Welcome to our online photo library..

The Squadron has a very active programme, with visits to some rather amazing places across the year! We like to keep tabs on where we've been as, being this busy, you tend to forget!

PLEASE BE PATIENT WHILE IMAGES LOAD>>>

Alpine Challenger 2005, Switzerland

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By Flt Lt Hatton: "Switzerland was the location for Alpine Challenger 2005, an adventure organised by Hatfield Sqn for which we were invited to participate with staff and cadets. 5 cadets from Harpenden spent the week, based under canvas in Interlaken exploring the local countryside. 3 hikes were planned, each of about 18km, interspersed with visits to the capital Berne, mountain biking, Rhone Glacier, and a snowball fight in the middle of the summer holidays! Despite the wettest of weather at times the hikes were completed and a fantastic experience was had by all."

Brilliant summer camp based at Corsham with the days spent at Colerne. Had a day trip to RAF Lyneham and got the camp photo attached. Very busy week, Gliding at Hullavington, clay shooting, 22 range, swimming, nightex, Rudloe visit, Lyneham visit, Bath visit. Full write-up coming shortly..

Dining In Night February 2005

"Being Mr Miss vice" by Cdt Poppe

For 795 squadron, this year's dining in night was not only a chance to wear bow ties and eat delicious food but it was also a chance for a touch of squadron history in the making. For the first time Harpenden squadron was to have a female vice-president and I had been chosen to take this opportunity to be the first miss vice. Large quantities of apprehension had entered my stomach that evening as I took my post at the base of the E shape in which the tables had been arranged. I knew too well every eye in the room was on me as I fulfilled my first duty of leading the guests to their seats.

Soon after the first delicious course of pate, salad and rolls the serving personnel were soon presenting us with lamb shank for the main course followed by lemon tart to finish. By this point I knew my time was up and I was, after tea and coffee nearing my second duty, a toast to the queen.

As Flt Lt Hatton introduced the toasts I rose from my seat wondering suddenly if my fellow cadets had had the heart to sew my dress to the table as I had heard of such unfortunate mishaps happening to 'vices' before me. Happily I was not attached and raising my glass I said, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, the Queen' as was my obligation.

After this I had the privilege of moving up to sit in the president's seat and as I was told by Flt Lt Hatton to take control of them… Sitting there I invited Cpl Poppe and CWO Pratt to join me at the top table to accompany me there as 795's first Miss vice.

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Write up by Cdt Cpl Wain: Got up at 6am to get the bus, met up with some friends from other Squadrons; nice to catch up. Got to Wyton, sat through the weather and safety briefing. I was in the second batch to fly, got parachute and helmet fitted.. and waited for my plane to return. Was walked out by the staff cadet and strapped into G-BUXD. My pilot was a retired Air Vice Marshall.. settling or what? We flew all the usual loops, barrel rolls, half cubans and the 'turn and stall' (my favourite!). I love aerobatics and had asked the pilot if we could pretty much do everything, which he did! Some people just went for gentle flights, like guided tours of Cambridgeshire.. not me though. The bus ride home took an hour, good time to chat.. good day all round!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR DAY AT RAF WYTON, CLICK HERE

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Overseas Camp, RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. October 2004

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Write-up by Flt Lt Hatton: 58 cadets and 12 staff from Herts and Bucks, and West Mercia Wings assembled at Heathrow for the five hour flight to Cyprus. Although a popular holiday destination for many, the RAF has a serious purpose being here. Cyprus is used as a staging post for our military on their way to war zones and peacekeeping areas across the globe. As well as working on the RAF station, trying out various trades, cadets had plenty of time out on the beaches and local tourist attractions, and opportunities to try out sports such as water skiing, kayaking, snorkelling, sailing, bowling, and karting.

The serious side of training included visits to No1 (Overseas) Sqn ATC the resident ATC squadron on the base, a tour of the 'Green Line' in Nicosia with the UN, 84 Sqn RAF with their Griffin helicopters, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, RAF Regiment, a look at the few hazardous creatures on Cyprus at the Joint Services Health Unit, a day orienteering in the Troodos mountains, a visit to 417 Maritime Troop of the British Army with their rigid raider boats, an instructional trip in a Royal Navy patrol vessel, Landrover driving at Episkopi Garrison, Police Flight including dog section, and a day shooting on the range. We were given much instruction from the resident forces. Some cadets were given the experience of a flight in the Search & Rescue Squadron's Griffin helicopters, and cadets were treated to tours of the hangars, which included Tornado and Harriers on route to the gulf.

Each day started at 0600 for cadets (0500 for staff!) with 'lights out' at 2300. A fantastic, and activity packed fortnight for those cadets chosen to attend, and a hard working but pleasant break for the staff too. I am certainly looking forward to a return at some point!

Annual Camp, RAF Wattisham, Suffolk. 22 July 2004

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Write-up by CWO Chris Pratt: A great camp at the former RAF Fighter base, now used by the Army and a Search and Rescue Squadron. The airfield once housed the Phantom interceptor jet until a fair few years back, and then became surplus to requirements. The Army moved in and the place seems quite busy. We managed to get glider and vigilant flights in, as well as the much anticipated Sea King excursion. It was fascinating getting to see some of the largest helicopters around flying low level missions up and around this scenic part of the country. There are so many military bases in East Anglia, so Wattisham is a great location for these guys. Their first mission is to pick-up downed aircrew, with shipping and other rescues coming second. A brilliant camp, we were well looked after by the Army and enjoyed an absolutely packed programme. As the week drew to an end, we sadly said goodbye to our new friends, but vowed to keep in touch. When I got home, I think I must have slept for like two days, absolutely knackered!

