OUR HISTORY
In the beginning:
In January 1941 the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Arthur Hewitt called a meeting of schools in Stoke on Trent. This meeting was to discuss the creation of the Air Training Corps at Schools across Stoke. The first to respond was Longton High School, closely followed by other schools across Stoke.
235 Squadron was formed in Feb 1941 and was known as 235 (Tunstall) Squadron. Along with 236 (Burslem), 237 (Hanley), 238 (Stoke) and 239 (Longton) Squadron's they made up Stoke on Trent Wing which was Commanded by Arthur Hewitt, who became Flt Lt Hewitt after his time as Lord Mayor of Stoke ended.
The Squadron’s base was at Chell High School (Former site of James Brindley High School), and the first Officer Commanding of 235 Squadron was Flt Lt Joe Quinton - a respected Maths teacher at the school. The squadrons initial strength in 1941 was 82 cadets. This rose to 130 by 1943.
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(See left): Stoke on Trent Wing in 1941 outside the hangars in at Meir Aerodrome in Stoke on Trent. Members of 235, 236, 237, 238, and 239 are in the photograph, Arthur Hewitt - First Commander of Stoke on Trent Wing ATC, and 235 Squadrons original HQ at Hanley High School.
Post War History
When the squadron was formed they adopted the badge and motto of No.235 Sqn Royal Air Force (right). The badge depicted a 2 headed Wyvern breathing fire. The Motto “Jaculamur Humi” is Latin for “We Strike them to the ground”; a Motto 235 Squadron still use today.
After the war demand for the Air Training Corps dropped substatially, and as a result in 1946 235 Squadron were merged with 236 (Burslem) Squadron, and 237 (Hanley) Squadron. The unit was also moved to Cobridge Barracks on Waterloo Road. The Squadrons HQ was several Nissan huts located at the far end of the parade square. Both 236 and 237 ceased to exist in Stoke on Trent and the numbers were given to newly formed units elsewhere in the UK. 235 Squadron became 235 (1st Stoke on Trent) Squadron at this point to better reflect the merger of the North Stoke Squadrons, in addition within Stoke there was 238 (2nd Stoke on Trent) and 239 (3rd Stoke on Trent).
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From 1950 to 1953 the unit was under the command of Flt Lt Nichols the squadrons numbers have been cited as being around 50 at this point.
In 1964 the Squadron OC was Flt Lt Matthew 'Paddy' Patten, with the squadron numbers being around 50.
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The squadron celebrated it's 50th Anniversary in February 1991 under the command of Flt Lt Nigel Hearson.
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From Dragon to Reaper
The squadron moved to Martin Leake House (Cobridge Army Reserve Centre) on the same site as they had previously been on when it opened in August 1992 which would remain their HQ until present day.
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In January 2003 and after a full cabinet review, the Squadron changed it’s name again to become 235 (City of Stoke on Trent) Squadron from (1st Stoke on Trent) Squadron. Other squadrons also changed their names - with 239 (2nd Stoke on Trent) Squadron becoming 239 (Longton) Squadron once again.
To reflect this change the squadron changed it’s squadron badge for the first time in it’s history. The new badge depicted a Grim Reaper (the artwork was by former CWO Mark Wood). The top badge to the left was the original badge designed in 2003, which was revamped in 2011 by (then) CI Chris Holloway.
Present day - the best of the best
The central artwork of the squadron crest changed (bottom) in 2012 to reflect a change in leadership from Flt Lt Stubbs to Flt Lt Williams. In April 2013 Fg Off Mike Berrisford took over from Flt Lt Emma Williams and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. Flt Lt Berrisford remained the OC of 235 Squadron until May 2016 when Command of the squadron was assumed by Fg Off Chris Holloway and he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. The squadrons home remains at Cobridge Army Reserve Centre with a current strength of 36 cadets. 235 Squadron was put forward for the Lee's trophy in 2015/16 making it the top squadron in Staffordshire.
