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Summer Camp 2006...
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The 2006 Summer Camp for 2499 was at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire.
The following text is taken from the Smaller Stations page of the Royal Air Force Website. A link to this page is available on the
links page.
Also see the Gallery for photographs from the week.
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Henlow has been a ground-training base specialising in electronics since the end of the Second World War and was for many years
synonymous with the RAF Signals Engineering Establishment (RAFSEE).
The Station is now home to the Directorate of Engineering Interoperability (DEI), which is part of the Defence
Communications Services Agency (DCSA) within the DLO. In addition it houses the Joint Arms Control and Inspection Group (JACIG),
HQ Provost & Security Services (RAF), including the newly-formed Tactical Provost Wing, the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM)
and No 616 Volunteer Gliding School which operates Vigilant T1 motor gliders.
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Summer camp 2006 - A Cadet's Report
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This year 10 cadets and 4 staff members from 2499 joined cadets from 153 (Slough), 155 (Maidenhead), 459 (Windsor), 2424 (Langley), 2477 (Britwell), and 2507 (Bicester) Squadrons at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire for our annual Summer Camp.
We were picked up at the Squadron HQ on the 12th of August, and after a brief stop at Slough Squadron HQ to pick up the rest of the camp, we set off to Henlow.
After arriving, setting up camp and changing into uniform, we played some games to get to know our flights. We spent the rest of the afternoon doing a FAMEX in our sections to learn our way around the station, and then the evening was spent at the youth club or doing uniform in the sports pavilion.
Sunday was spent as a trip to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, where we all split off into different groups and went off around the site. A lot of time was spent staring in awe at the sheer size of the B-52 Bomber in the American hanger! A lot of cadets were also harassed by members of the Royal Logistics Corps, who tried to convince us to join the Army. They weren’t very successful! Again the evening was spent at the youth club and pavilion.
On Monday morning, the camp was split. Those who needed training on the No. 8, or a new WHT on the No. 8 or the L98 went off with Warrant Officer Lambert and Flying Officer Beasley to get them up to date for the range practice on Tuesday. Those who didn’t need to do so went for a section visit to the Centre of Aviation Medicine (CAM). This is a section involved in the cleanliness of all military installations, and showed us what can happen if you don’t wash your hands after going to the toilet. It involves 42 RAF Personnel getting diarrhoea, and having to be flown back from Turkey on a plane with only one toilet designated for sick people! In the afternoon the whole camp met up again for the camp photo, and then went for lunch. After lunch those who had been dry training went to CAM, and those who had already been did some drill with AWO Lambert and ASgt Whitney. In the evening we went bowling at the station bowling alley, where everyone had a good time.
Tuesday was spent at RAF Wyton, where majority of the cadets managed to get an AEF flight in (some even managed two!). While some were flying, others took a trip to the US Cemetery in Cambridge, where we were given a tour, in which our guide explained a lot of the symbolism behind the statues and the layout of the cemetery.
Wednesday morning involved a trip to the Joint Arms Control Implementation Group (JACIG). JACIG are involved in an international effort to prevent war. Basically, each country involved is given a number of military vehicles and aircraft that they are allowed to have. They then state the exact number they have, and where they are based, etc. JACIG and its foreign counterparts will then go and inspect other countries at random to make sure they’re not lying. The remainder of the day was spent on the Range at Chicksands, with 40 cadets firing over 800 rounds on both the L98A1, and the No. 8. Flying Officer Beasley and Warrant Officer Lambert had fun playing with the snap targets on the range during the snap firing practices! The evening was spent doing a nightex at a local park area, with the Henlow cadets being the hunter force for the evening. We were given a map drawn by ‘special forces’, which meant that the scale was incomprehensible, a lot of detail was missing, and there were no contours to aid navigation. I just hope the real Special Forces can draw maps better! Wednesday evening was spent doing uniform or at the youth club again.
Thursday morning was spent as prep for the river crossing exercise. This involved being taught the necessary skills to build a tripod ‘the RAF way’ (because apparently they build them a lot), and learning how to tension the rope and create the harness for pulling cadets across the river. After lunch we were driven down to the river by minibus, and as the last minibus arrived, the heavens promptly opened, creating 42 drowned cadets, 10 drowned staff, 1 drowned Flight Sergeant and 1 drowned Air Cadet Liaison Officer (ACLO). After the exercise (which B Flight won, of course), we pulled AWO Lambert across the river (who asked immediately for another go), and we pulled Fg Off Beasley half across the river, and then dunked him whilst singing happy birthday. Thursday afternoon we performed our well rehearsed continuity drill piece for the Regional Commandant, Group Captain Remlinger, who seemed very impressed! The evening was spent at the pavilion doing uniform for the next day’s events.
Friday morning was spent at the station swimming pool, doing everything from basic swimming proficiency tests and making human wave machines, to having belly flop contests and punishing cadets for petting in the pool! After this the camp was split in two, with most donning their No. 2’s and heading off to RAF Lakenheath, the United States Air Force base in the UK. We got to have a look around and in the F-15E Strike Eagle, and then spent an enjoyable afternoon in the bar in the ‘Strike Eagle Complex’ eating popcorn and watching DVD’s of the 492nd Madhatter Squadron blowing up things in Iraq. The remaining few spent the day with AWO Lambert and the remaining staff, at an aviation museum looking at historic aircraft. Friday evening was spent at the youth club, with the NCO award ceremony (including the ‘incompetent fireman award’) and a disco. Sqn Ldr Senft made himself very popular with making a run to local kebab shop buying chips, pizza and drinks for the whole camp.
Saturday morning everyone got up and changed into Wedgewood Blues, and set off for our drill competition, which was marked by an RAF Corporal. After this we had the final parade, with the awards for Best NCO, Best Cadet, Best Effort, Best Flight (B Flight), and the Sqn Ldr’s personal awards for humour and leadership. After the final parade we took individual squadron photographs for local newspapers, and then we went back to camp for a quick clean up before lunch. We then loaded all the kit back onto the coach, and headed off for home (whilst signing photographs on the coach!).
I believe a great week was had by all, and everyone I have spoken to wish to go back next year! Just 11 months to wait!
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