TH
ANNIVERSARY
Squadron, with its headquarters situated at Boxhill. 2121 was so flourishing that it was made independent from 1056 Squadron by the end of the Second World War and is still flourishing today. Abingdon School and Eastbourne College also quickly split off at the end of the Second World War, as Eastbourne returned to its school grounds and Abingdon built their own CCF; but continued to maintain their own Air Cadet Section. It didn’t take long after the War for Radley to fully formulate its entire CCF, this happening in 1948. The 75th Anniversary Reunion and celebration of 1056 Squadron on the 24th April consisted of two parts.
Firstly, a formal Parade led by Cadet FS Berger and a full inspection of all the Flights in their original positions, by Air Marshal Sir Barry North. The inspection as a whole was a huge success, with all cadets across all three Flights being up to standard and the drill was masterfully accompanied by Radley College’s CCF band, conducted by Radley’s Cpl Bowesman-Jones. After the Parade, Sir Barry North gave a noteworthy speech, acknowledging the pride, integrity and sense of duty which the cadets showed, praising them for maintaining these high standards. He went on to talk about how far the CCF and especially the air cadets had come: from a few
senior cadets being unofficially given the title in the 1930s, to a force numbering almost 43,000 and with no sign of this expansion slowing. The whole event ended with a Service of Thanksgiving and reunion, pulling at the patriotism of all who were present with hymns, as well as casting an eye back at the air cadets who had lost their lives protecting our country. The reunion proved a wonderful event. Seb Berger B Social, 6.1
THE RADLEIAN
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