RAF Air Cadets Mark 75th Anniversary in Style

Cadets from 2467 (Nailsea) Squadron helped the RAF Air Cadets celebrate their 75^th anniversary in style at their national parade and musical extravaganza this week.

Cadets Clasper, Whitcombe, and Cadet Flight Sergeant Penfold joined the fun for the historic event at RAFC Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

There were close to 5,000 people attending, along with with VIP guests including the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier and Honorary Group Captain Carol Vorderman. to watch flypasts from the Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the RAF Falcons.

The historic event was to mark 75 years since the formation of the Air Training Corps and several units of the Combined Cadet Force (RAF), collectively known as the RAF Air Cadets.

FS Penfold said: “I was thrilled to be part of the flagship anniversary event. The Air Cadets began in 1941 and we have nearly 960 Squadrons across the UK and 210 detachments of the Combined Cadet Force (RAF) in schools. It was a really big parade and party.”

Opening with a precision parade in front of College Hall, 350 cadets performed a spectacular hour-long drill ceremony, before musical youngsters and adult volunteers took to the stage for the musical extravaganza with compere Peter Dickinson, the voice of the X-Factor. The day closed with a finale of fireworks.

Nailsea cadets said: “It was a really great day celebrating the best of the RAF Air Cadets. Our highlight was watching the Red Arrows fly over, as some of their pilots used to be cadets and so they are a huge inspiration for me.”

“The parade was amazing to watch, it has definitely given our Squadron ideas to practise at home for our Remembrance Day parades in our local town.”