RAF/RAFAC

Knowledge
RAFAC (ATC)

Air Training Corps - History

●​ Air Commodore J A Chamier is regarded as the father of the air cadet movement. He
learnt to fly in the army and was loaned to the Royal Flying Corps during World War 1.
He transferred to the RAF in 1919 and eventually retired from service in 1929, at the age
of 50.
●​ He also became the Secretary-General of the Air League.
●​ In 1938, Air Commodore Chamier came up with a plan to form an Air Defence Cadet
Corps (ADCC) and it was announced that the first 50 squadrons registered would be
known as founder squadrons (e.g., 2F Watford in Herts and Bucks Wing).
●​ Each squadron’s aim was to prepare cadets for joining the RAF or the Fleet Air Arm.
They tried to give the cadet as much Service and aviation background as possible as
well as giving instruction in drill, discipline, how to wear the uniform and how to behave
on RAF stations
●​ In the war, cadets went to work on RAF stations. Cadets were used to carry messages,
they helped with clerical duties, in providing extra muscle in handling aircraft and in the
movement of stores and equipment. They filled thousands of sandbags and loaded miles
of belts of ammunition.
●​ 5th February 1941, the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with King
George VI as the Air Commodore-in-Chief.
●​ VENTURE ADVENTURE was the motto devised by Air Commodore Chamier.
●​ In 1943, a special flight of 10 aircraft – Oxfords and Dominoes, was organised. Cadets
were also allowed to go flying in RAF Aircraft on normal service flying activities and
schemes of overseas flights were introduced to places like India and Egypt.
●​ In 1945, the government announced that the ATC would be retained by becoming part of
a recently formed reserve command. Serving RAF Officers led squadrons.
●​ 1947 – new Royal Warrant issued outlining new aims:
a. To promote and encourage among young men a practical interest in aviation and to fit
them to serve their country in Our Air Force, its reserves and auxiliaries, and also in the
Air Branch of Our Navy or in Our Army.
b. To provide training which will be useful both in the Air Service and in civil life.
c. To foster the spirit of adventure, to promote sports and pastimes in healthy rivalry and
to develop the qualities of mind and body which go to the making of a leader and a good
citizen
●​ In August 1947, 2 officers and 46 cadets went on a 3 week visit to Canada as guests of
the Air League of Canada, and on the return trip they brought back some Canadian
cadets for an exchange visit. The scheme soon became international, involving over 15
countries and in 1958 was officially called the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE).
●​ The first 2-seater glider used by the ATC was the Slingsby T21B called the Sedbergh
and it was brought into service in 1950.
 ●​ By 1957 it was decided that the Corps would have its own fleet of 50 Chipmunk aircraft,
established in 13 Flights called Air Experience Flights. In 1996/97, the 12 AEFs were
fully integrated into the University Air Squadron bases, and the flying for both units was
achieved using the Bulldog Aircraft. A new aircraft, the GROB 115E (Tutor), was
introduced in 1999.
●​ In 1967, a new Royal Warrant was established, which still holds today:
a. To promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and
the Royal Air Force.
b. To provide training which will be useful both in the Services and in civilian life.
c. To foster the spirit of adventure, and to develop the qualities of leadership and good
citizenship.
●​ In 1970, trials were undertaken with a Self-Launching Glider (SLG), the Scheibe Falke
25B built by Slingsby. It was fitted with an engine and propeller so that it can taxi and
take off. It came into service in 1977 with the name Venture Mk2.
●​ 3rd May 1974, Air Commodore Chamier died at the age of 91.
●​ 1980, girls were allowed to join the ATC at a limited number of squadrons on a trial basis
over 2 years. By 1981, girl cadets were flying solo in gliders, gaining marksman badges,
and taking part in DofE.
●​ In 1982, the AS K21 (Vanguard) – a tandem 2 seater high performance glider, the AS
W19 (Valiant) – a single seater version of the AS K21 and the Janus C – made from
glass reinforced plastic (GRP) were introduced to replace the old gliders.
●​ In 1984, 100 tandem seater gliders, the GRP Grob 103 (Viking) were also introduced.
●​ In 1989, a new motorised Self-Launching Glider, the GRP Grob 109B was announced as
a replacement for the canvas clad Venture. The aircraft came into service in 1990 with
the new name Vigilant.

