Early History
The squadron was formed on the 1st February 1941 as 213 (Rochester) Squadron. It was the third squadron to be formed in the new Air Training Corps (the first 210 squadron numbers were taken by the old Air Defence Cadet Corps, which was absorbed into the ATC on its formation). Unfortunately, names of most of the early staff have been lost to the mists of time, although it is believed that the first commanding officer was Flt Lt Boucher, who was succeeded later by Flt Lt Lord.
Cadets studied either aircrew or technical subjects. There were classes on aircraft recognition, elementary astro-navigation, Morse Code and Aldis Lamp signalling. Other training included foot drill, music and sport. The Squadron was called upon to assist RAF Gravesend during 1942 to 1944 where cadets performed various duties from loading .303 rounds of ammunition in to ammunition belts ready to load in to the aircraft wings, help load 500lb bombs into the bomb bays of Mosquitoes or under the wings of Typhoons and Hurricanes. Additional war time duties included fire watching at Rochester Cathedral acting as messengers during Civil Defence exercises, sometimes at Rochester Police Station or at the Civil Defence HQ. After the end of the war, interest in the RAF declined and with it, interest in the Air Training Corps. The squadron found recruiting new members increasingly difficult and eventually the squadron had to be disbanded on the 20th November 1946.
Cadets studied either aircrew or technical subjects. There were classes on aircraft recognition, elementary astro-navigation, Morse Code and Aldis Lamp signalling. Other training included foot drill, music and sport. The Squadron was called upon to assist RAF Gravesend during 1942 to 1944 where cadets performed various duties from loading .303 rounds of ammunition in to ammunition belts ready to load in to the aircraft wings, help load 500lb bombs into the bomb bays of Mosquitoes or under the wings of Typhoons and Hurricanes. Additional war time duties included fire watching at Rochester Cathedral acting as messengers during Civil Defence exercises, sometimes at Rochester Police Station or at the Civil Defence HQ. After the end of the war, interest in the RAF declined and with it, interest in the Air Training Corps. The squadron found recruiting new members increasingly difficult and eventually the squadron had to be disbanded on the 20th November 1946.
No2. detached flight (wainscott) of 1404 (chatham) Squadron
The decision was made to reform an air cadet unit in the Rochester area. In 1984, No 2 Detached Flight (Wainscott) of 1404 (Chatham) Sqn was formed. This was located in the old Wainscott School building (now occupied by Smilers pre school) and the flight's first commanding officer was Warrant Officer Middleton. The flight badge features a Sunderland flying boat, many of which were built in Rochester by Short Brothers, on the River Medway with Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral in the background along with the Corps badge. In 1986 came the unit's first change of command, when Warrant Officer Middleton was replaced by Warrant Officer (later Flt Lt) Beaney. One of the flight's early activities was the creation of a continuity rifle drill team which performed public displays at a variety of events in the summers of 1988-1990, to great reviews.
213 (City of Rochester) Squadron
On the 1st July 1992 the flight gained Squadron status due to its growing size and became 213 (City of Rochester) Squadron. The new squadron official crest features many of the components of the old flight badge.
The squadron has enjoyed success in sport (winning the Kent Wing Seven-a-Side Rugby Trophy in 1992), drill (winning the Kent Wing Inter-Squadron Drill competition) and Charity Work. In 1994 the Squadron won the Clarke Efficiency Trophy, this is a complicated competition for which points are awarded for all manner of different achievements of a squadron, including exam results, marksman badges, Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, etc. In April 1994, Flt Lt Beaney left the squadron to take command of 1404 (Chatham) Sqn, he was replaced by Flt Lt Parkinson.
