BELGIANS IN THE AIR TRAINING CORPS

1941-1945

SHORT HISTORY

On the 5 February 1941 the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established,
with HM King George VI very kindly agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief.

The number of young men responding to this new ATC was spectacular.

More than 800 squadrons existed during the war.

The ATC squadrons offered their training programmes to prepare young men for entry to the RAF.

Squadrons arranged visits to RAF and Fleet Air Arm stations as part of the cadets' training.

Several dozens of young Belgians joined the ATC.

They were all refugees who came with their family to the United Kingdom  after the invasion of Belgium in 1940.

Cadet BENOOT Raymond, 1944.

When they reached the age of 18 they had the possibility to join the RAF.

After the War they formed the core of the Belgian Air Cadets.

FORMATION BADGE

Each squadron had his own badge.

The white text "AIR TRAINING CORP" above the number of the squadron with the word" SQUADRON" beneath.

The whole on RAF blue oval with white border.

Belgian College, Buxton, United Kingdom, May 25 1942. Belgian Cadet with Lieutenant General VAN STRYDONCK DE BURKEL, Inspector General of the Belgian Army.

ARM TIITLE

The Belgian cadets wore a "BELGIUM" arm title.

The curved one above the squadron badge, the rectangular arm title beneath the squadron badge.

Curved "BELGIUM"

Rectangular "BELGIUM"

London, July 18 1943.Belgian cadets at the Cenotaph. Watch the 2 different "BELGIUM" arm titels.

1944, Belgian cadet wearing the curved "BELGIUM" arm title.