RAF Patch ATC R Region North And West England Air Training Corps

ATC Air Training Regions RAF Patch North And West England Regions Air Training Corps Patch Air Cadets 1980s Embroidered on twill Merrowed Edge 120mm by 100mm four and eleven sixteenth inches by four inches Free Shipping

ATC Air Training Regions RAF Patch North And West England

History ATC Air Training Regions

The UKs Air Cadet Organisation ACO or Air Cadets is a UK-wide cadet force sponsored by the Royal Air Force and operates as the Air Training Corps the RAFs cadet force divided into six regions 36 wings and more than 900 Squadrons within communities around the UK and the Combined Cadet Force made up of cadets from all three services in approximately 200 independent and state schools across the country. The organisation aims to promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people and to provide training including flying
which will be useful in the Services and civilian life and encouraging the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship. There are more than 40000 cadets aged 13 and 20 and additional adult RAF and civilian support staff.

In the later part of the 19 Century many schools formed uniformed units of adults and older boys to train and protect Britain in the event of attack
from overseas and were re-titled Officer Training Corps (OTC) in 1908.  During the 1920s schools began establishing OTC Air Sections in Army uniform but with RAF armbands.

The Air Defence Cadet Corps ADCC was established in 1938 to prepare young men for a life in aviation with the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm with the first 50 Squadrons registering becoming founder squadrons entitled to include the letter F after their squadron number with Leicester becoming the first ADCC squadron as No 1F Leicester Squadron in July 1938. By 1940 there were 207 squadrons with more than 20000 cadets. In February 1941 the ADCC was renamed the Air Training Corps. During the War the OTC Air Sections were absorbed into the ATC. In 1948 the OTC was renamed the Combined Cadet Force and most of the original OTC Air Sections became CCF (RAF) units and some CCF (RAF) sections carrying a history of nearly 150 years of service.

The Air Training Corpss six Regions each made up of five or six wings with over 900 Squadrons and detached flights are:-

Central & East Region

London & South East Region

North Region

Scotland & Northern Ireland Region

South West Region

Wales & West Region

This patch dates from the 1980s.