213 (City of Rochester) Squadron Air Training Corps

213 Squadron Band circa 1942/3

EARLY HISTORY

The squadron was formed on the 1st February 1941 as 213 (Rochester) Squadron. It was the third squadron to be formed in the new Air Training Corps (the first 210 squadron numbers were taken by the old Air Defence Cadet Corps, which was absorbed into the ATC on its formation).

Unfortunately, names of most of the early staff have been lost to the mists of time, although it is believed that the first commanding officer was Flt Lt Boucher, who was succeeded later by Flt Lt Lord.

Cadets studied either aircrew or technical subjects. There were classes on aircraft recognition, elementary astro-navigation, Morse Code and Aldis Lamp signalling. Other training included foot drill, music and sport.

The Squadron was called upon to assist at RAF Gravesend during 1942 to 1945. Cadets loaded .303 rounds of ammunition in to ammunition belts ready to load in to the aircraft wings and help load 500lb bombs into the bomb bays of Mosquitoes or under the wings of Typhoons or Hurricanes. Additional war time duties included firewatching at Rochester Cathedral acting as messengers during Civil Defence exercises, sometimes at Rochester Police Station or at the Civil Defence HQ.

After the end of the war, interest in the RAF declined and with it, interest in the Corps. The squadron found recruiting new members increasingly difficult and eventually the squadron had to be disbanded on the 20th November 1946.

No 2 DETACHED FLIGHT (WAINSCOTT) OF 1404 (CHATHAM) SQN

The decision was made to reform an air cadet unit in the Rochester area. In 1984, No 2 Detached Flight (Wainscott) of 1404 (Chatham) Sqn was formed. The flight's first commanding officer was AWO Middleton. The flight badge features a Sunderland flying boat, many of which were built in Rochester by Short Brothers, on the River Medway with Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral in the background along with the Corps badge.

In 1986 came the unit's first change of command, when AWO Middleton was replaced by AWO (later Flt Lt) Beaney. One of the flight's early activities was the creation of the continuity rifle drill team which performed public displays at a variety of events in the summers of 1988-1990, to great reviews.

 

Cdt Sgt Hill in 1940s uniform

The Rifle Continuity Drill Team

No2 (Wainscott) DF