868 Mirfield Squadron Air Cadets

868 Mirfield Squadron Air Cadets Up-to-date announcements and news from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron Air Cadets

Last night, in their temporary home at Castle Hall Academy, the Squadron hosted a visit from West Yorkshire Police.Durin...
11/04/2026

Last night, in their temporary home at Castle Hall Academy, the Squadron hosted a visit from West Yorkshire Police.
During the evening Tom Betts gave a presentation about Drugs Awareness, heavily based on his past experience of dependency, and provided display samples to be viewed and hand outs for all.
Cadets also had the opportunity to look over a police van, including experiencing being 'locked-up' in the back. The evening finished with another presentation by PCSO Carol Kaye about her work as a Police Community Support Officer.

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Kim Leadbeater MBE
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Many congratulations to our past Cadet Warrant Officer on his successful graduation from RAFC Cranwell as Flying Officer...
05/04/2026

Many congratulations to our past Cadet Warrant Officer on his successful graduation from RAFC Cranwell as Flying Officer Miles Gilroy.

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Kim Leadbeater MBE
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Last week saw the closure of the Squadron HQ on Huddersfield Road (leaving the site looking like a ghost town) and the t...
23/03/2026

Last week saw the closure of the Squadron HQ on Huddersfield Road (leaving the site looking like a ghost town) and the transfer of operations to Castle Hall Academy.
On Tuesday it was a largely familiarisation night and Sgt Silvester provided cadets with a detailed briefing about their new base. Squadron Chaplain, Rev Ian Jones, also provided an ad-hoc session for cadets.
Friday evening was Comic Relief night and an evening of fun and games for all, including:
- Best Joke Competition
- Dry Cracker eating contest
- Raffle, with a special Red-Nose cake as star prize
- Splat the NCO
Over £127 was raised for the charity, and Cadet Evan Rayner was delighted to win the raffled cake, on only his second week with the Squadron!
At the weekend, cadets attended an Expedition Planning Day, held at 185 (Batley) Squadron, and Blake Hepworth and Archie Redfern were members of the South & West Yorkshire team in the North region football competition (the Wing came second overall).

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber
Kim Leadbeater MBE

These are really times of great change for 868 (Mirfield) Squadron, last month, Civilian Instructor Leah Silvester made ...
16/03/2026

These are really times of great change for 868 (Mirfield) Squadron, last month, Civilian Instructor Leah Silvester made the transition to uniformed staff when she was appointed as Acting Sergeant.
Also, from the 1 March Peter Doubell has taken on the role of Sector Commander for South and West Yorkshire Wing Sector 2, with promotion to the rank of Squadron Leader. Pilot Officer Matthew Walker is to be Officer i/c until a new Squadron Commander is appointed.

Squadron Leader Doubell has been an adult volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets for over 50 years and Squadron Commander in Mirfield for more than half that time. He reflected on his impending departure with the comment “the time I have spent at 868 Squadron has been the most enjoyable time in all the many years that I have been involved with Air Cadets, going back to my first recorded attendances as youngster in September 1966. However, the cadets of the Squadron really deserve someone younger to be their leader. I am sure I will continue to be familiar face as this is one of the squadrons in my new sector.”

But mostly, the Squadron is not just going to be bidding farewell to their ‘boss’, but also to their building! After a protracted period of nearly 2½ years from when it was first mooted, the plan to replace the Squadron HQ with a brand-new Joint Cadet Centre (to accommodate local units of both Air Cadets and Army Cadets), is going ahead.

The redevelopment of the site will take some months, and during that time 868 (Mirfield) Squadron ill re-locate to Castle Hall Academy, with the kind support of the Head teacher, Paul Brook and the agreement of the Impact Multi Academy Trust. With Castle Hall as their new base of operations, the Squadron is sure they can continue to deliver the full and varied programme of activities cadets have enjoyed in their own HQ.