RAFAC Organisation

Aims of the ATC:

●​ To promote and encourage among young men and women a practical interest in aviation
and the Royal Air Force.
●​ To provide training which will be useful both in the Services and in civil life.
●​ To foster the spirit of adventure and to develop the qualities of leadership and good
citizenship.

Personnel

●​ 43,000 Cadets, 10,000 CFAVs, over 1,000 Squadrons.

●​ Pre 2018, staff could be court marshalled as they were in the Volunteer Reserve Training
(VRT). After staff moved to RAFAC as Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAV)
●​ Officers get the Cadet Forces Commission (CFC)
Key Info & Documents

●​ ACP – air cadet publication

●​ ACTO – air cadet training order
●​ JSP – joint service publication
●​ AP – air publication

●​ Drill – AP818
●​ Uniform – ACP1358
●​ Code of Conduct – ACP 020 Chapter 5
●​ Ethos, Core Values and Standards – ACP 001
●​ Personnel Regulations – ACP 020
●​ Safeguarding and Child Protection – ACP 004
●​ Health, Safety and Environmental Protection – ACP 005 (Part 1 = Directive, Part 2 =
Guidance)
●​ Progressive Training Syllabus – ACTO 001
●​ Cadet NCO Training – ACP 007
●​ Role of JNCO– ACP 048
●​ Role of SNCO– ACP 049

The Corps (HQ)

HQ RAFAC is made up of RAF and RAFAC personnel as well as civilian staff. All of these can
be part time or permanently hired. Based at RAFC Cranwell.

Important People / Corps Level Staff:

Role Rank/Title Name

Commandant RAFAC Air Commodore Al Lewis

WO RAFAC Warrant Officer Donna Hall

RAFAC Ambassador Wing Commander (Honorary) Emma Wolstenholme

Honorary Air-Commandant Catherine Wales

HRH Princess of Wales
RAFAC (Windsor, Middleton)

RAFAC Senior/National Reverend Gareth Jones

Rev
Chaplain

Senior Volunteer* Group Captain Ben Wakefield

National Chair (Civ Com) Mr Stuart Ensor

*Senior volunteer has meetings with regional commandants every 6-8 weeks with all senior
bodies & ventures out to OC Wings to answer questions for commandant to have a snapshot.
Under Corps are 6 regions:
●​ Central and East Region - Group Captain Dave Boreham
●​ London and South East Region (LaSER) - Group Captain Kevin Walton
●​ South West Region - Group Captain (IDK First Name) Fletcher
●​ West and Wales Region - Group Captain Roger Simon
●​ North Region - Group Captain Mark Leeming
●​ Scotland and Northern Ireland - Group Captain Sohail Khan

The Regional - Central & East

A Region is made up of RAF and RAFAC personnel as well as civilian staff. All of these can be
part time or permanently hired. Based at Joint Forces Wyton.

Important People / Regional Level Staff

Role Rank/Title Name

C&E Commandant Group Captain Dave Boreham

C&E Dep Commandant* Mr Graham Booth

Senior Staff Officer (SSO)** Wing Commander David Miller

C&E WO Warrant Officer Micheal Webb

Regional Chairman (Civ Com) Mr David Ellis

Region Training Officer Squadron Leader Lawrence Buckingham

*
●​ Works with Senior Staff Officer (SSO)
●​ Permanent member of staff as a civil servant
●​ Looks at things from a plans and policy point of view

**
●​ Coordinates meetings and paperwork
●​ Experienced CFAV alongside Graham Booth
●​ Involved in selection processes as he represents the RAFAC side with Mr Booth

Under C&E Region are 6 ATC wings and a CCF Wing:

●​ Hertfordshire Wing
●​ Norfolk and Suffolk Wing
●​ Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing (Beds & Cams)
●​ South and East Midlands
●​ Trent Wing
●​ Essex Wing
 ●​ Central & East CCF Wing
○​ not an actual wing as CCF and operates differently

The Wing - Hertfordshire

HQ Herts Wing is made of RAFAC and civilian staff most of which are volunteers (1 full time
employed).

