A former Knaresborough cadet played a major role in the jubilee celebrations when he captained the Lancaster bomber that flew over Buckingham Palace.

Flight Lieutenant Paul Wise was in charge of the aircraft that flew over the palace following Thursday’s Trooping the Colour parade.

Flt Lt Wise joined the RAF’s 1953 (Knaresborough) squadron in 1993.

Paul Wise (centre) Pic courtesy of Tim Holderness

After leaving cadets in 1999, he joined the RAF and flew the C-130 Hercules for many years before becoming a qualified flying instructor with 45 squadron at RAF Cranwell, training the next generation of RAF multi-engine pilots and crew.

He still performs this role with the RAF, however in 2018 he also joined the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a Dakota captain and co-pilot for the Lancaster. This year he became a captain of the Lancaster.

Flt Lt Wise said:

“I still remember visiting Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a cadet whilst on Easter camp with Knaresborough ATC.

“Never did I think that one day I would be in the privileged position to captain the Lancaster for the Queen’s platinum jubilee flypast.”

The flypast started in the Wash and included much of southern England, including the palace.

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Two Ripon Air Cadets have completed and qualified on two of the most sought-after courses run by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Sergeants Thomas Arcidiacono and Tobias Bennett have wasted no time after the Ripon unit’s return to normal parade activities following the covid lockdowns by applying themselves to some of the toughest training available to RAF Air Cadets.

Sgt Bennett was one of only a handful of cadets selected from 600 in the area to train and complete the Air Cadets Pilot Scholarship(ACPS) course at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.

Sgt Tobias Bennett (nearest camera) who passed his aviation course at in Dundee with flying colours

During his two-week course he passed aviation training and exams to go solo in the Aquila A221 at the age of just 16 years old.

Sgt Bennett said:

“It was a surreal experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life.”

He hopes to join the RAF as a pilot to continue his passion for aviation. He also wants inspire fellow cadets and said the course has given him the ability to add a further level of depth to his teaching at the C&E Yorkshire Wing Aviation Centre.

Sgt. Arcidiacono had a very different experience as he was selected as one of only 50 cadets from around the country to take part in the Air Cadets Junior Leaders Course.

The squadron’s Officer Commanding, Warrant Officer Wayne Cobbett, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are all extremely proud of the achievements Tobias and Thomas.”

He pointed out:

“For Tobias to be qualified to go solo in the Aquila A221 at such a young age is a tremendous achievement.”

WO Cobbett added:

“The course taken by Thomas was not  for the faint-hearted. It is physically demanding and requires real commitment and determination and involves nine weekend training camps and an assessment week in leadership, military skills and tactics.

“It also involves the award of a Level Two Certificate in Team Leadership from the Institute of Leadership and Management.”

Sgt Thomas Arcidiacono (left) pictured giving instruction on the junior leaders’ course

Sgt Thomas Arcidiacono, said:

“The Junior Leaders’ course was easily the best thing I have done throughout my six years of being in the cadets.”

He thanked the support staff that ran the course, when he added:

“Even if they were tough at times; it is their support and guidance that drove me to do more and achieve what I never thought possible and become a Qualified Junior Leader(QJL).”

886 (City of Ripon) Squadron – Ripon Air Cadets, takes on cadets from age 12 (and in Year8) and are taking names for their September intake and Open Evening on Friday September 2, 2022.

For further information, contact the squadron’s Officer Commanding, WO Wayne Cobbett RAFAC on oc.886@rafac.mod.gov.uk

Read More:

• Ripon hits a high note for the Queen with Platinum Jubilee horn
• In words and pictures – how Ripon and the Harrogate district celebrated the jubilee

The club belonging to the Harrogate and district branch of the Royal Air Forces Association is to close after 56 years.

The local branch of the charity, which supports the RAF community, formed at a meeting in August 1945 at Harrogate YMCA.

Membership has dwindled in recent years and trustees felt they could no longer justify the expenditure required to retain the current three-storey building on Harrogate’s East Parade.

A special general meeting agreed to sell the club and donate the proceeds to the national RAFA charity.

A farewell party will be held on June 25 at the club. Members and their family and friends are welcome to drop in between noon and 10pm for a cup of tea, a light buffet and some comradeship.

Harrogate air cadets will also be in attendance during the afternoon.

Philip Crebbin, chairman of the branch, said the club was simply no longer viable.

He said the branch had 100 members but few of them visited the club often, particularly as the building wasn’t suitable for some older members.

But he said the branch would continue to operate and meet monthly at new premises.

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History of the club

RAFA members in the early years met in several places in Harrogate, including the North Eastern Hotel and the Home Guard Club.

Towards the end of 1957 they moved to ‘The Rear Turret’ at the back of Albert Street, which was a rented cottage, and transformed it into headquarters.

Membership increased and eventually the thriving branch and club moved into its current premises, at 6 East Parade, in 1966.

Me Crebbin, a retired squadron leader, said:

“Although the club is closing, Harrogate’s RAFA branch will endure and will continue to undertake its charitable endeavours including welfare support and charity collections.

“The branch will also continue to provide representation at association conferences and parades as well as holding numerous activities, including its flagship annual events: the Battle of Britain commemorative parade at Stonefall Cemetery and the annual dinner.”

After a long time grounded due to covid, Harrogate air cadets have finally been able to take to the sky and enjoy their first flights in a glider.

Along with other cadets from York and Church Fenton, the cadets set off at 5am one morning recently to RAF Syerston near Newark.

Morning weather conditions meant the flights were initially cancelled and the cadets were offered a tour of the hanger instead. However, once the skies brightened in the afternoon the cadets could finally do what they came for.

Ten cadets took part in the exercise and for nine of them it was their first cadet flight.

Flying alongside an instructor over Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, the cadets were able to take control of the Viking glider for about 20 minutes.

All 10 cadets present enjoyed two trips each.

A Viking glider in action

There are 40,000 air cadets aged 12 to 20 in the UK. The 58 (Harrogate) Squadron is based at Strawberry Dale in Harrogate.

Sponsored by the Royal Air Force, recruits receive hands-on experience of activities and courses that challenge and develop skills.

Corporals George Sharratt and Adam Mir ,of 58 (Harrogate) Squadron, said in a statement:

“After waiting over a year to go flying, being able to take control of the glider on our first flight, was one of those moments we will never forget.

“But it would not be possible without both the help from RAF Syerston’s ground and air crew and from two of the volunteers from the Wing who organised the trip, got up at 5am and transported us back and forth over 200 miles.”

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