1409 Squadron was formed in 1941, a few weeks after the national formation of the Air Training Corps. Narrowly missing out on becoming a founder squadron by only months!
It has served the needs of the “air minded” youth in Consett and the surrounding area ever since it’s inception, and continues to do so every Monday and Friday.
The Squadron
With 35+ parading cadets, and a dedicated and professional staff team comprising of 6 Uniformed members of staff, and a further 4 civilian instructors, we truly do have a broad skill set to deliver the most diverse set of training possible.
We are one of 35 squadrons that make up Durham/Northumberland Wing, which is based largely on the geography of the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham. In turn, Durham/Northumberland Wing is one of 5 wings in North Region.
The Air Training Corps is made up of 6 Regions and is controlled by a Regular Royal Air Force Officer of Air Commodore rank, and a team of regular, reserve and civil servant staff from its HQ at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
In 2019 and again in 2020, the Squadron was the Wing’s nomination for the Marshall trophy. A trophy awarded to the most improved air cadet squadron nationwide every year. In both years, 1409 came runners up. A fantastic achievement from all cadets and staff involved!
Our volunteers are the inspirational connection between the organisation and our cadets. All Air Cadet Squadrons are run by Adult volunteers, from all walks of life.
Some are ex-cadets, some ex-forces and some joined when their child joined as a cadet, but all have a desire to make the cadet experience a great one. All our staff are fully trained and qualified in the activities they run, and all are strictly checked through the Disclosure and Barring Service, along with internal security checks.
our mission
“To facilitate a modern, dynamic, sustainable air-minded youth organisation of choice that offers fun and challenging activities.”
Our Crest Explained
Designed in 2009 by a then ‘Cadet’ Hamilton, who now serves the squadron as an adult member of staff, the Squadron crest encompasses various notable design cues, derived from the legacy arms of the Derwentside district district council as shown below:
The arms, which were retired with the merger of Derwentside district council into the now Durham County Council in 2009, are atopped by 3 main items of interest.
- The crossed swords allude to the settling a group of Lutheran swordmakers from Solingen in Germany at Shotley Bridge in 1691, and the making of what are still considered some of the best of their type – Shotley Swords.
- On a wreath of the Colours in front of Flames a Miner’s Pick head upwards in pale and two Swords points upwards in saltire proper hilts and pomels Or pendent from the Pick by a Chain Argent a Roman Shield Sable charged with a Thunderbolt and on a Bordure Or ten Pellets.
- The crest with Lanchester’s pick and Consett’s flames and swords symbolise the steel industry, while Stanley’s Roman shield with black field and roundels and gold thunderbolt stands for coalmining and the broadcasting station at Pontop Pike.
Here we see the 3 respective elements before they are combined to form the bulk of our crest. The design of the Roman sheild of Stanley has been subtly modified to show 2 ATC eagles.
A lot of thought went into our motto, with many suggestions and ideas considered before we finally settled on ‘Validus Ut Chalybs’ which when roughly translated from latin to english reads as ‘Strong as Steel’. A nod to Consett’s history and background.
Once we put all of these elements together, we arrive at the finished product!