Royal Air Force Air Cadets 11F Squadron return to their historic home
31 March 2025
11F (Brooklands) Squadron have returned to the original location of their formation as an Air Defence Cadet Corps unit in October 1938. This was officially marked at Brooklands Museum with a march-in parade on Saturday 29th March, reviewed by Regional commandant London & SE Region Group Captain Walton, with local VIPs, parents and former cadets present.
The Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) was the precursor to the Air Training Corps, what is now the community based element of the RAF Air Cadets. 11F Sqn was formed at the Vickers Factory in Weybridge, Surrey located on the historic Brooklands motor racing circuit – the first purpose built motor racing circuit in the UK. At the time of the squadron’s formation, motor racing was winding down, with the circuit closing for racing in 1939. However, aviation had been a main activity on the site since 1908, with flying training as well as aircraft manufacture. Vickers built the famous Wellington bomber here, as well as more Hawker Hurricanes than any other site, the site went on to produce other iconic aircraft such as the VC10 and Concorde. The Squadron’s first Officer Commanding, Squadron Leader Maunde-Thompson a retired army Major, even learnt to fly at Brooklands in 1936.
Vickers became part of BAC and the British Aerospace, which left the site in 1989. A few years later a section of the site became Brooklands Museum which celebrates the pioneering activities of the site for both British motor racing and aviation.
The Squadron remained on the Brooklands site during the second world war, during which time they became 11F (Brooklands) Squadron Air Training Corps and into the 1950s before they moved to the nearby Brooklands College. Unfortunately, last year they became homeless after the site their HQ was located on was sold for housing development. This provided the opportunity to investigate a move back home to Brooklands Museum. A great deal of thanks must go to Sqn Ldr Neil Banks, the L&SE Region Infrastructure lead, and his team, as well as the museum staff for enabling this to happen.
The current Officer Commanding 11F Sqn, Flight Lieutenant Barry Poulter, recognised the support of the museum in his speech to guests at the event,
“The biggest thanks must of course go to Alex Patterson, CEO of Brooklands Museum and David Hopkins-Holder Chief Operating Officer. Without their vision, understanding and patience, in offering us a home, and along with the plans afoot for more cadet involvement, we would not be here today. Thanks to their vision, we are the only unit in the country operating from their original home. I do not think they realised until recently, the full impact of their decision, and what it means to the cadets to be back at the ancestorial home of the Corps, British motorsports and British aviation. Thank you both.”
Alex Patterson, Chief Executive, Brooklands Museum, commented “It’s wonderful to have the Air Cadets 11F (Brooklands) Squadron return home. As a youth organisation, the Air Cadets provide amazing opportunities for young people to develop and grow in key skills around leadership, communication and collaboration. Brooklands Museum has a long legacy of aviation advancement during the 20th century and for this to be utilised as part of the permanent home for 11F Squadron is a fantastic way to inspire the next generation of aviators and engineers.”
On the parade the cadets were also inspected by former OC 600 Sqn RAuxAF, Wing Commander Duddy, a former cadet from 11F Sqn. A fitting moment, as he retires from the RAF shortly, that one of his final acts in uniform is a parade with the unit where his RAF journey started.
The Squadron were supported on parade with the Wing Band, today mainly made up of cadets from nearby 1075 (Camberley) Squadron, and WO McDonnell from 261 (Guildford) Squadron who has been supporting the cadets with drill.
