56 (Woolwich) Squadron ATC - Royal Air Force Cadets

08/10/2026

https://youtu.be/-kBbTbZSaq4?si=GlTXIyXR7FcJBqE7 We still remember our cadets who went on to serve in the Second World War who never returned. Remembering Aircraftman Kenneth Ding London Wing - Royal Air Force Air Cadets Royal Borough of GreenwichSt George's Garrison Church Trust

Remembering Aircraftman Second Class Kenneth Thomas DingDuring th...

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

NATIONAL CADETS WEEK – DAY 4: CADETS SAVING LIVES

The skills you learn as a cadet really can save a life.

Day 4 of National Cadets Week 2026 is about recognising young people who have put their training into action when it mattered most.

For Cadet Linara Shikhaliyeva of 56 (Woolwich) Squadron, London Wing, that moment came just one week after completing her St John Youth First Aid Course.

While travelling to her Squadron, Linara came across a woman in medical distress. Rather than walking past or waiting for somebody else to act, she stepped forward. Using the first aid skills she had only recently learned, she assessed the scene, followed DRABC, reassured the casualty and recognised symptoms consistent with a possible stroke. She called the emergency services and remained with the woman until paramedics arrived.

What makes her actions even more remarkable? Linara was just 14 years old.

While others nearby were unsure what to do, Linara had the confidence to take control and put her training into practice. Her actions have since been formally recognised, with her citation noting that her swift intervention helped prevent the casualty from coming to further harm.

Across the Cadet Forces, young people learn first aid not simply to earn a qualification or a badge, but to give them the knowledge, confidence and ability to act when somebody needs them.

Linara's story is a fantastic example of exactly why that training matters.

Training. Confidence. Action. A young person making a genuine difference when somebody needed help.

05/10/2026

📣 SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS: It’s the first-ever ! 📣Let’s stop moaning about todays youth—they are the absolute best thing about our country. Every single week, we see our incredible cadets step up, back themselves, and smash their goals.The Cadet Forces give young people a platform to become independent, learn to manage teams, step into leadership, and truly stand out from the crowd. For so many of us, this unit isnt just a club—it’s a second family. When these young people enter the workplace, they are already miles ahead of the competition. I am so incredibly humbled and lucky to work with such dedicated, inspiring individuals at 56(Woolwich)Squadron and across the Wing and beyond. Let’s nurture them, invest in them, and celebrate them this week! 🇬🇧✨📍 Greater London Reserve Forces' & Cadets' Association X-Forces Enterprise Regional Commandant LASER Air Cadets Royal Air Force Air Cadets Royal Borough of Greenwich Royal Air Force London & South East Region Air Cadets London Wing - Royal Air Force Air Cadets YOU London

23/09/2026

New Squadron member waiting for the Squadron to open

20/09/2026

A Chance Encounter with a Living Legend: Meeting Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell DFC Whilst on my way to the Royal Air Force service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey today, I was waiting at the station when I spied a gentleman walking towards me. He came over and sat next to me. I noticed he was wearing the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), which obviously made me curious, so I inquired if he was also on his way to Westminster Abbey.We sparked up a conversation, and he informed me of his service career and his age. He kindly suggested that he could come and speak to our Cadets that he handed me his business card. My God!! It was Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell DFC, and he is only 105 years of age! Meeting him was an absolute honour, as Colin is a true living legend. He is the last surviving RAF pilot to have flown the legendary de Havilland Mosquito (the famous "Wooden Wonder") in combat during the Second World War with No. 608 (Pathfinder) Squadron. During the war, he flew 50 incredibly perilous bombing raids over Germany, including 13 directly over the heavily defended skies of Berlin. As a Pathfinder, his job was exceptionally dangerous: flying ahead of the main bomber streams at night to visually locate and mark targets with flares.Despite being 105, Colin remains unbelievably sharp, witty, and active. Just recently, he published his bestselling wartime memoir, Bloody Dangerous, and even had a private audience with His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace, he told me he was told he would only be given 10 minutes with the King; the King give 35 minutres He often jokes that his secret to longevity is staying busy, enjoying good company, and a bit of alcohol! If we are privileged enough to arrange his visit, our Cadets will be listening to a masterclass in history, resilience, and British aviation heritage. It was an unforgettable Squadron visit , and a reminder of the extraordinary heroes walking among us. Comdt AC London & South East Region - London & South East Region - RAFAC London Wing - LaSER

20/09/2026

20/09/2026

Cadets across the wing attended the Annual Royal Air Force Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey

19/09/2026

18/09/2026