Work is currently underway to vacate the existing Air Cadet site and leave it free for developers to move in.

So, from Tuesday 17 March 868 Squadron will be meeting at Castle Hall Academy on Tuesday and Friday evenings, 7.30 pm - 9.45 pm. Contact can still be made via email, to:
[email protected] (general inquiries) or [email protected] (squadron commander)

Kim Leadbeater MBE
South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

This week, in recognition of British Science Week, the Squadron was delighted to be joined by some very special visitors...
12/03/2026

This week, in recognition of British Science Week, the Squadron was delighted to be joined by some very special visitors.
The Squadron hosted a visit by the Pro Vice Chancellor of Huddersfield University, John Murray Professor of Robotics and Autonomous Systems, who brought with him two friends: a robot ‘human’ called Harold and robot ‘dog’ named Skye.
He provided an enthralling evening for the cadets, and although they usually engaged with guest speakers, they are rarely seen to be so captivated and engrossed in the subject.
The amazing demonstrations Prof Murray provided showed how very advanced the subject area of robotics has become, and his discussions focussed on the directions that future developments are likely to take; this input may well influence the future career choices of some cadets.
The audience were astounded to see Harold dancing and Skye performing acrobatic flips. So delighted were cadets, that by the end of the session they wanted to appoint Harold as an honorary cadet!

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Its been a busy few weeks for 868 Squadron (Part 2).In recent weeks, the squadron has hosted a afternoon of Cream Team a...
09/03/2026

Its been a busy few weeks for 868 Squadron (Part 2).
In recent weeks, the squadron has hosted a afternoon of Cream Team and Spring Fayre, featuring the renowned catering for the tea, various stalls selling their wares and a raffle - Cadet Alexander Knibbs was delighted with his prizes.
Also cadets have undertaken training for the St John Ambulance Youth First Aid qualification, and successful achievement has meant Bronze First Aid badges have been awarded to: Max Allen, Franklin Darby, Riley Ferry, Jenny Hogan, Mohammed Moughal, Scarlett Ramsden and Alistair Terry
In another recent activity, cadets have participated in a Skiing Taster Session at Xscape organised by Sgt Hutchinson of 134 (Askern) Squadron.

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Its been a very busy few weeks for 868 Squadron. Having been chosen as the South & West Yorkshire Wing nomination for th...
09/03/2026

Its been a very busy few weeks for 868 Squadron.
Having been chosen as the South & West Yorkshire Wing nomination for the 2026 Lees Trophy Competition, they hosted a visit by staff from HQ North Region to inspect and review the squadron: Wing Commander Harris and WO Burbridge. During their visit they inspected the cadets on parade, received a presentation from Flt Lt Doubell and Sgt Silvester on the squadron and the achievements and participation of cadets and staff. They also talked to members of the Squadron Civilian Welfare Committee and toured the Squadron to observe a variety of typical activities, including:
Fieldcraft
Flight Simulator Instruction
First Aid and Casualty Make up
Radio Operations
Sign Language Instruction
A number of other invited guests were present to support the Squadron on the evening: Councillor Stuart Naisbett (Mayor of Mirfield), Paul Brook (Headteacher of Castle Hall Academy), and members of the local Royal Air Force Association (including Tom Miskell who was the officer that established 868 Squadron as a detached flight of 185 (Batley) Squadron in 1978).

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Official recognition for our own WO Alford who is the mainstay of the Squadron's ongoing success in the Duke of Edinburg...
20/02/2026

Official recognition for our own WO Alford who is the mainstay of the Squadron's ongoing success in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme!

As part of last week's 85th Anniversary of the Air Training Corps, 868 (Mirfield) Squadron held a special evening of cel...
12/02/2026

As part of last week's 85th Anniversary of the Air Training Corps, 868 (Mirfield) Squadron held a special evening of celebration. Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell gave a short presentation about the war-time experience and the formation of a local Air Cadet Squadron in Mirfield in 1941 - 1427 (Mirfield) Squadron, also mentioning some the various activities enjoyed in those times, by a rather different group of young people (boys only from the age of 16).
Squadron Chaplain, Rev Ian Jones, also led a short commemoration of the the Air Training Corps.
After those formalities, the cadets enjoyed a Pizza Party, in celebration of the event.