Role Rank Name

OC Herts Wing Wing Commander ‘H’ Tanner

Dep OC Herts Wing Squadron Leader Simon Cook

Wing WO (WWO) Warrant Officer Nathan Eyre

Dep WWO Warrant Officer Lewis Penstone-Smith

Wing Executive Officer (WEXO) *** Squadron Leader Andy Priest

Wing Sector Commander (WSC) - East

Squadron Leader Pauline Hall
Sector (Former No.1 & No. 2 Sector)

WSC - West Sector (Former No. 3 & No.

Squadron Leader Tony Hall
4 Sector)

Operations Officer Squadron Leader Adrian Jones

Training Officer Squadron Leader Stacey Murphy

Health & Safety Officer Flying Officer Jacob Thorne

ASPIRE Officer Flight Sergeant (IDK First Name) Marchant

Fieldcraft Officer Flight Lieutenant Jason Webb

DofE Officer Squadron Leader James Noble

Radio Officer Flight Lieutenant Ellis Jenkins

Road Marching Officer Sergeant Tom Poon

Music Officer Warrant Officer Tabs Robelou

Sports Officer Flight Lieutenant Rob Simmons

STEM Officer Flight Lieutenant Ken Millar

Cyber & Esports Officer Flying Officer Ed Addy

 Leadership Officer Sergeant Yvonne Pullens

Shooting Officer Flight Lieutenant Mathew Wood

*** The Wing WEXO is a permanent paid member of Staff at HQ Wing that assists the Senior
Wing Staff with Admin and other duties.

Wing Motto: We Trust & Fear Not

Sectors of Herts Wing

●​ East Sector - Sqn Ldr Pauline Hall

○​ 248 ‘Letchworth’ Sqn, 955 ‘Stevenage’ Sqn, 1066 ‘Hitchin’ Sqn, 2203 ‘Hatfield &
De Havilland’, Sqn57 ‘Potter’s Bar’ Sqn, 936 ‘Hertford & Ware’ Sqn, 1166
‘Welwyn Garden City’ Sqn, 1239 ‘Broxbourne & Hodderson’ Sqn

●​ West Sector - Sqn Ldr Tony Hall

○​ 220 ‘St Albans’ Sqn , 795 ‘Harpenden’ Sqn, 1187 ‘Hemel Hempstead’ Sqn, 2457
‘Tring’ Sqn, 2F ‘Watford’ Sqn, 1372 ‘Elstree & Borehamwood’ Sqn, 2313
‘Rickmansworth & The Chalfonts’ Sqn, 2384 ‘Bushey & Oxhey’ Sqn

The Squadron
There are two kinds of Squadron:
1.​ Open Squadrons – where anyone aged 12 (Year 8) and over can join.
2.​ School Squadrons (CCF) – members of the school can join.

●​ Sqn Run by Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAV) (RAFAC Officers, RAFAC
Adult SNCOs/WO and Civilian Instructors (CIs))
●​ Some Squadrons may control a detached flight in an area where there are not
enough cadets (30) to make a full squadron.

Squadron Motto: Reach to Achieve

The Civilian Committee (At Sqn Level up to National Level)

The committee is made up of 5 or more local people who meet regularly and take responsibility
for a number of things, including:

a.​ raising funds for squadron activities

b.​ controlling the squadron finances
c.​ obtaining and administrating squadron accommodation
d.​ helping with cadet welfare problems.
RAF & British Armed Forces

Royal Air Force - History

Formed on the 1st April 1918 by the joining of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) & Royal
Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air Force (RAF). This was along with Marshall of The RAF
Hugh Trenchard as the first Commander of the RAF, now known as ‘The Father of the RAF’.

