History of 2353 SQN. It began in the 1940’s era, believe it or not.
Read on to learn more...
No 1 Welsh Wing Air Training Corps
HISTORY OF
2353 (Ystrad Mynach) SQUADRON
Years 1960 - 2000
Rear of Central Street | Ystrad Mynach
Circa 1942 - Where It All Began…
The Squadron Commander of Caerphilly Squadron at that time was Flight Lieutenant Bell (pictured 6th from left, front row), the Headmaster of Caerphilly Boys Grammar School. The Squadron Commander of the Ystrad Mynach detachment was Pilot Officer Whiting (pictured 5th from left, front row).
The Squadron is located in the town of Ystrad Mynach, 6 miles north of Caerphilly, which is 7 miles north of Cardiff and is in the Rhymney Valley.
Recent research has revealed the existence of an Air Training Corps unit in Ystrad Mynach in the early 1940's. It is understood that at that time, parades were held in the School Hall, Caerphilly Road, Ystrad Mynach. The hall was situated behind what is now still called 'School House'. The 1942 photograph shows Staff and Cadets formed in front of the wall opposite the current Caerphilly County Borough Council Education Offices (camera facing west). The hall would have been situated to the right of the camera.
It is suggested that the Squadron did not have its own identification number but was a detachment of Caerphilly Squadron.
1960 | The Official Formation of 2353 Sqn…
It is worth noting that one of the first Cadets enrolled in 1960 is still on the staff of the Squadron, Adult Warrant Officer S G (Sid) Inseal. (See photograph above — 2nd from left, 4th row from front.) Flt Lt IP Thomas (our 1st OC) is front & centre
The existing Squadron was formed in 1960 and although the certificate authorising the formation of the Squadron is undated, records held indicate the Squadron's initial parade was on the 5th September 1960 (see photograph below). The Squadron paraded at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, Nelson Road, Ystrad Mynach and Flight Lieutenant I P Thomas was appointed the first Squadron Commander.
In urgent need of a dedicated headquarters, a plot of land was obtained at the rear of Central Street adjacent to the telephone exchange. A Civilian Committee, under the Chairmanship of the late Mr. Vincent Williams who was the Headmaster of Pengam Boys Grammar School, initiated the purchase of the land. The cost of the land was £3,000 (including freehold) paid for with a grant from the Air Ministry (now MOD Air). A local Estate Agent, the late Captain V Cole, enthusiastically assisted this. The present Spooner hut was erected in early 1962.
Squadron Roll Of Honours
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1960 — 1963 Flight Lieutenant I P Thomas
1963 — 1964 Flight Lieutenant R Burgin
1964 — 1966 Flight Lieutenant R Rudge
1966 — 1967 Flight Lieutenant J Pryce-Jones
1968 — 1970 Flight Lieutenant H J Lewis
1970 — 1975 Flight Lieutenant T J Davies
1975 — 1980 Flight Lieutenant G A Ponsford
1980 — 1985 Flight Lieutenant B C Roche
1995 — Flight Lieutenant V E Powell (F)
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1960 — 1970 Mr V Williams
1970 — 1989 Mr W Norman
1989 — Mr D E Powell
Squadron Achievements
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1999 - Cadet Warrant Officer M Price (F)
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1964 - Squadron represented Wales Region in Lees Trophy (6th)
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1969 - Squadron won this Trophy (first time in Wales)
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1965 - Retained Wing Drill Cup having won it 3 times. Corps Blues
1990 - Cadet Cpl A Waythe (Rugby)
1998 - Cadet Sergeant D Brake (Athletics)
1999 - Cadet D Acreman (Rugby)
Cadet Sergeant D Brake (Rugby)
Cadet Cpl M Davies (Rugby)
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1963 - Squadron judo team displayed at the Royal Albert Hall during Festival of Remembrance.
1964 - Link Trainer provided and installed by Wing Commander (Engineering) Royal Air Force St Athan. It was maintained by Teesdale Tools of Bristol who's Managing Direct was Frank Rainbow, also Chief Designer of Standard Motor Company.
1983 - Sergeant Stephen Morgan was awarded the AOC's Special Commendation for Saving the Life of a Cadet at Camp, using CPR.
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1964 - Cadet Flight Sergeant J Rodway
1965 - Cadet Flight Sergeant M Mylan
1981 - Cadet Flight Sergeant R Suchorzewski
1998 - Cadet Sergeant J Ball
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1973 - Cadet Flight Sergeant D Brown (Canada)
1982 - Cadet Flight Sergeant R Suchorzewski (Sweden)
1989 - Cadet Warrant Officer S A Miles (F) (Hong Kong)
1993 - Cadet Warrant Officer T Powell (F) (Canada)
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1963 - 1968 Cadet Warrant Officer M Mylan — Chief Flying Instructor, Cambrian Flying School.
1969 - 1973 Cadet Flight Sergeant D Brown joined the Royal Air Force in 1973 as Technical Apprentice. Commissioned as Flying Officer in 1978 from the rank of Junior Technician. Graduated as Pilot in 1979. Flew Nimrods with 42 Squadron during Falklands Campaign.
1984 - 1988 Cadet Corporal Shaw — obtained Private Pilot Licence from private funding. Entered the Royal Air Force for Officer Training. Commissioned in 1991. Awarded Pilot's Brevet in 1992. At present he is with 8 Squadron flying Sentry E3D AWACS as a Flight Lieutenant, being the youngest Pilot to be made E3D Captain.
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Thomas R — Royal Air Force (Boy entrant)
Wheeler R — Royal Military Police
Moore C — Welsh Regiment
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Bowden G — Welsh Regiment
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Taylor R — Royal Air Force (Boy entrant)
Blackwell D — Royal Navy
Preece C — Royal Air Force
Rodway J — Royal Air Force Aircrew
James R — Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Edmunds D — Royal Air Force
Hester M — Royal Air Force
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Yorath M — Army
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Grabowski J — South Wales Borderers
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Summers — Royal Air Force Police Royal
Eddington — Air Force Regiment
Rudge A — BOAC Pilot
Hurley — Royal Air Force Aircrew
Williams J — Royal Air Force Apprentice
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Brown D — Royal Air Force Apprentice
Wood P — Royal Air Force Engineering
Hipwell D — Army
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Morris M — Royal Air Force
Pepler A — Royal Air Force
Powell — Royal Air Force
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Searchfield M — Royal Air Force Catering
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Limberick W — Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
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Suchorzewski — Royal Navy Articifer
Thomas G — Army Air Corps
Roche C B — Royal Air Force Engineering
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Pritchard H — Welsh Guards/Parachute Regiment/Adjutant General Corps
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Tucker M — Royal Air Force
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Hopkins A — Royal Air Force Apprentice
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Shaw J — Royal Air Force Aircrew
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Evans T H — Royal Air Force Aircrew
Humphries C — Royal Air Force Police
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Millard J — Royal Regiment of Wales
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Croll D — Royal Navy Submarines
Powell E — Royal Regiment of Wales
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Powell T (F) — Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
May R — Royal Marines
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Gittins S — Royal Logistics Corps
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Bronze — 39
Silver — 13
Gold — 1
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