Happy 46th birthday to us!

On 1st June, 46 years ago, 2497 (Cosford) Squadron was formed with Flight Lieutenant Pybus RAF VR(T) as the Officer Commanding. The Squadron was formerly a Detached Flight of 1130 (Wrekin) Squadron which formed in April 1958 under Flight Lieutenant Pybus.

Before the formation of 2497 (Cosford) Squadron and the preceding Detached Flight, there was an Air Training Corps Squadron at Cosford just after the war, which met in the old guardroom on the other side of the airfield, now used by the Wrekin Gliding Club. Sadly, due to lack of documentation, little is known of this Squadron.

The Squadron first met in what was B lines on the camp, now the sports field, and then moved to the families club, then onto the museum site, and finally to its present place.

Since formation, the Squadron always had a band and took over from the RAF Apprentice Band which moved to RAF Halton, keeping some of the original instruments.

The original Civilian Committee were all ex-RAF officers and the meetings were held in the Officers’ Mess.


since 1971
0
Cadets have passed through the squadron*

Past cadets


A number of 2497 (Cosford) Squadron cadets have gone onto achieve a senior rank in the RAF, two of which are Squadron Leader Bret Archer (fast jet pilot) and Squadron Leader DyVry (Officer Commanding Recruit Training at RAF Halton). Many other ex-cadets have also entered into the forces in a variety of roles, a few to name are Charlotte Lofthouse and Chris McKeon.


since 1971
0
Adult volunteers have passed through the squadron**

Are you a past cadet or adult volunteer?

If there is any information or photos related to 2497 (Cosford) Squadron that you are able to offer to us, please contact us below.

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Timeline of 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • April 1958

    Formation of 1130 (Cosford) Detached Flight

  • April 1958 - 1st June 1971

    Flight Lieutenant Pybus RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 1130 (Cosford) Detached Flight

  • 1st June 1971

    Formation of 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1971 - 1972

    Flight Lieutenant Pybus RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1972 - 1987

    Fight Lieutenant Rhodes RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1987 - 1992

    Flight Lieutenant Wishart RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1992 - 1994

    Flight Lieutenant Burgess RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1994 - 1995

    Flight Lieutenant Williams RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1996 - 1999

    Flight Lieutenant Jackson RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 1999 - 2011

    Flight Lieutenant Woodcock RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

  • 2009

    The squadron moved to its current building

  • 2011 -

    Flight Lieutenant Vince RAF VR(T), Officer Commanding 2497 (Cosford) Squadron

Many thanks to Don Rhodes for the above information, who has been the Squadron’s Civilian Committee Chairman for 29 years since mandatory retirement, and has completed 55 years with the Air Training Corps.

*approximate calculation based on 409 cadets passing through the squadron between 2008 and May 2017.
**approximate calculation based on 63 adult volunteers passing through the squadron between 2008 and May 2017.

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