British Armed Forces & RAF Organisation

Chiefs of Staff & Top RAF Personnel

Role Rank/Title Name Branch

Chief of Defense Staff

Air Chief Marshal Sir* Richard Knighton RAF
(CoDS)

Deputy CoDS General Dame* Sharon Nesmith Army

Chief of Naval Staff / Navy

General Sir* Gwyn Jenkins
First Sea Lord (Royal Marines)

Chief of the General Staff General Sir* Roland Walker Army

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir* Harv Smyth RAF

Deputy Chief of the Air

Air Marshal Paul lloyd RAF
Staff

Assistant Chief of the Air Ian ‘Cab’

Air Vice-Marshal RAF
Staff Townsend

Air & Space Commander Air Marshal Allan Marshall RAF

RAF Director People Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards RAF

 Murugesvaran
Warrant Officer of the RAF Warrant Officer RAF
Subramaniam

*Sir or Dame is in their title as they have knighthoods.

Groups of the RAF

No.1 Group

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Mark Jackson

Role of No.1 Group:

●​ Combat Air Force (Fast Jet and Fighting aircraft)
●​ Mobility Air Force (A400M, C17, Chinooks etc)
●​ Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force
(Posiedon, Voyager, Rivet Joint etc)
●​ Air & Space Warfare centre (tactics basically)
●​ Display Teams (Red Arrows, Typhoon, The Falcons (Sky Diving) & Battle of Britain
Memorial Flight (BBMF))

No.2 Group

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Jason Appleton

Role of No.2 Group:

●​ Air Bases
○​ Looks after the commercial (housing, shops, entertainment etc) on base

●​ Global Enablement
○​ Specialist capabilities to allow the RAF to provide Air & Space power world wide.

No.11 Group

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Steve Kilvington

Role of No.11 Group:

●​ Operational Control of all operations and exercises throughout the RAF.
○​ This includes running National Air & Space Operations Centre (NASOC), No.83
Expeditionary Air Group (EAG), Joint Force Air Component & Joint Air Liaison
Organisation
No.22 Group

Commander - Air Vice-Marshal Ian Sharrocks

Role of No.22 Group:

●​ Provide all Training within the RAF
○​ Directorate of Ground Training (DGT), Directorate of Flying Training (DFT),
Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT), Royal Air Force College (RAFC) -
Recruit and Officer Basic Training

●​ In control of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC)

●​ Directorate of RAF Sports (DRS)

RAF Bases and their Roles*

*not all bases but larger and important ones (fly aircraft ect)

RAF Benson
●​ Joint Helicopter Support Sqn
●​ No.22 Joint Aviation Command (JAC) Operations Evaluation Unit
○​ Test Flights to make sure aircraft are air worthy

●​ No.28 Sqn - Chinook HC6A

●​ No.606 (Chiltern) Sqn RAuxAF - Reservists
●​ Also have AEF and UAS - Grob Tutor

RAF Brize Norton

●​ No.10 Sqn - Voyager
●​ No.24 (XXIV) Sqn - C-17 & A400M
●​ No.30 Sqn - A400M
●​ No.70 (LXX) Sqn - A400M
●​ No.99 Sqn - C-17
●​ No.101 Sqn - Voyager
●​ No.206 (Test & Evaluation) Sqn - A400M
○​ Test Flights to make sure aircraft are air worthy

●​ No.501 Sqn RAuxAF - Reservists

●​ No.622 Sqn RAuxAF - Reservists
●​ No.4624 Sqn RAuxAF - Reservists
●​ No.2 (II) Sqn RAF Regiment
●​ No.2624 Sqn RAuxAF Regiment - Reservists
●​ Falcons Parachute Display Team
RAF Conningsby
●​ No.12 Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.3 (F) Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.11 (XI) Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.29 Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.41 (XLI) (Test & Evaluation) Sqn - Typhoon
○​ Test Flights to make sure aircraft are air worthy

●​ Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) - Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster etc

●​ Typhoon Display Team - Typhoon

RAF Cosford
●​ Lots of phase 2 training
○​ PTI’s, Photography, Engineering, Radio & Cyber

●​ No.605 Sqn RauxAF - Reservists

●​ UAS - Grob Tutor

RAF Cranwell
●​ RAF Officer Training Academy (Modular Initial Officer Training (MIOT))
●​ HQ Air Cadets (HQ RAFAC)
●​ No.45 Sqn - Phenom T1
●​ No.57 (LVII) Sqn - Elementary Flying Training - Prefect & Grob Tutor
●​ Grob Tutor Display Team - Grob Tutor
●​ AEF & UAS - Grob Tutor

