In Memoriam - Cadet Squadrons Lost, Closed, Merged & Disbanded

64 (Paddington) Sqn, any knowledge of this bunch.

Yes, I believe they were based in Paddington.

They had a mascot, it was a bear from Peru. They put a statue up in the station when the sqn closed.

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That’s great news, which station.

In the early days 10F (at the Luton TA Centre), had 3 DFs which became 2413 (Farley Hill) a school sqn, 2465 (Icknield) (which was also originally a school sqn), and 2492 (Luton Airport). 2413 then had a DF in Caddington. That DF closed in the early 70s, cadets moving to Farley Hill. 8 August 76, 2413 was disbanded and we moved to 2492. The rest is documented here so I’ll go on. In 1976 Beds, Cambs & Hunts Wg became Beds & Cambs Wg, when Huntingdonshire was absorbed into Cambridgeshire. My parents raised funds for the 2492 Sqn standard in 1977. Was it properly laid up on the sqn’s disbandment?

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No idea unfortunately! Might be worth contacting 10f as they may have some records?

RIP 494 (Stansted Airport) Squadron.

When did they close?

Bridgwater has shut I hear.

My sister was OC until a few weeks ago, but resigned in response to some poor treatment from the WCO.

That means for the first time in 22 years, there’s noone in my family in the organisation.

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December 2023.

494 (Stansted Airport) Squadron was originally created in 1992, and was located in an old police station but later was given a building to us on land specifically for us by British Airports Authority (BAA) at Stansted Airport. In 2013, BAA sold Stansted Airport to Manchester Airport Group (MAG), a chain of airports bought by Manchester Airport and in early 2023 they decided that they wanted to build a new business park on land which also incorporated our squadron. After a failed appeal the 28th of September was the last parade night held at the building, with it resulting in being knocked down. 494 then went under the wing of 1096 (Bishop Stortford) squadron until ultimately it was dismissed on the 7th December 2023 due to no way of being able to relocate, the same day that a possible new location was found.

Many of the cadets, myself included, most likely the staff too felt a great betrayal by MAG and felt very disappointed at dismissal of our great squadron. Covid took a great chunk out of our squadron, but as we thought we were getting back on our knees again we were wrong.


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I remember that squadron in the early 1980s. On the school grounds with a cruise missile on the grass.

I was working at STN when it opened, I worked with Olli Kirby. I think he was CO until he moved to New Zealand.

Announced in an update to ACP8, the closure of 68 (Westbury) Sqn in Dorset & Wilts Wg, SW Region :slightly_frowning_face:

Edit: mis-typed number

Do you mean 68 Westbury?

It sad to hear - looking at their social media they seem to have been struggling over the last few years.

Do you know the history of the Sqn and why they’ve now closed? :frowning:

Found this on Facebook dated 29 April 2024

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Yeah its been a sqn thats struggled to tick over.

Its a shame but exactly the right type of thing we should be doing. Rationalise then optimise

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A number in that wing seem to have struggled post-COVID. Swanage, Westbury and Calne all closed.

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All in the middle of no where

Thanks for spotting the typo.

I’m surprised that they closed due to lack of recruits. Usually it’s lack of staff that forces closure.

Any unit that’s isolated makes finding staff even more difficult. Sadly those are often some of the places that would really benefit from a Sqn, as they don’t have many other youth facilities.

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People in the South really do have a funny idea of what the “middle of nowhere” is. Looks more to be an issue of a nearby but more conveniently located unit taking all the cadets, given it’s only a 15 min drive to Trowbridge.

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Also social mobility needs to factor.

There are two units locally which are 3 miles apart.

Well that easy, just shut one, and the cadets will move…

Well, the unit that is struggling is also in a very deprived area, where most of the parents dont drive, and limited funds for public transport.

So, what do you do?

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