Squadron History
In 1938, when the threat of an impending war was becoming more of a certainty, the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) was formed under the guidance of the Air League of the British Empire.
The first squadron was formed at Leicester in July 1938.
The aim of the training was to “Train youths in all matters connected with aviation” and boys between 14 and 18 were allowed to join.
A squadron consisted of 100 boys, divided into flights of 25 and by the end of that year, only five months after, forty one new squadrons had been formed.
During 1939 more than 16,800 boys and 700 officers were members of the ADCC. The General Secretary of the ADCC was Air Commodore Chamier who devised the Motto “Venture Adventure” which we still use today.
The obvious advantage of having young men who had received some initial training in “all matters connected with aviation” was welcomed by the Royal Air Force and as a result a close working relationship developed. Some of the more lucky cadets whose units were close to RAF stations carried out the first glider training.
By 1940 the ADCC was making such a contribution to the recruitment for the RAF that it was decided by the War Cabinet to establish an organisation on the widest basis to provide pre-entry training for candidates for aircrew and technical duties for both the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm.
Air Commodore Chamier
As a result of this, the Air Training Corp was established. In September 1940 there were 18,489 Cadets in the ADCC.
Throughout the war years the Air Training Corps became one of the most important pre-service training organisations providing the RAF with recruits who were “airminded” when they enlisted.
It was not an easy task for the many volunteer officers and instructors, who were all employed in their various jobs of “war work” during the day or night and then, as they do today, spend their spare time in training their cadets.
On 31st March 1941, No. 1324 (Blackburn Aircraft) Squadron was officially founded in Brough by aircraft pioneer Robert Blackburn OBE AMICE MIMechE FRAeS as part of the North East Command.
It formed a part of the Hull ATC Wing along with Nos. 152, 192, 763, and 1369 until late 1947, when it became attached to Central and East Yorkshire Wing, under the command of Wing Commander A Hartley OBE, with its headquarters at Heslington Hall in York.
Over 100 boys registered their interest and the first to enlist was Kenneth Leslie Hopkins.
Squadron founder Robert Blackburn is famous for his company Blackburn Aircraft, which designed and built iconic aircraft such as the Blackburn Beverley and the Blackburn Buccaneer at its Brough based factory.
Mr Robert Blackburn OBE
The squadron’s first Commanding Officer was Flight Lieutenant GW Saynor, who had served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War.
Source: Flt Lt HJ Bainbridge BEM (1992): 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Squadron: A History
Our old squadron hut, based on former BAe Systems Brough land, Skillings Lane.
The repurposed Cadet Training Centre on the corner of Skillings Lane, which housed both the Air Training Corps & Army Cadet Force from 2010 until 2022.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Cunliffe-Lister, opens the Cadet Training Centre alongside Colonel David Fuller ACF.
The Buccaneer that guarded the gates of the new Cadet Training Centre.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Cunliffe-Lister, talks with the banner bearer of 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Squadron.
In 2022, with the loss of our Cadet Training Centre at Brough Business Park during the pandemic, we were lucky to find a home at Halifax Barracks on Beverley Road, Hull (the former home of the now defunct 872 (Hull West) Squadron).