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…

Group of original 1960's 2353 Air Cadets 'ATC' Squadron cadets in uniform posing for a formal photograph; black and white, historical.

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 was 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 was a Detached Flight of No. 1223 (Caerphilly) Squadron.

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' (located between the river bridge and roundabout).

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.

1960 | The Official Formation of 2353 Sqn…

A group photo of military personnel and civilians, including men in uniforms and suits, positioned in three rows. The setting appears to be a formal indoor area, possibly a mess hall, based on the sign in the background.

It is worth noting that one of the first Cadets enrolled in 1960 became an Adult Volunteer on the Squadron in C.2000s, 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.

  • 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 — 1995 Flight Lieutenant B C Roche

    1995 — 2006 Flight Lieutenant V E Powell (F)

    2007 - 2012 Flight Lieutenant D Williams

    2012-2013 Flt Lt A Wigley (Actual Finish year TBC)

    2015 – 2018 Squadron Leader A Organ (Wing Sector Officer)

    2018 – 2024 Flight Lieutenant [2022: Squadron Leader] AJV Bird

    2024- Flight Lieutenant AJ Lewis

  • 1960 — 1970 Mr V Williams

    1970 — 1989 Mr W Norman

    1989 — Mr D E Powell

Squadron Roll Of Honours

  • 1999 - Cadet Warrant Officer M Price (F)

  • 1964 - Squadron represented Wales Region in Lees Trophy (6th)

  • 1969 - Squadron won this Trophy (first time in Wales)

  • 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)

  • 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.

Squadron Achievements

  • 1964 - Cadet Flight Sergeant J Rodway

    1965 - Cadet Flight Sergeant M Mylan

    1981 - Cadet Flight Sergeant R Suchorzewski

    1998 - Cadet Sergeant J Ball

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • Thomas R — Royal Air Force (Boy entrant)

    Wheeler R — Royal Military Police

    Moore C — Welsh Regiment

  • Bowden G — Welsh Regiment

  • 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

  • Yorath M — Army

  • Grabowski J — South Wales Borderers

  • 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

  • Brown D — Royal Air Force Apprentice

    Wood P — Royal Air Force Engineering

    Hipwell D — Army

  • Morris M — Royal Air Force

    Pepler A — Royal Air Force

    Powell — Royal Air Force

  • Searchfield M — Royal Air Force Catering

  • Limberick W — Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  • Suchorzewski — Royal Navy Articifer

    Thomas G — Army Air Corps

    Roche C B — Royal Air Force Engineering

Cadets Entering HM Forces

  • Pritchard H — Welsh Guards/Parachute Regiment/Adjutant General Corps

  • Tucker M — Royal Air Force

  • Hopkins A — Royal Air Force Apprentice

  • Shaw J — Royal Air Force Aircrew

  • Evans T H — Royal Air Force Aircrew

    Humphries C — Royal Air Force Police

  • Millard J — Royal Regiment of Wales

  • Croll D — Royal Navy Submarines

    Powell E — Royal Regiment of Wales

  • Powell T (F) — Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service

    May R — Royal Marines

  • Gittins S — Royal Logistics Corps

  • Bronze — 39

    Silver — 13

    Gold — 1

  • Item description

Comparisons of Cadets entering Her/His Majesty's Forces from 2353 Squadron.

Bar chart showing distribution of frequency categories with one tall bar, one medium bar, and one short bar.
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