In 1994 the Squadron was given a Headquarters building in the grounds of Wainscott Primary School and in march 2000 the squadron had another change of command, Flt Lt Parkinson left the squadron and was replaced by Flt Lt Kirsopp. The squadron went from strength to strength and in 2003, the Squadron won the Kent Wing Clarke efficiency trophy and Cadet Corporal Matthew Taylor became the Lord Lieutenant of Kent's Cadet Poppy Appeal Winner, having raised the most money out all the cadets (Air, Army, Sea or Marine) in Kent. In March 2004, the squadron won the Kent Wing Dole Trophy for administrative efficiency and in october 2004, another change of command, Flt Lt Kirsopp left the squadron and was replaced by Warrant Officer Everett.
On 2nd of August 2005, the Squadron was saddened to learn of the death of Paul Adams, a Civilian Instructor on the Squadron, he left a wife, Tracey (also a CI), and a son, Ben and again on 15th of June 2006, the Squadron was once again saddened to learn of the death of Peter Poole, a Civilian Instructor on the Squadron who was the squadron's radio officer for many years. He left behind a wife, Joan, and two sons, Simon and David.
On 7th of October 2006, 213 Sqn took part in the St Dunstan's Cadet Challenge along with several other squadrons and youth organisations. The challenge was a 13 mile hike including a guided walk with half the cadets blind folded, an orienteering exercise with all the gird references given in Braille, and a stretcher carry.
From 2009 to 2012 there were several more changes of command from WO Everett to WO Hunt to Plt Off Briggs and finally settling with Flight Sergeant Russell (later promoted to Warrant Officer) who successfully ran the squadron until 2021 when tragedy struck the squadron again with the sad passing of Warrant Officer Russell. Flt Lt Ballard (1404 Squadron Commander) took over as interim OC until Flight Lieutenant Butler assumed command in 2022.
The squadron has enjoyed success in sport (winning the Kent Wing Seven-a-Side Rugby Trophy in 1992), drill (winning the Kent Wing Inter-Squadron Drill competition) and Charity Work. In 1994 the Squadron won the Clarke Efficiency Trophy, this is a complicated competition for which points are awarded for all manner of different achievements of a squadron, including exam results, marksman badges, Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, etc. In April 1994, Flt Lt Beaney left the squadron to take command of 1404 (Chatham) Sqn, he was replaced by Flt Lt Parkinson.
In 1994 the Squadron was given a Headquarters building in the grounds of Wainscott Primary School and in march 2000 the squadron had another change of command, Flt Lt Parkinson left the squadron and was replaced by Flt Lt Kirsopp. The squadron went from strength to strength and in 2003, the Squadron won the Kent Wing Clarke efficiency trophy and Cadet Corporal Matthew Taylor became the Lord Lieutenant of Kent's Cadet Poppy Appeal Winner, having raised the most money out all the cadets (Air, Army, Sea or Marine) in Kent. In March 2004, the squadron won the Kent Wing Dole Trophy for administrative efficiency and in october 2004, another change of command, Flt Lt Kirsopp left the squadron and was replaced by Warrant Officer Everett.
On 2nd of August 2005, the Squadron was saddened to learn of the death of Paul Adams, a Civilian Instructor on the Squadron, he left a wife, Tracey (also a CI), and a son, Ben and again on 15th of June 2006, the Squadron was once again saddened to learn of the death of Peter Poole, a Civilian Instructor on the Squadron who was the squadron's radio officer for many years. He left behind a wife, Joan, and two sons, Simon and David.
On 7th of October 2006, 213 Sqn took part in the St Dunstan's Cadet Challenge along with several other squadrons and youth organisations. The challenge was a 13 mile hike including a guided walk with half the cadets blind folded, an orienteering exercise with all the gird references given in Braille, and a stretcher carry.
From 2009 to 2012 there were several more changes of command from WO Everett to WO Hunt to Plt Off Briggs and finally settling with Flight Sergeant Russell (later promoted to Warrant Officer) who successfully ran the squadron until 2021 when tragedy struck the squadron again with the sad passing of Warrant Officer Russell. Flt Lt Ballard (1404 Squadron Commander) took over as interim OC until Flight Lieutenant Butler assumed command in 2022.