The end of January proved to be a good time for Mirfield Air Cadets - making sure that aviation is kept as a keen focus ...
07/02/2026

The end of January proved to be a good time for Mirfield Air Cadets - making sure that aviation is kept as a keen focus of their activities.
Not only did four cadets get to experience their first flights with 11 Air Experience Flight at RAF Leeming, but because off their other training at Squadron they also were able to gain their Blue Aviation Wings.
Congratulations to cadets Max Allen, Alexander Knibbs, Harry Lowther and Evie Paige.
Also, another six cadets got to attend 642 AGS (also at RAF Leeming) for some more advanced training on Ground Based Training Equipment (simulators) with instructors who all have "real world" flying qualifications, airline pilots etc. That led to the award of Bronze Aviation Wings for all six.
Well done to Sgt Alfie, Cpls Sam Thompson and Lailia Walker and cadets Samuel Howard, William Loveridge and Jayan Pathak.
South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

Today is the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps.These days, the two terms, “Air Cadets” and “Mi...
05/02/2026

Today is the 85th anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps.
These days, the two terms, “Air Cadets” and “Mirfield”, conjure up thoughts of 868 Squadron, but back in 1941 when the Air Training Corps was formed a different squadron number was assigned: 1427.
The Air Training Corps (ATC) was formed, on the 5th February 1941, “to provide for our youth the means of preparing themselves for air service in our Air Force or in its Reserves or Auxiliaries or in the Fleet Air Arm of our Navy” (from the Royal Warrant given at the Court of St James).
In April, Lt Col W A Hinchcliffe (District Controller of No 3 District of the ATC) addressed a meeting at the local grammar school about the ATC scheme, and by the end of the month, over 60 boys had indicated their decision to join, and so on the 5th May official recognition of the new unit was obtained: 1427 (Mirfield) Squadron Air Training Corps, only three months after the organisation was established!
The pictures show the 1427 Squadron in 1941, and the cadet NCO team.

South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber

One busy weekend for Mirfield Air Cadets.Last weekend, the Squadron held an Expedition Training Day on Saturday for thos...
29/01/2026

One busy weekend for Mirfield Air Cadets.
Last weekend, the Squadron held an Expedition Training Day on Saturday for those cadets starting out on their first experience of Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions in the coming season. The training covered kit requirements, appropriate foods, tents (practicing erecting and packing away) and an introduction to route planning; this involved 15 cadets.
Meanwhile, another three cadets attended Bronze Aviation training with 642 AGS at RAF Leeming and gained their Bronze wings. Well done to: Cpl Thompson and cadets Howard and Pathak.
Their success was repeated the following day by a second group of three cadets; well done also to: Sgt Abdy, Cpl Walker and Cdt Loveridge.
Activities continued on the Sunday when FS Dillon and cadets Bairstow, Howard and Senior attended the South & West Yorkshire Wing Clay Target shooting day at Park Lodge Shooting School, near Goole.
Also over the weekend, Sgt Graham and cadets Dove and Hinchliffe attended the Sector 2 Multi-Course weekend at 59 (Huddersfield) Squadron for the Introduction to Drones training delivered by Flt Lt Ainslie.
South & West Yorkshire Wing
North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Kim Leadbeater MBE
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
RFCA Yorkshire and The Humber
642 Aerospace Ground School

Address

Castle Hall Academy, Richard Thorpe Avenue
Mirfield
WF149PF

Opening Hours

Tuesday 7pm - 9:45pm
Friday 7pm - 9:45pm

Telephone

01924491591 (Tuesday and Friday Evenings)

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