Here is a little bit about our history as both an RAF Squadron and as an Air Training Corps Squadron.

 

236 Squadron can trace its routes back to 1914. Formed on 20 August 1918 from Nos 493, 515 and 516 Flights at Mullion, it provided anti-submarine patrol throughout the war equipped with the Airco DH6.

The squadron was reformed on 31 October 1939 at Stradishall as a fighter squadron.

The division was now equipped with Bristol Blenheims, which were moved to Bircham Newton when the unit moved location in February 1940. Here the squadron was united as the Coastal Command.

In October 1941, the squadron saw a dramatic change in its role. It had re-equipped with the new Bristol Beaufighter and flew out of bases in the South-West, engaged in anti-shipping patrols over the Channel and the Irish Sea.

During February 1942, the squadron moved location again. This time it relocated at Wattisham in Suffolk fulfilling the same duties over the North Sea. Throughout the final years of the Second World War, the squadron served as a detachment of the strike wing at North Coates. The squadron was dispersed on 25 May 1945.

 

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236 Squadron ATC was formed 21 years ago as a separate administration from the nearest squadron, 201 (Macclesfield) Squadron. The squadron took inheritance of the number, 236, when 236 OCU RAF Squadron, based at RAF Kinloss changed their name to 42(R) Squadron.

For this reason, 236 Squadron has a special connection to 42(R) Squadron at Kinloss and we regularly run liaison visits to the station during the October Half Term. Cadets from the squadron are pasionate about the visits which are always well-attended and enormously beneficial.

236 are very supportive of the local community. We are always heavily involved in raising funds for the Poppy Appeal and the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA). We parade every year for Remembrance Sunday and have, over recent years, taken part in the Battle of Britain Marchpast in Manchester.

 

Bollington Town Council are very appreciative of the work we do and provide us with benefactions to help with the squadron's upkeep. For this, we are very grateful and always try to have representatives turn out for public events.

For example, last year we ran a stall at the Bollington Transport Extravaganza held at the Adelphi Mill. We hired the cockpit of a Jet Provost as a demonstration aid and for the kids to play around in.