361
(Gateshead) Squadron Air Training Corps - the next generation
News Archive
2007 Cross-Country Competition
Cadets from 361 squadron recently took part in the Durham/Northumberland Wing Cross-Country Competition at the Rising Sun Country Park at Benton.
A
number of cadets won medals for their performances, and the photograph
shows the squadron team after the event with their medals and awards. In
the centre of the front row is Cadet Lowres who won a silver medal for
second place in his age group. This contributed to the team winning the
trophy for his age group. Pictured next to him on the right is Cadet
Howell and on the left is Sergeant Hutchinson, both of whom won gold
medals for first place in their respective age groups.
All three medal winners have been selected to represent the Wing at the next level of the competition
Colts Canter 2007
Sergeant
Hutchinson (pictured left) and Corporal Dixon (on the right) from 361
squadron were recently selected as members of the team to represent
Durham/Northumberland Wing in the 2007 Colts Canter competition.
This competition is organised by the Army Cadet Force and is a test of a range of skills including First Aid, Leadership Skills, Long Distance Marching Drill and Target Shooting, and is open to all the cadet forces including Army, Sea and Air Cadets.
The Durham/Northumberland Wing team were presented with the award as the best non Army Cadet team in the competition.
BTEC Awards
Four cadets from the squadron recently qualified for their BTEC Certificate in Aviation Studies.
This
Certificate is equivalent to 2 GCSE passes at grades A-C and is a valuable
addition to the educational achievements of any young person as it distinguishes
them as having gained an award for work done outside of school/college.
Every cadet can qualify for this award though the normal training they undergo as part of the Air Cadet syllabus.
The four cadets who gained award are Flight
Sergeant Wallace and Corporal Morrison (pictured) and (not shown)
Sergeants Hutchinson and Robson
Avro
Vulcan B2 XH558 returned to the sky on Thursday, the 18th of October after
being grounded by the Royal Air Force 14 years ago. The Vulcan, one of the three types
of V-Bombers operated by the RAF during the Cold War (the others being the Vickers Valiant and the Handley-Page
Victor) is significant at 361 Squadron as one of the two flights at the
Squadron is named Vulcan Flight, whilst the other is called Victor
Flight.
XH558 is operated by The Vulcan Operating Company (TVOC) and we hope to see her at many airshows in the future.
Click here to read the story of the first flight since restoration and here to see a Sky News feature on YouTube.
Four
Cadets from 361 Squadron recently completed Gliding Induction Courses at
645 Volunteer Gliding Squadron at RAF Topcliffe. Pictured (from left to
right) is Cadet McTeer who completed his second GIC and Cadets Thompson
and Slater who completed their their first GIC. Not pictured is Cadet
Gifford who also completed his first GIC.
Click here
for much more information on Gliding Induction Courses.
Three
361 Squadron Cadets, were recently promoted to Corporal and two from
Corporal to Sergeant.
Pictured from left to right are newly promoted Sergeants Wallace and Hodgson and Corporals Robson, Rudge and Hutchinson.
You can find more information on the Air Cadet rank structure here.
New page added with information on gliding
courses. Click here to view.
Aircraft Recognition Competition Success
361 Squadron's Aircraft Recognition Team triumphed in the recent Durham/Northumberland Wing competition.
Corporal Hodgson won the individual
competition and the squadron team came second overall. During this
competition, a total of 30 pictures of aircraft are projected for just 2
seconds each and cadets only have 10 seconds to write down their answers
before the next picture is shown.
Cpl Hodgson beat the next highest scoring competitor by a clear margin of 4 points and is seen being presented with the individual trophy by Sqn Ldr Miller, a Durham/Northumberland Wing Staff Officer.
Cpl Hodgson will now represent Durham/Northumberland Wing in the North Region competition.
The other two members of the squadron team were Cpl Robson and Cadet Moffitt.
Corporals Hodgson and Wallace, and Cadet Gallant from 361 Squadron all went flying in Tutor aircraft at RAF Leeming on Saturday, 17th September.
During
their flights all cadets had the opportunity to take the controls of the
aircraft and also perform some aerobatics.
Seven more cadets will go flying in October.
From left to right: Cpl Wallace, Cpl
Hodgson and Cdt Gallant
Three
cadets from 361 Squadron completed Gliding Induction Courses (GICs) at 645
Gliding School at RAF Topcliffe on Sunday, 28th August.
Pictured from left to right are Cadets Louca, Bell and Gallant who all took control of the Vigilant motor glider and learnt about the effects of controls during their flights with a qualified instructor.
361 Squadron Forum now on line
The new 361 squadron forum is now on line. You can access the forum from the left navigation menu or by clicking here.
All contributions welcome!
The squadron recently held a VJ Day party organised by Flt Sgt Amy Pooley.
Period
fancy dress was encouraged and Cadet Hall was judged the winner of the
competition. Flt Sgt Pooley prepared a selection of 1940's food, Big Band
music played in the background and a good time was had by all.