RAF Halton
●​ Aviator Training Academy (Phase 1 Basic Recruit Training)
●​ HQ Hertfordshire Wing RAFAC

RAF High Wycombe

●​ HQ Air Command
●​ HQ UK Space Command
●​ HQ European Air group
●​ HQ No.1 Group
●​ HQ No.2 Group
●​ HQ No.11 Group
●​ HQ No.22 Group

RAF Lossiemouth
●​ No.1 (F) Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.2 (II) (AC) Sqn - Typhoon
 ●​ No.6 Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.8 (VIII) Sqn - Wedgetail
●​ No.9 (IX) (B) Sqn - Typhoon
●​ No.120 Sqn - Poseidon
●​ No.201 Sqn - Poseidon
●​ No.42 (TB) Sqn - Poseidon & Wedgetail
●​ No.4 RAF Police & Security Sqn (Typhoon) - Typhoon
●​ No.51 Sqn RAF Regiment
●​ No.2622 Sqn RAuxAF Regiment

RAF Marham
●​ No.617 (Dambusters) Sqn - F-35B Lightning II
●​ No.207 Sqn - F-35B Lightning II
●​ No.809 Naval Air Squadron - F-35B Lightning II
●​ No.6 RAF Police & Security Sqn (F35) - F-35B Lightning II
●​ No.15 Sqn RAF Regiment
●​ No.2620 Sqn RAuxAF Regiment

RAF Northolt
●​ No.32 (XXXII) (The Royal) Sqn - Envoy
●​ No.63 Sqn RAF Regiment (King’s Colour Sqn)
●​ No.600 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ No.601 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ RAF Music Services (Central Band of The RAF)

RAF Odiham
●​ No.7 Sqn - Chinook
●​ No.18 Sqn - Chinook
●​ No.27 Sqn - Chinook
●​ Chinook Display Team

RAF Shawbury
●​ No.1 Flying School (Rotary Wing Training)
○​ No.60 Sqn - Juno & Jupiter
○​ No.660 Sqn Army Air Corps - Juno & Jupiter
○​ No.670 Sqn Army Air Corps - Juno & Jupiter
○​ No.705 Naval Air Sqn - Juno & Jupiter

●​ The Defence College of Air & Space Operations

RAF Syerston
●​ Central going School (No.2 FTS) - Viking
RAF Valley
●​ No.4 Flying School (Fast Jet Training)
○​ No.72 Sqn (Basic Fast Jet Training) - Texan
○​ No.25 (XXI) Sqn (Advanced Fast Jet Training) - Hawk T2
○​ No.4 Sqn (Mountain & Maritime Aircrew Training) - Hawk T2

●​ No.202 Sqn (No.1 Flying School) - Juno & Jupiter

RAF Waddington
●​ No.13 (XIII) Sqn - Reaper
●​ No.14 Sqn - Shadow
●​ No.31 Sqn - Protector
●​ No.51 Sqn - Rivet Joint
●​ No.54 Sqn - Rivet Joint & Shadow
●​ No.56 (Test & Evaluation) Sqn - Rivet Joint & Shadow
●​ No.5 RAF Police & Security Sqn (ISTAR) - Rivet Joint & Shadow
●​ No.92 Sqn
●​ No.616 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ No.7006 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ No.7010 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ No.7630 Sqn RAuxAF
●​ No.2503 Sqn RAuxAF Regiment
●​ Red Arrows - Hawk T1

RAF Wittering
●​ No.3 Flying School
○​ No.16 Sqn - Grob Tutor
○​ No.1115 Sqn (Trains Flying Instructors) - Grob Tutor

●​ No.504 Sqn RAuxAF

RAF Wyton
●​ HQ Central & East Region (RAFAC)

Abroad Bases
Their Roles are to allow deployment more easily to location around there area

●​ RAF Akrotiri (Cyprus)

●​ RAF Gibraltar
●​ Mount Pleasant Complex (Falklands)