ADCC Cadet2227 [Mid Gwendraeth]
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Air Commodore Chamier is the man who created the Air Training Corps. He was the son of a major general. After being loaned to the Royal Flying Corps [the forerunners of the Royal Air Force] by the Army during World War 1 and later transferring to the Royal Air Force he eventually retired from service in 1929. Against a background of rising interest in aviation and with clouds of war forming over Europe he came up with the idea of forming an aviation cadet corps.
In 1938 Air Commodore Chamier came up with a plan to form an Air Defence Cadet Corps [ADCC]. His idea was to attract and train young men who had an interest in aviation, from all over the United Kingdom. He planned to set up Squadrons of young cadets in as many towns and cities as possible with the aid of local people.
Young men rushed in there thousands to join the new found Corps. The Cadets were asked to pay a weekly subscription of 3d [old pennies]. Each squadron's aim was to prepare cadets for joining the RAF. They tried to give the cadets as much service and aviation background as possible.
ADCC Cadet
By 1938 the ADCC were restricted because of the approach of the Second World War. Many ADCC instructors and officers were called up of regular service. Cadets were used to carry messages, they helped with clerical duties, and they gave helping hands with aircraft handling and in movement of stores and equipment.
Throughout the early stages of the war, the government received good reports as to the quality of cadets entering the RAF. They were so impressed that it asked the ADCC to training men who were waiting to be called up. The ADCC took the responsibility and in a short time produced well-qualified individuals who quickly passed basic training.
Towards the end of 1940 the government realised the value of the ADCC and took control. Which led to the birth of the AIR TRAINING CORPS on February 5th 1941, with King George agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief.
Within the first month of the old ADCC had virtually doubled to over 400 squadrons with in a year it was 8 times as large. The new ATC badge was designed with it the Corps motto "VENTURE ADVENTURE".
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