(ATC) Air Training Corps - Air Cadet’s badge (1940’s / 1950’s)

The Air Training Corps (ATC) was established in 1938 as the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) and whose cadets would be a source of recruits the Royal Air Force (RAF). In 1941, the ADCC came under government control, was reorganised and renamed as the Air Training Corps.

Today, the ATC remains a British youth based organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the RAF. ATC members are known as Air Cadets and membership is open to boys and girls aged from 12 to 20 years. There are around 40,000 cadets in about 940 Squadrons (local branches) across the UK (as at 2017). The ATC have admitted girls into their ranks since the early 1980’s.

The motto of the ATC is Venture Adventure and cadets can partake in a wide range of activities: sporting and academic activities (1st Diploma in Aviation Studies), leadership training, first aid, parade & drill training as well as opportunities to experience military life in the RAF and gain basic aviation training that includes flying an RAF glider and a Grob Tutor training aircraft. Cadets are issued with uniforms similar in colour and style to those worn by RAF personnel. Although the basic purpose of the ATC is no longer to provide a recruiting grounds for pilots and officers of the RAF, many RAF personnel including pilots, have previously been cadets of the ATC.

The ATC’s website states their aims as:

• Promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people.

• Provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life.

• Encourage the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship.

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This is an early lapel badge of the ATC and depicts the RAF Falcon and title. The earliest ATC enamel badges had a gilt plating and I believe this one in chrome to be a post-WW2 issue.

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References:

www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/who-we-are/ Air Training Corps website - about the ATC).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Training_Corps

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_Air_Cadets (The Air Cadets Organisation (ACO) manages both the ATC and the RAF Section of the Combined Cadet Force).

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/03/19/air-cadet-cuts-will-s... (The telegraph newspaper article 19th March 2016 – cut-backs severely curtailed flying and training opportunities for cadets of the ATC).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Air_Training_Corps_squadrons (Full list of ATC Squadrons throughout the UK).

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Enamels: 1 (blue).
Finish: Chrome plated.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Buttonhole (horseshoe shaped clasp).
Size: 7/8” diameter (22mm).
Process: Die stamped.
Imprint: No maker’s name or mark.

Taken on: June 27, 2017

Tags:

Air Training Corps

ATC

ACO

RAF Section

Combined Cadet Force

Royal Air Force

Department of Defence

military

uniformed youth organisations

RAF Falcon

enamel badge

Air Defence Cadet Corps

ADCC « less

Sets appears in: • Military related badges

Groups appears in: • ENAMEL BADGES

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix A400, f/8.5, 1/170 sec, 6.4mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix A400
Aperture:	f/8.5
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/170)
Focal Length:	6.4mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Digital Camera FinePix A400 Ver1.01
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