Gliding Detail. RAF Henlow, Beds. 10 July 2004

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Write-up by Cdt Polding:

Orkney Islands Expedition, Scotland

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Write-up by Cdt Sam Weston: We started off on a short trip to Hatfield Squadron late at night, we ordered chips for dinner, and then we slept, slept...until the morning which for us was four AM, we then loaded up our kit onto the transit vehicle, and hopped onto a mini-bus that would be our ride for 500 miles, through-out the journey, we visited the cities of England...mostly the short break centres of England, but none the less, food was brought, music, and other things, the cadets thought they needed, our first major stop was the RAF base Leuchars, we stopped there for the night, and had a good sleep, in the morning we had a brief breakfast, and headed out again to our final destination - the Orkneys.

We made other stops on the way to the small port, which would take us across, including "Dunnet head" the most northerly point of mainland Britain, which was fun, but the midges were not fun. We soon set off again and about 3 hours later we arrived at the port where our ferry was waiting to take us across. The journey across was not very event fulfilled, but we crossed, and soon arrived at the campsite on to the Island St. Margaret's hope.

We set up camp fairly quickly, and were told to set up our stoves for cooking, we took what we wanted from out 24-hour rat packs, and after sorting out our tents, went to bed, wake up was early, some would say too early, the first event (my flight) did was hill walking, a short hill walking trip in the area of the island, it was very brief compared coming up events. That night we ate again from our ration packs, and we ate well, hot food all around was eaten because of the cold but none the less cheerful weather. The next day we set off for some hill climbing very tough, but very rewarding, next day, that night, we ate, went to bed, with the strict NCOs keeping us quiet. The next day was the VERY long bike ride, the "easy" group did about 30 KM, and the "intermediate" group did about 60-70 KM, and the hard group did about 40, but to be fair they had to cycle up a small mountain.

That night was ten pin bowling, and lots of strikes were won, and fun had, we came outside to the rain, we sprinted back to our tents, but soon even our tents started to give way, to the storm that no one could see coming, we had to abandon our tents, to the moderate safety of the large food tent, the morning we found many of our tents imploding, there was a struggle between us and the 30-40 mile and hour winds, we eventually were forced back into the safety of the activity centre, to play a badminton tournament, that night we went to the TA centre on the Orkneys, and we spent a night there, we did go out to the town and we ate haggis, and chips, and Scottish delicacies, we eventually returned to the TA centre to spend the rest of the night, our final night, in the Orkneys. The next morning we headed off to the Port back to mainland Britain, where we spent our very final night in the comfort of the RAF Leuchars bunks. We then set off back to Hatfield and back home.

Other activities in this amazing trip included: Kayaking in the North Sea, Rock climbing (very fun) and enjoying haggis.. All in all this was an amazingly fun trip, which everyone enjoyed, I highly recommend going on it (if it, or anything like it) turns up again.

Adventure Training Course, June 2004

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Write-up by Cdt Weston:

Weekend visit to RAF Museum Hendon 23 November 2004

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Write-up by Cdt Cpl Case:

Ceremonial Duties, Harpenden Cenotaph, 11 November 2004

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Write-up by Cdt Lain:

The Longmoor Expedition Team, 14 May 2004

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Write-up by Cdt Cpl Wain:

RAF Fairford, RIAT. June 18 2004

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Write-up by:Plt Off Chadd: The Royal International Air Tattoo is the largest military airshow in the world. There are no other shows that can boast such a variety of aircraft and representative nations.

The 2003 show (pictures included above) deserves a mention as it will be remembered by the current cadets as an example of what happens if you neglect the 7Ps! We were tasked, very last minute, to attend the RIAT 2003 show to help sell 'charitable literature.' The selling point was free entry (the show costs nearly £30 now to enter), food, a great view of the airshow.. and the chance to help the RAF Benevolent Fund. The general 'highlights' I recall included being almost turned away from the overnight camp on arrival, a severe reprimand from a Squadron Leader for turning up late (this chap was so angry, we started unpacking a defibrillator), the joy of finding that the burger vans generally charged more than £3 (our 'lunch money') for anything, two cadets being detained in the ATC camp (out of the show itself) because there was an (irrelevant) error in their 3822A ID docs. 100% of which neither of us staff had any control over due to the visit being arranged by third parties. Lessons were certainly learnt, especially that of how important a sense of humour and perspective can be.

Now, when we go to airshows, we go for what the other 400,000 people are going for: Noise (the more of, the better), the smell of kerosene, the sight of the latest military jets pelting 400mph past your head, the chance to get inside the planes (2004 - I spent an hour inside an Nimrod chatting to the pilots and a mission coordinator) and basically a day of submergence in the finest aviation. The RIAT is a chance for the nations of the world to send a representative collection of aircraft and pilots to show off their hardware as a goodwill/flag-flying gesture. There are no fewer than ten full aerobatic teams, including our brilliant Red Arrows, the French and Italian teams. There are literally hundreds of aircraft in the static park, for you to browse for hours on end.

If you want to get up close and personal with several million pounds worth of the finest aluminium alloy and electrical gadgetry, to know the sweet taste of a £4 burger, and to have attended the greatest day in the British aviation calender, then I say RIAT 2006 is a show that should definately not be missed!! Ask an NCO about our attendance plans this summer.

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