its move to Chapel Street premises in Syston.
In 1975, the Flight was granted Squadron Status and at the request of the Adjutant, Fg. Off. B.W. Crayford, the Squadron was allocated its original number of 1181. The request for this was twofold: firstly, the other two City of Leicester Squadrons were still in being - No's 1F and 51 Squadron so it seemed reasonable to resurrect the third. Secondly, being one of the founder cadets of 1181 in 1943 and knowing of its records and achievements, it seemed an ideal opportunity to continue in the same vein as the predecessor.
The Commanding Officer of the newly formed Squadron was Flt. Lt. R.W. Miller who started the detached flight and who had served as aircrew during the last war. The Squadron moved to its present purpose built building at the rear of Wreake Valley College, Parkstone Road, Syston in 1990.
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
Squadron based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College
Wreake Valley Community College
Wreake Valley Community College, known by just the initials 'WVCC', is a co-educational secondary school in Syston, Leicestershire, England. The school is known locally just as 'Wreake' or 'Wreake Valley', which is the name of the geographical area....
, Syston
Syston
Syston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:...
. The Squadron has been at this location since 1990 moving from the village hall in East Goscote
East Goscote
East Goscote is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England, just north of Syston. It is a medium sized village with a population of approximately 3,000. The village is twinned with Fleury-sur-Andelle, France....
, changing its name from East Goscote
East Goscote
East Goscote is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England, just north of Syston. It is a medium sized village with a population of approximately 3,000. The village is twinned with Fleury-sur-Andelle, France....
Squadron in the process.
The Squadron currently have around 30 cadets. The current Officer in Charge is Pilot Officer Andrew Kenyon RAFVR(T) who took command of the Squadron on the 4th October 2010. He replaced Plt Off Andy Houghton RAFVR(T) who had been in command since May 2010. The Squadron can be seen regularly around the Syston area at all manner of community events. The cadets regularly fly, glide, target rifle shoot and take part in other activities. Cdt Sgt Wilkinson-Burnett met Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Harry of Wales
Prince Henry of Wales , commonly known as Prince Harry, is the younger son of Charles, Prince of Wales and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and fourth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
on an expedition to Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
on one of the training exercises.
The Squadron is unique in that it has its own flight simulator
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
hand-built by CI Paul Reeves over a period of 3 years. It is an exact replica of a Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
. It is powered by Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
2004 edition and is run by 3 separate PCs all running Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
. It was officially open by Air Commodore Ian Stewart RAF on the 7th February 2010.
Squadron history
1181 Squadron was formed in May 1943 as the 3rd City of LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
Squadron and was based at the Narborough Road School to cater for cadets living in the west side of the city. The 1st Commanding Officer was Flt. Lt. C.W. Thompson, an ex-Guards officer and the Squadron had 4 flights consisting of 30 cadets each plus 'E' flight which was for the new recruits undergoing basic training. The Squadron staff then consisted of 4 Flight Commanders, an Adjutant, a Warrant Officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
and two secretarial staff.
Late in 1944 the Commanding Officer resigned due to ill health and Fg. Off. T.P. Morris was promoted to take command of the unit. In July 1945, No. 2070 Squadron, which paraded at the Mantle Road School, was closed and the staff and cadets transferred to 1181 Squadron. It was in early 1946 that the Squadron moved from Narborough Road School to 51 Oxford Street, Leicester. In 1947 due to cut-backs the Squadron was disbanded and the cadets transferred to 1F Squadron.
A period of 28 years transpired before 1279 (Melton Mowbray) Squadron started a detached flight in 1974. The detached flight originally met at the Horse and Groom public house in Rearsby and after a short period, the room used for parades became insufficient to meet the demands, the flight remained there until its move to Chapel Street premises in Syston.
In 1975, the Flight was granted Squadron Status and at the request of the Adjutant, Fg. Off. B.W. Crayford, the Squadron was allocated its original number of 1181. The request for this was twofold: firstly, the other two City of Leicester Squadrons were still in being - No's 1F and 51 Squadron so it seemed reasonable to resurrect the third. Secondly, being one of the founder cadets of 1181 in 1943 and knowing of its records and achievements, it seemed an ideal opportunity to continue in the same vein as the predecessor.
The Commanding Officer of the newly formed Squadron was Flt. Lt. R.W. Miller who started the detached flight and who had served as aircrew during the last war. The Squadron moved to its present purpose built building at the rear of Wreake Valley College, Parkstone Road, Syston in 1990.
List of Commanding Officers
- Oct 2010–Present. Fg Off Andy Kenyon - RAFVR(T) (OiC)
- May 2010 - Oct 2010 Plt Off Andy Houghton - RAFVR(T) (OiC)
- May 2003 - May 2010 Flt Lt Mathew Faulkner - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Jun 2000 - May 2003 Flt Lt Bill Dalby - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Jul 1999 - May 2000 Flt Lt K Squance - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Oct 1991 - Jul 1999 Flt Lt A S Bryan - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Feb 1982 - Nov 1991 Flt Lt B Broom - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Apr 1980 - Jan 1982 Flt Lt N Bayliss - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Jun 1979 - Apr 1980 Flt Lt Hillyard - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Nov 1978 - Jul 1979 Flt Lt Faulkner - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Feb 1975 - Dec 1978 Flt Lt R W Miller - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Aug 1974 - Mar 1975 Flt Off B W Crayfourd - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- May 1944 - Sep 1974 Flt Lt T P Morris - RAFVR(T) (OC)
- Apr 1943 - May 1944 Flt Lt C W Thompson - RAFVR(T) (OC)