February 1941

Flying officer Winlaw represented the Air ministry at a meeting held with Sir Offley Wakeman to discuss the formation of an ATC unit in Shrewsbury. On Friday 14th of February, boys between the ages of 16 and 18 attended a meeting at Shrewsbury Technical College to register interest in the Air Training Corps, The Mayor of Shrewsbury reported that 150 boys filled in preliminary enrolment forms.

March 1941

The Official formation of the squadron took place on the 1 March 1941 and occupied a group of Huts on the Technical college grounds adjacent to the Shrewsbury Town Football Club stadium. The Priory School became the regular meeting place soon after. The first squadron commander was Eric E. Morgan, a solicitor and an ex - RNAS officer. The Squadron adjutant was Fg Off A C Wales. There was a Medical examination required and a compulsory PT test where the following requirements needed to be met. Run 100 yards (91.4 meters) in 13 seconds, High jump 4 feet. Long jump 15 feet. Clear 4ft 3inches with any style of vault. Run 1 mile in 6 minutes. Walk 5 miles in 1hr 10 min’s. Classes were given in Armourment, Aircraft Identification, Maths, Morse code and Navigation.

May 1941

Almost all the employers in the town had re-arranged cadets working hours to permit them attending the Squadron twice a week and one evening at the weekend. Plt Off Baldwin, a fighter Pilot attended one Sunday parade to answer questions from cadets. The squadron strength peaked at 185 cadets.

June 1941

The Comrades of the Royal Air Forces association donated £20 (equivalent of approx £1000 in today’s money).

July 1941

In the July 70 cadets attended RAF Shawbury for their first station visit, followed closely by RAF Condover

August 1941

In August Parade Nights were Mondays Thursdays and Fridays, with further classes on Saturday and Sunday Evenings. There were also church parades most weekends. Lieutenant Commander A Goodfellow (Royal Navy) attended the squadron to give a presentation on the Fleet Air Arm.

On August 30th the squadron held its inter flight sports competition with members of Wrekin and Ellesmere squadrons taking part in the open events.

October 1941

Uniforms became available to all cadets by the October.

November 1941

Cadets Attended RAF Shawbury, Many cadets took the opportunity to try out the browning Machine gun, whilst the most regularly attending cadets got to fly in an RAF Bomber. Later the same month two Parties visited RAF Rednal and were shown around Spitfires.

By the end of the year the entry age was reduced to 15 ½ years.

Overall 1942

The squadron strength had grown to include another flight consisting of pupils from the Priory School and 80% of cadets in the squadron had shown a keenness to be Pilots.

The first former cadet of the squadron to become a pilot was Eric Charles Hughes. He was killed in action over Holland flying in a Stirling I with 218 squadron on 26th June 1943 (This was the 2nd 1000 bomber raid on Bremen).

The summer camp hailed what was to be a regular tradition for 1119 in that they were the best squadron present.

By the beginning of this year the squadron had had 67 cadets join the RAF, 3 in the Fleet Air Arm and another 41 obtaining deferred entry service into the RAF. Cadets were entitled to wear a white flash on their service caps should they be accepted by the RAF for Pilot training.

October 1942

October saw the formation of a flight at Minsterley (also Known as Rea Valley) attached to the squadron.

The age limit for joining the ATC was reduced to 15 years 3 months although uniforms still would still not be issued until cadets were 15 1/2.

November 1942

County ATC Cup final (1/05/1942)

Flt. Lt. Morgan re-enlists in the Fleet Air Arm, and H. Haughton takes command. football team competes in the county ATC cup

Overall 1943

By the beginning of this year the squadron had had 67 cadets join the RAF, 3 in the Fleet Air Arm and another 41 obtaining deferred entry service into the RAF. Cadets were entitled to wear a white flash on their service caps if, they had been accepted by the RAF for Pilot training. Cadets accepted by the RAF, but who had not passed their proficiency exams, were entitled to wear a “V” on their sleeve. Cadets from the squadron attended a summer camp at RAF Wymswold in Leicestershire. The squadron had several Glider flights at Longmynd.

The squadron had station visits to RAF Shawbury RAF Rednal and RAF Condover.

Overall 1944

In June the squadron strength was 136 with a strong band. Meetings were held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (for swimming). Coaching in boxing took place on Wednesdays. The squadron flights were rearranged as follows No 1 (school) No’s 2 and 3 town flights with the 4th being detached at Minsterley. The squadron attended two main summer camps at RAF Tilstock and RAF Halfpenny Green. A further 4 cadets attended a camp at RAF Pershore. There were also Station visits to RAF Shawbury and RAF Condover

Overall 1945

27 cadets visited RAF Shawbury in July. .Merit prize awarded to Cpl Morgan. Summer camp was held at RAF Shawbury 41 cadets attended. 22 from the school flight.10 from Minsterley and 9 from the town flight. Town flight stood down in September – the squadron maintaining its existence through the Priory school flight and Minsterley flight. The Band and training equipment was transferred to Minsterley and Squadron colours went to School flight.

Overall 1946

Flt Lt H Houghton resigns to take up an overseas appointment. The squadron was taken over by Flt Lt F H J Wilkins who managed to obtain temporary accommodation at the T.A centre in Longdon Coleham. A publicity/ recruiting campaign was initiated and enough cadets were enrolled to rebuild the town flight. Minsterley flight continued to parade 20 cadets

Overall 1947

30 places allocated to squadron at RAF Valley for annual camp on 3rd – 10th August. Due to difficulties in reforming, 1193 (North Sropshire) squadron Ellesmere flight became attatched to the squadron but after three months the flight disbanded. Paraded at RAF Cosford on 6th June. Visited RAF Bridgnorth. Cadets reached the finals in Swimming, Athletics and Shooting. A football team entered the local league with little success. Squadron presented with ensign by Air Commodore D’eath in December and colours dedicated at Meole Brace Church. Cadets had some 5½ hour flights out of RAF Shawbury. The squadron was forced to vacate the drill hall by the end of March so hastily relocated at the Abbey Congregational Church Schoolrooms opposite the Technical College in Abbey Foregate. The squadron attended RDF day.

Overall 1948

Two 0.22 calibre rifles were allocated to the squadron. Annual camp at St Athan during 1st – 8th August attended by 42 cadets. Six other cadets attended Valley with 1130 (Wrekin) squadron. Winners of both county and wing athletics championships held at Ellerdine. Squadron football team lost to Wellington Squadron in the final of the county football championship. During this year the entry age was reduced to 14. Winners of the Challenge shield for boxing between the Town’s ATC, ACF and TA units. Cadets attended a parade at RAF Cosford. The squadron had two visits to RAF Shawbury and another to a factory in Castle Bromwich.

Overall 1949

Cadets from the squadron took part in the ATC Boxing championships in Edinburgh. Received visit from the local M.P, and the Mayor. Commanding Officer F.H.J Wilkins was promoted to Sqn. Leader to take on the District Inspecting Officer role. Squadron band restarted. Squadron made news in national newspapers for an endurance test *. For the second year running both county and wing athletics championships were secured. Cadets returned to RAF St Athan for summer camp.