Pictured are some of the fancy dress entries, with Cdt Hall second on the left and Flt Sgt Pooley third from the left, both on the front row.
361
Squadron cadets recently returned from Summer Camp at RAF Halton. Whilst
at camp, our cadets participated in a wide range of activities including
flying in Tutor aircraft, a night exercise, a visit to Duxford air museum,
tenpin bowling, shooting, section visits and much, much more.
The photograph shows 361 Squadron cadets and staff, and also those from all the other squadrons who attended camp in the same week.
Congratulations
to Cadets Hodgson, Morrison and Wallace, on their recent promotion to the
rank of Corporal.
Pictured from left to right, Cpl Morrison, Cpl Wallace and Cpl Hodgson.
Cdt
Lynch from 361 Squadron is officially the best shot in
Durham/Northumberland Wing, having scored 97 points in the wing shooting
competition from a possible maximum of 100, and winning both a Gold medal for his
individual achievement and also a Bronze medal in the team competition.
Pictured on the right are three of the four members of the 361 Squadron shooting team. From left to right are CWO Elliott, Cdt Lynch and Cdt Wallace. The fourth member of the squadron team, Cdt Simpson is not pictured.
Four
361 Squadron cadets recently completed Gliding Induction Courses at 645
VGS based at RAF Topcliffe.
Each cadet received instruction on flying the Vigilant self launching glider, in flights ranging from 20 to 30 minutes in length.
Pictured from left to right, are Cadets Wilkinson, Dixon, Hudson and Moffitt.
361 Squadron Cadets selected to attend Cyprus Camp
Sergeant Adam Rewcastle and Flight Sergeant Amy Pooley from 361 Squadron
have both been selected to attend a
two week long Easter Camp at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
RAF Akrotiri is one of the largest bases in the RAF, and Adam and Amy will have the opportunity to see operations at the station from close quarters as well as participating in a wide range of other activities. As RAF Akrotiri is also used by the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, every year for their display work up, they may get the opportunity of a daily air display from the "Reds" during their time at camp!
361 Cadets awarded Marksmanship Awards
Three cadets from 361 Squadron recently qualified for Marksmanship Awards for their target rifle shooting skills,
Cdt Neil Morrison and Cdt Lewis Kirkup were both awarded a Squadron Marksman Badge, and Cdt Christopher Moffitt qualified for the next level of award, the Wing Marksman Badge.
Target rifle shooting is a popular activity at 361 Squadron and these three cadets are the latest of many who have been awarded marksmanship awards.
More information on shooting in the ATC is available here.
Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Training Scheme
Cadet Warrant Officer David Elliott has recently been selected for a place on the Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Training Scheme.
David will receive a number of hours training
in air navigation, including practical exercises in Grob Tutor aircraft,
where he will tell the pilot where to go (politely of course!) and successful
completion of this course will result in the award of the Air Cadet Pilot
Air Navigator Badge.
This is the first time that a cadet from 361 Squadron has been awarded a place on this scheme.
Wing Rugby Blue and Regional Team Selection
Cadet Jamie Hutchinson from 361 Squadron has recently qualified for a Durham / Northumberland Wing Blue for representing the wing in the North Region Junior Rugby competition which was recently held at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
Jamie has also been selected to play in the regional team so will also qualify for a North Region Blue.
Regional Blue Awarded to 361 Squadron Cadet
Cadet
Warrant Officer David Elliott has added a North Region Blue to his growing
collection of awards.
A Regional Blue is awarded for representing the Region in a sporting, or other competition, and CWO Elliot gained this award by participating in the cross country competition where his team finished in third position overall.
Location of Summer Camps Announced
Summer Camp in 2005 for 361 Squadron will be at RAF Halton, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
RAF
Halton is one of the Royal Air Force's most historic stations having first
been used by the Royal Flying Corps in 1913, and is built on land that was
once one of the estates owned by Alfred Rothschild, of the famous banking
family. (The Officer's Mess at RAF Halton is the mansion built by the
Rothschild's in the style of a French chateaux.)
Halton is now one of the Royal Air Force's main training establishments, and provides a wide range of courses including Basic Recruit and Trade Training.
New 361 Squadron Web Site launched!
The new 361 (Gateshead) Squadron web site went live on Wednesday, 22nd December 2004.
The site is packed with information about the Air Cadet Organisation, and 361 Squadron in particular and includes full contact information for Gateshead's highest flying organisation for young people.
361 Squadron Cadets awarded Wing Blues
Three cadets from 361 (Gateshead) Squadron were recently presented with Durham/Northumberland Wing Blue awards for being chosen to represent the wing in the North Region Cross-Country and Rugby competitions.
Cadet Warrant Officer David Elliott and Sergeant Amy Pooley were both selected for the wing Cross-Country teams, whilst Corporal Adam Rewcastle played in the senior rugby competition.
CWO Elliott's team won their event, (which was against the other five wings in the region) so he was also awarded with a Gold Medal for his part in the team's success.
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