1861 (Wantage) Squadron RAF Air Cadets is a youth organisation sponsored by the RAF. We welcome young people from aged 12 years and in school Year 8 or above from all walks of life and give them a chance to get active, learn new skills and make new friends in an inspirational and safe environment.
As Air Cadets we attend multiple parades a year in memory of the fallen service personnel as well as showing our support for those that are currently serving and their families. One of the more recent parades we attended was the November Remembrance Day Parade and luckily, the weather did hold off unlike previous years! We had a cadet laying the wreath on behalf of the squadron, a Corporal parading the squadron banner, and another Corporal parading the Royal British Legion banner. Cadets on squadron also managed to meet a senior RAF Officer, Air Vice-Marshal Simon Edwards (who is the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for the RAF) and got to know what his job entails and spoke about what they have done in the Air Cadets.
On 5 February 2024, Air Cadets from Sector 3 attended a parade at Dalton Barracks to commemorate the formation of the Air Training Corps (ATC). The ATC was formed 5 February 1941 and squadrons around the country hold events on the closest Sunday to the 5th, reflecting on all the years the ATC has been around.
Every year, our squadron have a pitch at the Wantage Town Dickensian Evening held on the first Friday in December. We use this event for promotion and recruitment as well as fundraising which goes towards the facilities and equipment we use on squadron. We love speaking to members of the public and chatting about the Air Cadets, and sometimes we get ex-cadets or veterans who tell us their stories from when they were teenagers within the Corps or the Armed Forces.
Most recently we had cadets attend a Thames Valley Wing event for the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 25 February 2024. They attended a whole day’s practice at Stone X Rugby stadium (London) where they were taught how to open and close the FA banners and the sequence for the display.
On Sunday they travelled to Wembley Stadium for a 3pm kick off between Liverpool and Chelsea where they were all on the pitch for the opening scene, unveiling each team’s crests and for the team photo, then making a quick exit after the National Anthem to let the game start.
A total of 120 members attended from Thames Valley Wing Air Cadets and once their duties on the pitch were completed, they took their seats in the Chelsea end and enjoyed the whole game, which went on... and on... until someone finally won. You don’t get this opportunity anywhere else.
Our next intake evening is on Thursday 23 April 2024 from 7.30pm-9pm. We meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm to 9.30pm. You’ll find us at the top of Icknield Lane (off Ormond Road), Wantage, OX12 8ES. Subs are under £10 per month.
Please visit our FB group WantageAirCadets for further information about the squadron.
If you have any questions or are considering joining us, either as a cadet or an adult volunteer, please email 1861@rafac.mod.gov.uk
