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East Ham Wing was formed in 1941 commanded by Wing Commander J. Bulgin and consisted of three squadrons. 282 (Central Park School) Squadron commanded by Flight lieutenant Witter 1320 (Napier Road School) Squadron commanded by Flight Lieutenant Taylor 1375 (Arragon Road School) Squadron commanded by Flight Lieutenant Jackson The three squadrons had four flights each with up to 40 cadets in each flight, because at this time all young men by the age of sixteen had to belong to a Cadet Force (Pre-service training unit). In 1946 the Wing was disbanded due to changes in the pre-service training requirements introduced by the government. This resulted in eventual closure of 1320 and 1327 Squadrons with staff and cadets transferring to 282 Squadron. 282 Squadron continued to operate from Central Park School until 1952 when it was moved to the Balloon Section TA Centre in Vicarage Lane. The new Squadron headquarters was officially opened by Wing Commander Jack Hawkins (Famous actor). The Squadron was based in the same premises until the early 1980s when its headquarters buildings began to suffer from structural damage and needed to be replaced. The Unit temporarily moved to an empty ACF hut on site whilst the new headquarters was being constructed on the original site. The Squadron headquarters was officially opened in 1986 by the Squadron President Mrs Odette Hallowes GC MBE Legion d'Honneur (Wartime Heroine of the Special Operations Executive). The squadron motto between 1941 and 1962 was "P Y F O Digitus Erectus" The Squadron motto now is "Que Je Surmonte" which translated from French means "That I Overcome" and is displayed on the squadron crest. The crest and motto was designed by a cadet in the late 1960s in honour of the achievements of the Squadron President during the war years and became the official emblem of the squadron after it received her "seal of approval". On 13 March 1995 the Squadron President passed away, she died peacefully at her home in Surrey. Please read the page dedicated to her memory [Odette Hallowes]. Further bad news arrived in 1997 when the squadron was advised the TA Centre was to be sold due to government spending reductions following its review of the military under "Options for Change". The TA centre was eventually sold to a housing developer. In spite of this bad news about its future the squadron continued to flourish. On Friday 11 June 1999 the squadron proudly organised an Inauguration Parade in honour of its new President - Air Marshal Sir John Walker KCB CBE AFC FRAeS. Following a few uncertain years about the squadron headquarters the new Cornwell VC Cadet Centre was opened by His Royal Highness Prince Andrew The Duke of York on Tuesday 20 May 2003. The new cadet centre is now the headquarters of the three cadet force services in East Ham, 282 Squadron ATC, 43 Cadet Battery RHA and "TS Chester" Newham Unit 232 SCC. |
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